There is excellent fishing, and then there is fishing from a mothership. If you want to pamper yourself, this is as good as it gets.
You can invite your friends, family, and fishing buddies and head out to some really great depths and fish for some big game fish.
And there’s no limit – you could be fishing the waters off of Cairns where Black Marlin congregate, travel around the Pacific, or go trolling off the coast of Mozambique.
Today, we’re going to explore all the fuss around fishing from a mothership. Feast your eyes, as these boats are pure delight for anyone, not just a hardcore angler!
What Is a Mothership, Anyway?
A mothership is a big vessel that you use for travel and accommodation. You can cover hundreds of miles to reach various fishing spots. Once you arrive at the desired destination, you board smaller game boats and head out to fish.
Motherships are powerhouses. Not only are they stable and strong, but they are mostly built for splendor. These big vessels, many of which are cutting-edge yachts, are fit for a king. They are called motherships because they carry other, smaller vessels that you use for fishing.
It’s an incredible experience, that’s for sure. You can head out of Cairns and fish the Great Barrier Reef, catch and release – or even better, tag – Marlin, then head west towards the Northern Territory where you can hop on tender boats and fish for Barramundi in estuaries. Or, you can head out of Mozambique and travel all the way to Australia or the Gulf of Mexico. There is really no limit to your fishing destinations, nor is there a limit when it comes to the big fish you can catch.
A mothership business can only be successful with a whole crew. Or several in most cases. Often each smaller boat will have its own crew. For instance, the mothership will have its own captain and first mate. Then, depending on how fancy you want the experience to be, it could have a butler, a chef, an entertainer, cleaning staff, and much more.
Most of the time you’ll be fishing for Marlin, Sailfish, Swordfish, some exotic reef fish or bottom-dwelling species, and so on. It takes a whole crew of professional fishermen to reel these fish in, but most likely you will be getting a really big bang for your buck.
Why Would You Pay For a Mothership?
Being able to fish so many different places, catch big fish, and see the far ends of the world is every angler’s dream. But is it worth the money?
Chartering a mothership essentially means renting two boats – the mothership and the sportfishing vessel. Depending on which part of the world you are in, you can get different services. Some mothership trips are all-inclusive, whereas on others you need to cover the fuel costs or bring your own fishing gear.
Anglers who are hooked on mothership fishing claim there is nothing quite like it. You wake up near the fishing grounds and start reeling in your Billfish within minutes of setting out. Each day starts close to the fishing spot, so there’s no time wasted. More importantly, you can focus on fishing 100%. The crew of the mothership and the crew of your sportfishing boat take care of the logistics – you just keep an eye on that reel.
Plus, with a mothership, you can fish almost everywhere. The big mothership will take you to a location out on the ocean. After that, you can anchor and hop on a smaller boat to explore the nearby islands, snorkel, dive, and fish. Then, at the end of the day, you can come back to the mothership.
Motherships are often used for tournament fishing, where you need to travel 200 miles to get a 900-pound Marlin. Having an entire crew at your disposal can really save you the time and strength that you so dearly need when fishing for a “grander” (a 1,000-pound Marlin).
But motherships are not only made for serious anglers. Oftentimes, big parties of people rent them to go on the cruise of their lives, either with family, colleagues, or friends. In the Caribbean, motherships are a popular way to spend your well-deserved vacation, exploring numerous islands and going snorkeling and occasionally wetting the line.
The Drawback of a Mothership
Despite the flexibility that fishing from a mothership gives you, there are several problems that can dampen your chances of success, primarily by costing you extra time.
The biggest issue is getting both – or more – vessels safely from one spot to another. Some motherships are big enough to carry the sportfishing vessel onboard. In other cases, the sportfishing vessel is steered separately, and finally, you can transport your fishing vessel under tow.
You need the right speed to successfully tow the fishing boat and the weather plays a big role here. If there is a lot of wind, it can be challenging to protect the towed boat from high tides and wind.
Sometimes, the wind can also cause problems when you’re about to unhook the fishing vehicle, which can cause a lot of frustration.
Of course, the choice of boat is a challenge in itself. If each vessel is traveling on its own, you have to synchronize the speed of each vessel and make sure they arrive at the destination at the same time. Sometimes, the two vessels don’t make it at the same time, so you might end up losing a day or two of fishing.
So, Should You Charter a Mothership or Not?
If you have the money to pay for a mothership, you should try it out. Especially if you’re a serious angler who spends time looking for monster fish to tick off the bucket list.
Motherships provide stability and a lot of extra space. You can pack as many fishing gadgets as needed, have a lot of cooler space for your catch, and you still have plenty of room left. Compared to a bigger sportfishing vessel, the mothership-fishing boat tandem gives you more space, greater flexibility, and overall a more enjoyable experience.
On a 30–60’ sportfishing vessel, it’s not always feasible for a group to take turns and fish for Billfish on a single day trip. With a mothership, travelers can take turns fishing. As one group fishes, the other can rest by the pool – a lot of modern motherships come with this option. Also, if the weather isn’t pleasant enough for those with seasickness, they can just stay behind, as hardcore fishers scout the offshore waters for Marlin and Tuna on overcast days.
Mothership Fishing: Endless Fishing Opportunities
Fishing from a mothership doesn’t have to be about offshore fishing and Marlin only. Some operators, such as the Frontier Fishing Mothership Charter, take you fishing in sheltered estuaries.
Based out of Darwin, Capt. Blane’s 65 ft Royal Navy motor yacht can take you offshore where you can get Red Emperor and Coral Trout. Then you can come back inshore and board tender boats (small boats that are used to carry supplies/equipment for bigger boats) to go chase Barramundi.
Further north in Kaimana, Indonesia, Capt. Teddy of Papua Fishing takes his customers offshore for some of the hottest Papuan Giant Trevally bite.
Once you get tired of Trevally, you can get back on your mothership and head inshore. There you can get on inshore boats and do fly fishing for Papuan Black Bass. It’s one of the most versatile experiences there is!
So, what about you? Have you ever been fishing on a mothership? Where did you go and what fish did you catch? We’d like to hear your stories in the comments below!