The Wessel Islands and east Arnhem Land is one of Australia’s and the world’s truly remote and special saltwater fly fishing destinations.
Flying into Nhulunbuy, home of the Yolngu people, the region is steeped in indigenous culture, and traditions, and where you will be greeted before boarding the magnificent Phoenix One for your overnight journey into the Arafura Sea.
With beautiful sandy bays, beaches and an array of flats home to large Indo-Pacific permit (both T.anak and T.blochii), the iconic Australian Blue Bastard, and an array of saltwater species including Tusk Fish, Barramundi and Queenfish.
The Wessel experience is capped off aboard the magnificent Phoenix One – 5-star 115ft luxury yacht, with magnificent crew, fine dining and service throughout.
SALTWATER MECCA
Dates: Now taking enquiries for 2021
Cost: TBA
Rods: 6
Available: 6
Host: James Laverty
Inclusions: 7 nights (twin share) aboard the Phoenix One (ex. Gove, NT) including full board, five-star dining, all beverages, premium wines, beers and spirits, 6 days guided fly fishing (2:1 / 3:1 with your host) with experienced guides and crew, casting decks and electrics fitted on all skiffs, fuel, local permits and fishing licenses, return airport transfers to and from Gove to the mothership, Fly Odyssey host and comprehensive pre-trip guide and assistance while there.
Exclusions: International flights, transit accommodation in Cairns or Darwin, Fly fishing gear and flies items of a personal nature and gratuities.
Commencing in Cairns for an overnight group dinner and welcome, we will spend the night before departing on the one hour flight to Gove the following day where the Waterline staff will greet us on arrival.
After a short 20-minute transfer to the harbour, you will board the waiting Phoenix One for an incredible adventure and journey ahead. The first afternoon is spent relaxing, rigging and preparing for the next day’s fishing as the Phoenix steams overnight to the northern Wessel Islands. After a great sleep, you will awake with the mothership at anchor and it’s simply a case of having breakfast and fly fishing the full day ahead.
This magnificent trip includes a full 6 days fly fishing from a fleet of 3 fishing tenders with experienced guides, with a range of fishing options each day. The locations fished will vary throughout the week and include bays, islands, channels, bluewater, mangrove systems and rocky headlands to ensure you are getting the full fly fishing experience. The locations will also vary depending on tides, weather conditions and preferences of the group.
This includes fishing the magnificent sandy bays and flats for Permit and Blue Bastards, reef edges for Tusk Fish, mangrove systems for Barramundi and Mangrove Jack or deeper water and channels for Pelagic species such as Queenfish, Giant Trevally, Tuna. Most fishing will be done from the safety of the skiffs, while in some areas you can fish from the beaches and wade.
All steaming between locations and Gove harbour will be done at night to maximise your fishing time on the water.
Day of Arrival – Arrive at Gove Airport. A Waterline Charters representative will greet you at the airport and transfer guests to the boat to settle in and enjoy some light refreshments. Depending on tide times, Phoenix One will depart the harbour in the evening and travel through the night to the first fishing destination. The voyage is typically calm, with the odd ocean swell passing through some of the island passages. If you struggle with seasickness, crew can assist with medication. Dinner is served either before departing the harbour, or during a calm passage of the voyage.
Day One to Five – Breakfast is typically served from 6.00am each day. The fishing boats aim to leave the mothership around 7.00am. Guests have the option to maximise fishing time by requesting a packed lunch or can return to Phoenix One for lunch. Each fishing day runs to around 4.00pm-5.30pmdepending on the fishing and your preferences.
At the end of each day, the crew will clean your gear, hand you a refreshing face towel and a drink of your choice. You can then retire to the back deck or roof top spa, enjoying a choice of canapés until dinner is served at your groups preferred time.
Day Six – Breakfast is served as per your regular schedule and the boats leave for fishing at 7.00am. On the final day, anglers return to the mothership by 4.00pm to ensure all the fishing boats can be tethered to the ship for the return voyage. Phoenix One will travel through the night to return guests to Nhulunbuy Harbour.
Final Day – Breakfast will be served on Phoenix One and guests will be transferred to Gove airport for their flights home.
The Phoenix One is a beautifully appointed ship with crew, chef, waitress, skipper and first mate who will provide an unforgettable week of luxury fly fishing. The meals and premium drinks provided in the dining room, bar and outdoor lounge areas are all included in the weekly rate. There is also a communal lounge, upper deck and spa to relax at the end of the day, with a selection of fine staterooms available all with a private en-suite, daily housekeeping and laundry services.
Foxtel Satellite television is available in most rooms and lounge area, Wi-Fi available within range of Nhulunbuy, emergency satellite phone available for use, as well as AIS satellite location tracking and VHF and HF radios equipped on board with extensive medical facilities.
