Frequently Asked Questions
What should I bring with me?
Suitable clothing and footwear must be worn, we advise people to wear multiple layers so you can match what you are wearing to the temperature and wind chill. Sun cream, sunglasses and a sun hat are highly recommend in the summer. Our weather forecasters are famously inaccurate so its always worth bringing a waterproof jacket and trouser on all but the most favourable weather forecasts. You may also need some food, drink and some mints , or boiled sweets if you are susceptible to seasickness.
Do you have disabled access?
Unfortunately we do not have access for disabled people or people in wheel chairs. Access to the boat is often down multiple steps which can be slippery and uneven. We also do not have a door on the side of the boat so you will need to be able to step over the gunnels and railings. We do have steps on the boat but you need to be physically mobile to access the boat.
Can I bring my child ?
We love taking families out with us, and are happy to take children of any age as long as they are with an adult. Children will also need to be booked on the trip. We would recommend that children aren’t taken on longer trips unless they are used to boats and being on the water for extended periods of time. if you have any queries give us a call.
Do you supply gear and bait?
We can supply bottom fishing gear but we do not supply lure fishing gear or lures if you are booking onto a lure fishing trip you will need suitable tackle and lures for the duration of the trip. Bait is not included in the price of the trip but frozen mackerel and Squid can be arrange if prior notice is given but this will need paying for.
Where can I park?
There is a short stay carpark on ilfracombe pier and there are many others within a 10minute walk of the pier. please see our location information for more detail. The carparks can get very busy in the middle of the day in peak summer weeks so please give yourself plenty of time to find somewhere to park and to make your way to the pier.
How can i pay the balance of my booking?
Cash is preferred and easiest but we can also take payment via PAYPAL and we do have the Zettle app on the skippers phone so card payments are possible as long as we have 3G or 4G signal (which can sometimes be questionable). Full payment is required before leaving the boat some people prefer to settle up as soon as they get on the boat others do it on the way back into port. Please try not to leave it until you are disembarking as the landings are often busy and we don’t want to stop other vessels boarding or dropping their passengers off.
What if the weather prevents us from going?
Unfortunately the weather does result in a number of cancelled trips in the year. the skipper will make a decision 48 hours before the trip sometimes if the weather is marginal it will be made the evening before, we will notify you of the decision as soon as we can so please ensure you provide contact details when booking. If a trip has to be cancelled you will have the option to reschedule if possible or have a full refund of your deposit. about 30% of trips have to be cancelled due to weather so its often a good idea to book more than one trip to save disappointment. We do not take any responsibility for any additional costs you may have incurred i.e hotel or travel arrangements
What if I can’t make the trip?
We do not refund deposits unless the trip is cancelled by the skipper, you are able to transfer your booking to someone else but please let us know so we can recorded it in the diary.
Do I need to wear a life jacket?
You do not need to wear a life jacket on the boat, the boat is coded and does have enough SOLAS approved life jackets for everyone aboard. the life jackets are rigid foam filled life jackets so are not practical to wear whilst fishing. if you wish to bring your own lifejacket and wear it for the duration of the trip then that is fine but not necessary.
Is there a toilet?
We do have a toilet onboard.
Can I keep what I catch?
We promote catch and release but if you want to keep a couple fish for the table then that’s fine, we would ask all anglers to return large specimens and rare fish rather than keeping them. you must also abide by fish catch limits associated with size and quantity for example bass is a maximum of two fish per angler with a minimum size of 42cm.