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GENERAL QUERIES
- Your own lunch and drinks, including water
- Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen & a wet weather jacket
- A filleting knife to clean your fish at the end of the day
- A large esky filled with ice to transport your fish home
- BYO alcohol is permitted but please restrict to cans and plastic where possible. Alcohol must be consumed responsibly.
- Pillows, sheets, quilts / sleeping bag, towel and toiletries for your accommodation and liveaboard charters
Absolutely! Whilst we've got everything on board that you'll need, you are welcome to bring your own rods and tackle, we will just check it out on the day to ensure it is suitable to fish the local waters.
We primarily operate out of Pondalowie Bay in Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park. You will be advised at least 24 hours beforehand if the departure point is changed to Marion Bay. If departing from Pondalowie Bay you will be required to meet on the beach near the boat ramp in the Pondalowie Fisherman’s Village; please allow 30 minutes to travel to Pondalowie Bay from Marion Bay. As you will be entering the National Park, you are required to purchase a Parks Pass online. No hard copy is required to be printed. If departing from Marion Bay please meet in the Marion Bay boat ramp car park 5 minutes before departure time.
Marion Bay is located approximately 300km from Adelaide on the bottom end of Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. To reach Marion Bay you travel via Port Wakefield, Minlaton and Warooka. The drive takes approximately 3 hours without stops.
Marion Bay is a small country town and, as such, please understand that services are limited. The General Store sells miscellaneous groceries, fishing gear, bait and some frozen meats. Fuel is also available here, and standard takeaway can be ordered up until 2pm. The Marion Bay Tavern & Motel serves great pub meals and is often frequented by our charter clients - bookings are recommended. Other than that, our suggestion is to bring what you can with you, especially fresh fruit & veg items.
No matter what your experience is, you can do a fishing charter! We take out a wide range of perople - from those who have never been fishing before to extreme diehard fishing fanatics. We're a family friendly, female friendly fishing charter. If you have not been fishing before we can recommend the best charter experience to suit your needs. If you don’t have the numbers for a group, have a chat to us and we will work to put you with like-minded people.
Children aged over 12 years are recommended. Children under 12 are allowed but we first like to discuss their boating experience and the expectations of the parent while on the charter. Children must be under adult supervision at all times and parents are recommended to provide a life jacket to wear while on the boat.
Our crew is fully qualified and takes your safetly very seriously.
Owner / operator Ryan Valente is a Master 5 / Skipper 3 with Marine Engine Driver 3 training and a Senior First Aid Certificate.
All charters also have a deckhand on board who are required to, at minimum, pass Elements of Shipboard Safety.
Our fishing is great all year round however due to the inconsistency in weather conditions we choose to take the winter months of July, August, September off and during this time undertake our maintenance and have a break ourselves.
Charter boat bag limits may vary to recreational limits, you can find the charter boat industry bag limits at https://www.pir.sa.gov.au/fishing/recreational_fishing/charter_boat_fishery
Catering is not a standard charter inclusion, however it can be arranged for exclusive use bookings for an additional charge. Details must be advised on booking.
If you are staying at our accommodation there are household fridges and freezers at the properties. For interstate clients, we can provide a contact for refrigerated interstate transport from Adelaide.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
As you coordinate with your group to determine a date, we are happy to work with you and, if agreed in writing, can tentatively pencil you into a requested date for a limited time. A $100 deposit per person per day is required to confirm the booking, with final payment due in the week before the charter.
All charters must meet minimum numbers (or equivalent minimum charge) in order to operate. If these numbers are not met, the charter will not proceed and you will be entitled to a full refund or credit. We will always endeavour to fill the boat to the maximum of 12 people for each charter unless an exclusive use agreement is made in writing.
Our tender boat is launched from the beach, requiring clients to remove their shoes and step into the water to board. Long clothing may also risk becoming wet if not rolled or pulled up. Clients are required to have a level of mobility that allows them to climb into the tender boat and then board the vessel from the tender via a boarding platform and steps. Some swell may be present when boarding or disembarking the tender.
We monitor the weather regularly across multiple sites in the lead up to all charters and will contact you approximately 3-4 days prior to your tour if conditions are not looking acceptable to operate. Whilst we endeavour to provide as much notice of cancellation as possible, the weather can be highly changable and, at times, last minute calls can be made. We encourage you to let us know if you require a specific amount of notice of cancellation due to travel committments etc. If Reef Encounters Pty Ltd cancels your charter due to adverse weather conditions then all monies paid are fully refundable or transferrable to an alternate date.
We primarily operate out of Pondalowie Bay in Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park. You will be advised at least 24 hours beforehand if the departure point is changed to Marion Bay. If departing from Pondalowie Bay you will be required to meet on the beach near the boat ramp in the Pondalowie Fisherman’s Village; please allow 30 minutes to travel to Pondalowie Bay from Marion Bay. As you will be entering the National Park, you are required to purchase a Parks Pass online. No hard copy is required to be printed. If departing from Marion Bay please meet in the Marion Bay boat ramp car park 5 minutes before departure time.
Motion sickness can be a problem for some people, we recommend you seek advice if you feel you may be susceptible. Unfortunately, unless all persons on board are in mutual agreement, we are unable to return clients suffering from seasickness to the beach earlier than scheduled.
Gift certificates are non-refundable, non-transferrable, and strictly valid for three years from the date of issue; we encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment as extensions will not be given. Please bear in mind when planning to book that Reef Encounters Pty Ltd does not operate during the months of July, August and September, failure to book within our standard operating season does not constitute a reason for refund or extension.
It is the responsibility of the recipient to:
- Read all FAQ's on our website to be aware of general booking conditions
- Contact us via phone, email, or online to check availability and make a booking
- Advise us of the gift certificate code when asked
Please be aware that your gift certificate is valid for the total dollar value only as shown on the certificate. In the event of a pricing increase between the purchase of your certificate and the time of booking your charter, you will be liable for payment of the difference.
CANCELLATION POLICY
We must be advised immediately if there is a reduction in original booking numbers and/or you wish to cancel your charter entirely. Upon notification by you, we will attempt to fill the remaining spot(s). If we cannot fill the spot(s) the relevant cancellation fee will apply.
Cancellations made more than 14 days prior to your charter date are eligible for a full refund. Alternatively, any monies paid can be transferred to an alternate mutually convenient date. Cancellations made less than 14 days but more than 7 days prior to your charter date will result in the loss of your deposit in it's entirety. Cancellations made less than 7 days prior to your charter date, or no-shows on the day, will result in a loss of 100% of the charter cost.