Three course evening meals include freshly caught seafood such as tuna, lobster, oysters, barramundi and wild prawns while fine cuts of meat such as pork belly and kangaroo are served throughout the week. Matched with fine Australian and New Zealand wines and beers, premium sprits are also available from the open bar and cellar. Breakfast includes fruit platters, freshly brewed coffee, cereals and cooked menu options.
The fly fishing opportunities daily are quite endless. Fishing 2:1 with your guide on a shared skiff basis there are a huge amount of waters, bays, flats and beaches to fish during your time there. With three skiffs in operation, there is more than enough water to cover, all within short 5-15 minute runs from the mothership, to maximise your fishing time each day. Packed lunches are taken out daily or you have the options of returning to the Phoenix for lunch.
The Gale-force 4.8m Dories are perfect for fly fishing with casting deck and electric motors on the bow for a stealthy approach on the flats and island edges. At the stern, they are each powered by 70hp Yamaha engines and marine radios to keep in contact with the other guides and anglers throughout the day.
All species including Permit and Blue Bastards can be sight-casted targeted from the skiffs over the vast flats which range from 2-5 feet deep, interlined with deeper channels, some reef structure and adjacent islands in each bay. These large fish are very strong and provide excellent and challenging sport on ten weight outfits, with both available in excess of 10kgs.
With good visibility, some of these flats and sand-spits can be waded on foot or you can fish from the pristine sand beaches in bare feet to stalk Permit, Bastards, Queenfish and some GT’s. Well-presented shrimps and crabs work well, in conjunction with smooth drag systems, tropical floating and sink-tip lines.
Around the rocky headlands and shores of each Island, you will also find Brassy Trevally to 10kg’s which very similar to a GT provide great sport. On the backs of Sharks and Rays, you can often cast to dozens of fish, all willing to pounce on your fly and provide non-stop action. Coral Trout and the elusive green Tusk Fish can also be sight casted in and amongst the coral reef systems while out wide schools of Long Tail tuna do move through the region.
The Phoenix One will be moored in the northern bays for the majority of the week before changing anchorage down south on the final evening to chase Barramundi and mangrove species on the final day. All steaming in the mothership is done in the evenings and at night to ensure a full 6 days fly fishing. Ideal tides are either side of the low which will provide great water to sight-fish all week.
On booking you will be provided with a full and comprehensive pre-trip guide to ensure you are well prepared both on and off the water.
“The level of excellence in every aspect of the Phoenix One and the crew was a fitting match for the pristine environment of the Wessel Islands. The guides were outstanding and put you in a position where an accurate cast was rewarded with the sing of the backing stretched to its tightest; a tussle where a wily blue bastard heading to the reef will have you tying a new leader with hands trembling in excitement; or being photographed without having to be told to smile”
Royce Baxter
“The boat, crew, guides and food were exceptional. Captain Matt and first mate Ben run a beautiful vessel and work hard to keep it in pristine condition. Our hostesses Georgia and Elle were wonderful. They were a great site when the skiffs pulled up at the end of the day and I felt guilty being pampered so much. They were beautiful ambassadors for not only the Phoenix One but the country of Australia. Chef Ashley produced a fine dining experience that rivals the finest restaurants and we enjoyed wonderful wines throughout the week. What was really a bonus was our group. Wonderful personalities and downright great people. I not only found success in the fishery, I made some great new friends. I can’t wait to return next year”.
Rod Wentworth
Creating and sharing memorable travel experiences with our clients and friends provides us with genuine satisfaction. All of our trips are bespoke, tailored to your needs and we always love hearing all about the adventure on your return.
Our knowledge of travel logistics saves you time, and our highly experienced team is here to ensure its spent on the water and not at the desk or on a long flight connection that you didn’t require. Since 2006 we have developed a valued client-base that has travelled to all corners of the globe.
We are a fully-accredited travel agency, where all of our flights, accommodation and associated travel bookings are done in-house, which means that you pay less. We have access to a huge range of specials, deals, great volume pricing and excellent currency exchange rates which allows us to pass these benefits directly onto you.
On the fishing front, our extensive expertise and experience around prime seasons, species, moon-phases, tides and personalised customer service is centered around one principal – preparation. This includes detailed gear and equipment lists, the fly patterns, transfer details, up-to date fishing reports and some of the finer aspects that can often be overlooked.
We travel extensively and understand that your free-time is important. Just as we all understand from experience, that the key to a successful trip is pre-trip preparation.
Our highly experienced team has fly fished the world for the last 25 years, and we understand the considerations and gear needed to turn a good fly fishing trip into a great one.
Fly fishing and travel is our passion. It’s all we do.