If you’ve ever been on a Swains Reef fishing charter, you’ll know there’s nothing quite like it. Ten days on the water with a solid crew, rods in hand, beers in the esky, and reef species coming over the side thick and fast. And our most recent trip from 7–17 June 2025? It was one for the books.
A Mixed Bag of Legends
Seventeen passengers from NSW, QLD, and WA jumped aboard this one—youngest was 24, oldest was 74, and every single one of ’em came ready for a good time. Didn’t take long before the yarns were flying, the tackle was getting a workout, and the deckies were earning their keep.
The weather gave us 2 absolute pearler days, followed by 8 solid ones. No complaints. The kind of trip where your arms are sore from hauling, and your cheeks are sore from laughing.
The Fish Were ON
Over the 10 days, we ticked off more species than you can poke a gaff at. We’re talking:
🎣 Common Coral Trout
🎣 Red Emperor
🎣 Red Throat Emperor
🎣 Maori Rock Cod
🎣 Green Jobfish
🎣 Tuskies, Hussar, Jobfish, S-Flag
🎣 Plus a few no-take beauties like the Barramundi Cod and Chinaman Fish (snapped a few pics and sent ’em back swimming)
There were a ton of first-time catches—you could see the stoke all over their faces. That’s what the Swains does. Gets you hooked on reef fishing all over again.
But the highlight catch? Easy. Bill’s 140cm Spanish Mackerel. An absolute donkey of a fish. We’re still not sure who won that fight, but the esky definitely got heavier.
Not Just About the Fishing… Kind Of
Look, we all come for the fish—but the life on board is what really makes these trips. Early brekkies with the sun coming up, arvo sessions on the bow, cold ones at sunset, and solid banter rolling 24/7.
This trip had a few extra moments that made it special:
🎉 Ben & Gab’s birthdays were celebrated in proper reef style—with cake, cheers, and a boatload of mates around them.
📡 Starlink is now running onboard, which meant we could watch the footy live. Yep—cheering on your team in the middle of nowhere, under a sky full of stars. That’s next-level charter life.
Thinking About Booking a Swains Reef Fishing Trip?
These trips aren’t just about catching fish (though you’ll do plenty of that). They’re about unplugging from the daily grind, reconnecting with good blokes, and making memories you’ll be talking about at the pub for years.
If you’ve been thinking about booking a group fishing charter to the Swains, consider this your sign. Spots fill up quick—and once you’ve been, you’ll know why.
📩 Enquire now: bookings@easternvoyager.com.au
With warm regards,
Tony and the team
