As Noosa’s longest-established deep-sea fishing charter service, the team at Noosa Bluewater Charters offer experienced crew, high-quality gear and custom-built charter vessels to deliver epic offshore fishing adventures. Here’s everything you need to know about an offshore fishing charter with Noosa Bluewater Charters.
What is offshore fishing?
When it comes to offshore fishing, also known as deep-sea fishing, you’ll typically be targeting reef or game fish. While both of these fishing approaches offer thrilling experiences, they differ in terms of the types of fishing techniques, locations and the fish species you’ll catch.
Reef fishing: Bottom dwellers and tasty table fish
As the name suggests, reef fishing involves dropping baited lines to the ocean floor to draw out species that live in and around coral and rocky reef systems. Noosa is home to several popular reef fishing locations, including Sunshine Reef and North Reef, making it an ideal spot to try your luck with reef fishing.
Reef fishing brings with it consistent action and a chance to hook some of the tastiest fish around, making it a perfect option for beginners and seasoned anglers alike. So, if you’re after a relaxing day on the water with a solid chance of taking home a delicious catch for dinner, reef fishing could be the adventure for you.
Game fishing: Fast, powerful and adrenaline-fuelled
Game fishing usually takes place a little further offshore, targeting fast-moving, open-water species that roam the bluewater currents. Unlike reef fishing, which involves fishing the ocean floor, game fishing involves trolling by dragging lures or bait behind the moving boat to mimic the movements of a smaller fish and entice a strike from a cruising predator.
There’s nothing quite like the feeling when a pelagic fish strikes. Expect powerful runs, screaming reels and a battle of strength and stamina between you and your catch.
Game fishing is a firm favourite among thrill-seekers and experienced anglers looking to land their next big catch. That said, with the guidance of Noosa Bluewater’s expert crew, even first-timers can enjoy the excitement of hooking a serious sportfish.
Who it’s for
Whether you choose to try your luck with the local pelagics or stick to the reef, Noosa Bluewater Charters offers quality fishing adventures to suit all skill levels, from amateurs through to seasoned anglers. Our team of professional crew and experienced skippers take care of everything for you. We’ve got the rods, bait, food and drinks covered, and our deckies will even clean your catch for you at the end of the charter.
If you’re looking for a solo fishing adventure, a group trip or a family day out on the water, the team at Noosa Bluewater Charters will treat you to the fishing experience of a lifetime.
What you’ll catch: Common species off Noosa’s coast
Thanks to its location on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Noosa offers some of the most diverse and productive offshore fishing grounds in Australia.
Reef fishing off Noosa is a favourite for anglers who enjoy consistent bites, a variety of species and the chance to take home fresh, restaurant-quality fish. The local offshore reefs, including North Reef, Sunshine Reef and Chardons Reef, are teeming with bottom-dwelling fish that thrive in coral and rocky habitats. Noosa’s offshore reefs are home to a wide variety of prized reef species, including:
- Snapper
- Pearl perch
- Coral trout
- Red emperor
- Sweetlip
- Moses perch
If you’re chasing a more action-packed, adrenaline-fuelled fishing adventure, pelagic fishing offers a totally different experience. You can expect to find a wide variety of game fish in Noosa’s deep-sea waters, including:
- Tuna (yellowfin, mack tuna and longtail)
- Mahi-mahi (dolphinfish)
- Wahoo
- Kingfish
- Amberjack
- Marlin (black and blue)
To get the most out of your game fishing experience, you’ll want to book a ¾-day or full-day charter.
Charter options and timeframes
At Noosa Bluewater Charters, we offer three epic offshore fishing charter options to choose from, with trips leaving daily (weather permitting). Each charter includes:
- Food and drinks,
- Fishing gear,
- Bait,
- An experienced skipper, and
- A dedicated deck hand.
Choose from our:
- Half-day charter ($220): Our half-day charters depart at 6-6.30am and noon each day, giving you five action-packed hours to try your luck with the local species.
- ¾-day charter ($285): Departing daily between 6-6.30am, our ¾-day charter lasts seven hours, providing you with more fishing time across some of the best spots for offshore fishing from Noosa.
- Full-day charter ($330): With nine incredible hours of fishing, our full-day charter offers the best of Noosa’s offshore fishing scene, hitting deeper reefs with the chance to land bigger game species.
We’ll provide quality gear, food and drinks, along with an experienced crew. We’ll even clean up your catch for you. All that’s left to pack is sunscreen, comfortable clothes and a camera to capture the action.
Best time of year to fish offshore in Noosa
One of the best things about offshore fishing in Noosa is the chance to land a catch of a lifetime year-round. That said, if you’re chasing a particular species, it can help to familiarise yourself with the different seasonal peaks that happen off the coast.
For example, the warmer waters between October and March typically attract the fast pelagics and game fish. On the other hand, you can hook all types of reef species year-round.
When it comes to the weather and ocean conditions, autumn and winter typically offer higher chances of calm seas, warm days and mild evenings, making for the perfect day out on the water.
Ready to book your offshore fishing adventure?
Noosa offers some of the best deep-sea fishing locations along the east coast. So what are you waiting for? Book a fishing charter with Noosa Bluewater Charters to experience an unforgettable offshore fishing adventure.
