Looking to experience the best angling opportunities that Sydney has to offer? Hop aboard Ambition Charters, run by one of the most experienced captains in the area!  Captain Ivan Bennett has been fishing for over 50 years now, is a lover of marine life, and can’t wait to make sure you have the adventure of a lifetime aboard his boat.

Many of Capt. Ivan’s fishing years have been spent with the Sydney Game Fishing Club, tournament fishing for big game species – as well as winning and placing high on the scoreboards. He’s a fun and intelligent captain who will teach you anything you need to know about the fish in this area, and the best techniques you should use to hook ‘em.

You’ll fish aboard his 40’ Precision flybridge boat, with plenty of room for up to 6 guests. Anglers of all skill levels are welcome, so bring along the whole family or your best angling buddies. She’s fully equipped with all the safety features including a liferaft, as well as the latest Furuno electronics.

You’ll also find a flybridge, toilet, shower, a kitchen with a refrigerator, and a TV on board this boat. The icebox will be used to keep your catch nice and fresh until you return to the shore. Please note that all Marlin species are strictly catch and release.

Ambition Charters will take you fishing in the pristine blue waters of Watson Bay, as well as further offshore into the deep. Get ready to cast your line for Black, Blue and Striped Marlin, Mahi Mahi, Yellowfin Tuna, and Yellowtail Amberjack. These species put up a serious fight, so there’ll be rod-bending action aplenty!

Capt. Ivan will provide you with the necessary equipment, including Shimano rods, reels and tackle, live and artificial bait, and a fishing license. You can take advantage of the onboard fighting chair and outriggers to maximize your catching potential, too. Your fishing license is covered by your captain, so come aboard Ambition Charters and get ready to discover what these prolific waters hold!



Select date to see available trips and rates:

  • Private trip
    10 Hour Tuna Trip
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    10 Hour Trip, starts at 7:00 AM
    Seasonal trip May 1 - Nov 30
    US $1,563
    If you want to battle some beasts of the deep, join your captain in the late summer through winter, when Yellowfin, Bluefin, and Albacore Tuna show up in the waters around Sydney! You will depart at 7:00 a.m. from Watsons Bay, heading to the top fishing grounds around 20–30 miles offshore to troll or drift for your target species. Your fishing gear and license are included.
  • Private trip
    10 Hour Game Fishing
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    10 Hour Trip, starts at 7:00 AM
    US $1,629
    Come target some of the world's most famous big game fish on this 10-hour adventure! You'll depart early and head to the hottest fishing grounds, which vary from day-to-day. Depending on what's biting, you'll either troll, live bait, or skip bait for Marlin, Mahi Mahi, and Tuna. You will be returning to the Port between 5 and 6PM depending on the bite. During autumn and winter, you'll find Mako Sharks on offer, too – perfect for those who like high-flying fish! Your license and fishing gear are included.
    Fishing techniques
    Deep Sea Fishing
    Jigging
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FAQs about Ambition Charters

Ambition Charters offers the following trips to customers:
  • AU $2,400 per group - 10 Hour Tuna Trip (10 hours)
  • AU $2,500 per group - 10 Hour Game Fishing (10 hours)

When you book a trip with Ambition Charters, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • Toilet
  • GPS Furuno
  • Fishfinder Furuno
  • Flybridge
  • Live Bait Well
  • Refrigerator
  • Outriggers
  • Tuna Tubes
  • Ice Box
  • Radar Furuno

Trips booked with Ambition Charters include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle (Shimano)
  • Live Bait (if needed are caught on the day)
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • Drinks (Soft drinks and water)
  • First Mate
  • Fishing License

Ambition Charters offers the following types of fishing:
  • Nearshore Fishing
  • Offshore Fishing (Up To 30 Miles)

Ambition Charters offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light Tackle (All Shimano Up To 24kg)
  • Trolling (Shimano)
  • Jigging (Shimano)
  • Drift Fishing (For Sharks And Tuna)
  • Deep Sea Fishing

Top targeted fish species with Ambition Charters include:
  • Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
  • Marlin (Black)
  • Marlin (Blue)
  • Marlin (Striped)
  • Shark (Mako)
  • Snapper (Pink)
  • Tuna (Yellowfin)
  • Yellowtail Amberjack

Meet the Captain

Ivan Bennett
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
96 Fishing Reports
24 Customer reviews
Response time within an hour
Member since November 2016
I have been a fisherman since I was a kid, when I developed a love for the seas and everything that lives in and on the oceans. It's my passion! I have been a member of the Sydney Game Fishing Club for over 30 years, and have fished competitively along the East Coast of NSW from Bermagui to Ballina for the various game fish species found along our coast. I started my chartering business in the year 2000.

About this listing

Targeted species

Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Marlin (Black) Black Marlin
Marlin (Blue) Blue Marlin
Marlin (Striped) Striped Marlin

Boat specs

Precision (Sportfishing) originally built in 1987, and restored in 2010. Powered by 2 370HP Iveco engines, with a maximum cruising speed of 22 knots.

