Extended Live Aboard Fishing Charters
Genuine liveaboard
Humbug Fishing operates Starfire, a 24-metre catamaran mothership, for five to seven day liveaboard charters across the Top End. Groups of up to 8 or 12 fish barra, reef, and pelagic species with two tenders in survey, full provisions, and hotel transfers included from Darwin.
Why book a liveaboard fishing charter?
You have been planning this trip for months. Your mates are counting on you to get the dates right, the boat right, and the fishing right. A liveaboard charter removes the two things that wear a trip down: the daily boat ramp queue and the 4pm curfew.
You live on the water for the length of the charter. No drive back to a hotel each night. No sharing a boat ramp with every other group heading out for the day. You fish the tides that matter, not the tides that fit around a shore-based schedule.
Some operators describe themselves as liveaboard without owning a mothership. When a booking comes in, they scramble to charter one, or they bring you back to shore each night and call it an extended trip. Humbug Fishing owns Starfire outright. You sleep on board, every night, for the full length of your charter.
What makes Humbug Fishing different?
Starfire is a 24-metre aluminium catamaran, the largest charter mothership operating out of Darwin. She carries four twin-share cabins and a four-bed bunk room, all air-conditioned, with three bathrooms and a 7-metre by 7-metre lounge fitted with two air-conditioning units. A crane-equipped back deck, known on board as the beer garden, gives you space to relax between sessions.
Two fishing tenders, 7 metres and 7.3 metres, both in survey, run guests out to the fishing grounds and back. Groups of up to 8 people fish with these two tenders. Take a group of up to 12, and a third tender is added to the charter. Charters run for a minimum of five days. Every cabin has power for phones and CPAP machines.
What is included on board?
Everything is arranged before you arrive. Hotel transfers to and from the boat ramp are included. All fishing gear and tackle is supplied, along with mud crab pots during the season. Meals, provisions, and your beer order are organised and on board before you step on deck. You bring your personal items. That is the full extent of what you need to plan.
Target Species
The waters we take you to are some of the best in Australia and the world. The stunning landscape is an extra bonus to all the Territory fish you are able to have fun catching from our live aboard fishing charters. Our target species on these trips include:
- Mackerel
- Tuna
- Queenfish
- Trevally
- Cobia
- Barramundi
- Salmon
- Golden Snapper
- Coral Trout
- Black Jewfish
- Spangled & Long Tailed Emperor
- Mangrove Jack
- Mud Crabs
Please note: Northern Territory bag limits apply.
Included in this live abroad fishing charter
- Air-conditioned accommodation in our fully equipped Mothership.
- Access to Humbug Fishing Boats and tenders.
- Expert guided fishing, our experienced crew will ensure you have an enjoyable fishing experience.
- All meals. This includes a cooked breakfast, lunch, snacks in the late afternoon and an evening meal which is usually either catch of the day or steak, chops and fresh produce. Dietary requirements can be catered for.
- Drinking water, bait, ice, sunscreen, inspect, repellents
- Good quality tackle (loss replace basis)
Not included
- Alcohol. However, if you pre-order and pay, we can have your drinks on board on ice for when you arrive.
Requirements
- Minimum 6-8 people, 5 days depending on which charter option
Price
- Your fishing trip is tailored to your group. Price varies depending on group size, duration and destination.
Contact us for a free quote.
Available all year round, subject to other bookings. Bookings are in a first in, first served basis. Bookings are not confirmed until deposit is paid.
Where do the charters go?
Humbug Fishing runs mixed bag fishing across five main Top End locations: barra, reef, and pelagics, depending on the tide and the season.
- Daly River and Moyle is the most booked charter region, and the primary destination for the barra runoff season from March to May.
- Shady Camp is a well-known Barra runoff destination in its own right. Humbug Fishing’s first choice for the runoff is Daly River, with Shady Camp used when river conditions rule that out, and as a strong option for other species from June onwards.
- Tiwi Islands, Cobourg Peninsula, and Timor Box round out the range, with Cobourg Peninsula and Timor Box best fished in October and November when tides and weather conditions line up.
Charters during the wet season may be redirected to alternative locations depending on weather and river conditions. Safety determines the itinerary.
How does booking work?
- Get in touch and lock in your dates. Call or email with your preferred dates and group size. Our team will advise on the best tides for what you want to catch.
- We sort everything. Once your booking is confirmed, we handle the provisions, gear, logistics, and hotel transfers. Tell us your beer order. You show up with your personal items.
- Fish, eat, sleep, repeat. For five to seven days, you are on the water in remote Top End fishing grounds. Morning session, lunch on board, afternoon session, a hot meal, and an air-conditioned bunk. That is the routine.
Ready to check available dates? Contact us today.
Explore epic fishing destinations with Humbug Fishing Charters
Let us take you to some of the most remote corners of the country to create memories that will last a lifetime!
Some of the places we can take you: Anson Bay, Peron Islands, Daly River, Redcliffe, Cape Scott, Cape Ford, Little Moyle and Moyle Rivers Region, Kimberley, Timor Box and more. Get in contact to find out more.