MONTEBELLO ISLANDS LIVE ABOARD CHARTERS

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT ON A MONTEBELLO ISLAND CHARTER?

Sunday - Arrive on vessel at 2pm
Arrive Sunday and the 70ft Lady Grace will be ready for boarding at 2pm at the Exmouth Marina, Madaffarri Drive Exmouth. Once your gear is stowed and a safety brief is complete we will leave Exmouth for Long Island (Serrurier Island), where we will anchor for the night. Enjoy your evening meal and dip into the esky for your icy cold beers while sitting back in the remote areas off WA on the Lady Grace, feel free to wet a line tonight.

MONDAY
Departing anchorage very early in the morning, our on board cook will prepare your hearty cooked breakfast of bacon, eggs, sausages, beans or spaghetti and toast. We will fish our way to the Montebello's trolling at Rosily Cays for Spanish mackerel and over tho Penguin Bank for a chance of a few sailfish. We will then fish our way up to Barrow Island chasing all the favourite bottom species such as Red Emporer, Spangled Emporer, Rankin Cod and Coral Trout plus heaps more. Lunch is served in between fishing sessions. After a full days fishing we will anchor for the night at the Monties where our on board cook will serve your dinner. Enjoy an evening with your mates, retelling the day’s events with an icy cold beer.

TUESDAY
Up early for a big cooked breakfast and off the work—fishing that is!! Get ready for another action packed day of bottom fishing and working the top for pelagic action of Mackerel and Sailfish. Take a quick break for lunch, then it’s back to fishing. Enjoy the evening, relaxing on the Lady Grace, the beers are cold and your freshly caught fish has been filleted and snap frozen for you.

WEDNESDAY
Pretty much like yesterday, it’s all about the fishing. Fishing outwide chasing Reds, Rankins, Trout and Spangled Emporer as well as a Spanish Mackerel or two. After another hard days fishing its back to a beautiful calm anchorage at the island group were all you have to do is sit back relax and have a few drinks while our onboard cook prepares the evening meal.

THURSDAY
After breakfast, it’s up and at them again, we can fish out wide or stay and sports fish inside the island group using our 4.5m tender with 40hp electric trim and tilt outboard to get you to places fast. You can throw poppers for GT’s and fish the shallows for a range of different species.

FRIDAY
Last day, another big cooked breakfast and we head out wide and fish and troll our way back to Exmouth for an approx ETA of 5pm back at the Exmouth Marina. Dinner is not supplied tonight; we recommend a very short walk to the Game Fishing club or catch the taxi into town for more options. You are welcome to stay on board the vessel tonight and depart by 8am Saturday morning. Trophies are announced tonight.

SATURDAY
Please depart the boat by 8am. Your fish will be frozen and packed into your eskies for you to take with you.

All fish kept must adhere to all fishing rules and regulations. Fish bag limits per person – 20kg of fillets. Subject o change without notice.

This Itinerary May Be Subject To Change Due To Weather and tidal conditions.

How many on the charter?
We have a minimum of 10 passengers or a maximum of 12 passengers. Plus Apache Skipper, Cook and deckhand.

What do we supply on the charter?
All fishing gear, bait, ice, tackle and trolling lures. Ice for drinks. All main meals, tea/coffee, drinking water from tap. On board accommodation, Skipper, cook and deckhand.

What don't we supply on the charter?
Alcohol, bottled water, soft drinks and snacks such as lollies, peanuts, crisps etc

What do you need to bring on the charter?
Sleeping bag, pillow, single sheet, personal toiletries, towel, alcohol, bottled water if preferred, soft drinks, snacks (i.e. lollies, chips, chocolate if needed.) and sunscreen. Please also bring along an esky and leave it in your car for when the charter has finished for your fish.

What clothing should I pack?
Please pack your belongings into a soft bag - not big suitcases. If you have booked an Exmouth charter we suggest you pack for warmer/hot weather but pack a jumper just in case. Don't forget your hat, thongs and sunscreen.

What time do I get to board the vessel on Sunday?
Arrival time/boarding time is 2pm, please do not try and board earlier as refusal may offend. If you are getting dropped off by the Airport Bus, then feel free to leave your gear with the boat and head into town to get any supplies you may need. Once all clients are boarded, the vessel will depart the marina.

What type of food is provided?
Breakfast - is varied but consists of a selection on the following bacon, eggs, sausage, beans, or bacon/egg cheese muffin, or scrambled eggs.

Lunch—is varied but consists of, cold meat and salad wraps, cooked cold chicken and salad, hamburgers, chicken stir fry.

Morning /afternoon teas - fruit cake and biscuits.

Happy hour - cheese and crackers.

Dinner - is also varied but consists of mainly fresh fish, crumbed fish, and battered fish with one night of BBQ mixed grill with scotch fillet steak. Salads, vegetables, bread. Some nights we also serve dessert.

Where do I sleep?
The Lady Grace has a few options for sleeping arrangements. There are:
- 4 single beds on enclosed flybridge
- 4 single beds on main deck – under cover
- 9 single beds in air-conditioned dorm style cabins (not private cabins)
- 2 double beds in downstairs cabin
Nb all beds are dorm style; there is not individual private cabins

What fishing gear is supplied? Quality fishing gear supplied like Fin-or 650 spooled with 50 pound braid for bottom fishing and Shimano Tiagra trolling reels. We supply trolling lures and bait.
Can I bring my own tackle?
Yes, you can bring your own rods and tackle. We do not supply jigs and soft plastics.

How is the fish handled?
All fish is filleted daily by our crew and is then snap frozen in our on board commercial freezers. At the end of the trip, all fillets are then packed into your eskies.

How is the fish packed?
All fish is filleted and wrapped into freezer bags and frozen on board by our crew. Apache supply all the bags etc. All fish will be packed into you esky prior to your departure.

What’s the fish regulation?
All fish caught must comply with all Dept of Fisheries rules and regulations; fish bag limits currently 20kg fillets in Pilbara zone.

Do I need a fishing licence RFBL?
No, you don't need to have your own licence; all of our clients are covered under our Fishing Tour Operators Licence.

How do I get my fish home?
Recreational caught fish cannot be transported unaccompanied and cannot be transported with a commercial carrier. You must accompany your fish at all times if transporting by sea, land or air. At the end of the charter, you must take your fish with you; we cannot store your fish due to current fishing personal possession regulations. We recommend you book additional baggage when booking your flights to save on extra baggage fees at the airport, if you are flying.

What is the mobile coverage like?
Telstra probably has the best mobile reception; however this is sporadic and is not reliable at all. We do fish in remote areas and most of the charter clients will be without reception. Better time of day is in the evening and texting seems to work best. However in case of emergencies and your family needs to get hold of you, we do have a satellite phone the vessel which you can text or call. Texting is the best option as it’s about $20 per minute to call. The number is 0011 87077 6418064. We would suggest that if your family needs to get hold of you, call the Apache office on 0893392432 during office hours and our office staff will contact the boat for you. If it’s an emergency after hours, Michelle's private mobile is 0409968371 or Matt 0417968372.

So what's on the Lady Grace?
- Large Table which Seats 15 on Back Deck
- Lounge and Full Galley
- Satellite TV–– So You Won't Miss The Footy! Two Toilets
- Two Hot Water Showers
- Two toilets
- Desalination Plant
- CD Stereo with Speakers on Back Deck, Bring Your IPod/iphone to plug in your tunes
- 2 x Commercial 1t Freezers Heaps of Ice Boxes Heaps of Storage
- Plenty Of Room For Fishing - boasting the biggest and best deck to fish from.
- Stessco tender

Drinks
The Bottle shop is located in the Exmouth Town which is about 5-10 minutes away. If you don't have a car, please call the local taxi service, the Apache crew can advise current numbers for you. If you need a large order, let the Apache office know and we can order at the local Bottle O and arrange delivery to the boat before you arrive. You will need to pay the Liquor Store direct prior to you charter.

Airport Information
The airport is Exmouth/Learmonth which is about 40 minutes drive from the Exmouth marina jetty. Only Qantas operates flights to Exmouth. . Flights are daily and we recommend you book your additional 20kg baggage when booking your flights.

Airport Transfers
We recommend you book your airport transfer with Exmouth Bus Charter tel 99494623 or a/h 0429091922 exmouthbuscharter@westnet.com.au. The fee is approx $35 each way and the bus will drop you to the Exmouth Marina, Madaffari Drive Exmouth. Please also book your return transfer, the bus generally collects you from the Marina, near the Game Fishing Club.

Foam Eskies
We do encourage you to bring your own esky and leave it in your car at Exmouth. However if you are flying or have need an esky, we can purchase some for you on the Saturday morning and your fish which has been frozen will be placed in your esky for your return trip. Approx $10 per esky.

Car Parking
We leave our cars at the Exmouth Marina and have done so for many years, and have never had any issues.

Additional Accommodation
If you require any additional accommodation we recommend our guests to stay at the Mantarays Resort which is located also at the Exmouth Marina. Call the office to make a booking for you, as we can receive very special rates. Mantarays tel 99490000 or www.mantaraysningalooresort.com.au