Length
40 ft
Capacity
6 persons

Types of fishing

Nearshore Fishing
Offshore Fishing
Up To 30 Miles

Fishing techniques

Light Tackle
All Shimano Up To 24kg
Trolling
Shimano
Jigging
Shimano
Drift Fishing
For Sharks And Tuna
Deep Sea Fishing

Amenities

Toilet
GPS
Furuno
Fishfinder
Furuno
Flybridge
Live Bait Well
Refrigerator

Trip includes

Rods, reels & tackle
Shimano
Live Bait
if needed are caught on the day
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
Drinks
Soft drinks and water
First Mate
Fishing License

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 7 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 7 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.

Listing policies

Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child Friendly
Over 10 Years Old
No Smoking
You Keep Catch
No Marlin are killed...
Catch and Release Allowed
Catch and Release Mandatory
Marlin Are Strictly Released

Payment

Book with 15% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 15% deposit to guarantee your reservation.

The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:

Cash
Bank Transfer

Sydney Fishing Calendar

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Recent fishing reports

Ambition report 11th.March’24
Ambition report 11th.March’24
March 12, 2024
Autumn has always been the best time of year for Game Fishing out of Sydney. Generally speaking, this is when we encounter the larger fish of the species rather than numbers. Although having said that this Autumn has been exceptional, so far. Over the last couple of weeks both Blue and Striped Marlin as well as Mahi Mahi have shown up in numbers off Sydney. The Mahi Mahi as is usual are found around the various F.A.D’s with live bait producing the bigger fish, being the first boat at the spot helps as they can become spooky when there is too much boat traffic. As for the Marlin, they could be anywhere. Usually however, if you find the bait you’ll find the Marlin, but not always. Sometimes you’ll find the bait before the Marlin, as a friend of mine, Steve Baker (Fly By Night) did. He found heaps of bait well North of the ‘Bait Station’, worked it for several hours for no result. The next day Rob Molnar in his boat ‘On Call’ had a blinder of a day raising fourteen Marlin in that same area. On the day Steve found the bait North of the ‘Bait Station’ I was out with Jamie McKay on ‘Ground Swell’ fishing an area a couple of miles South of them where there was scattered bait. We had a great day too. We’d already bagged out on Mahi Mahi and ended up raising eight Marlin of which we tagged three, all Blues ranging from 130 kg. to 180 kg. We should have had two more but for a broken hook and another mishap which I will not go into, if you want more info just ask Jamie. From what I heard on the radio almost everyone fishing for Marlin over the last week or so have caught or raised Marlin with many being pack attacked by Stripies. Around the shelf area where the bait tends to stack up is where most of the action for them has been. But out around Browns both North and South out to four hundred fathoms there have been Stripies and Blues with the occasional sighting of Yellowfin tuna. Frustratingly Stripies are habitually finicky when it comes to lures and tough to hook so ‘Bait and Switch’, live baiting as well as skipping baits is the most effective method to hook them though teasing them on lures works too. What to me is most interesting is the water temperature. We were reading 28.5 degrees which I confirmed with other boats. In the past we’d consider 27 degrees too hot and look for cooler water. Yet here we are with a great bite and much hotter water. I suppose one answer is that our on-board gauges have a limited range over which they are accurate. Another potential answer is these above high temperatures are only a surface layer of maybe only a metre or two in depth leaving the bait below in a more comfortable zone. Well whatever is happening the fishing is great and if it keeps up the S.G.F.C’s annual Peter Goadby Memorial Tournament on the 13th. and 14th. April will be awesome. It is at this tournament where we have regularly weighed Blue Marlin over two hundred kilo’s with several over three hundred kilo’s also Yellowfin tuna over seventy kilo. For those that chase sharks big Tigers are a regular at the weigh station. So, the Marlin are there and if you don’t go … Tight lines, Ivan
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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.9 / 5
out of 5 stars from 21 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (28)
Very nice charter
Very nice charter
Very nice charter
+25
Angler rating
18
2
0
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
93%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
95%
Appropriate for children
79%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Caught fish
79%
Sort by:
Featured  
Showing:
5 of 21 reviews
Nancy G.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Dream come true!

VERIFIED   10 Hour Game Fishing on November 24, 2023
Captain Ivan and Deckie Ron made my husband’s dream come true….he caught a Marlin!!!  During the “fishing” time onboard,...
Nancy G. recommends Ambition Charters
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Nancy G. recommends Ambition Charters
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful

MARK P.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Stripped marlin and yellowfin tuna oh my!!!

VERIFIED   10 Hour Game Fishing on October 28, 2023
The Ambition Team was great and very accommodating for weather reschedules.  Once on the water they did not disappoint. ...
MARK P. recommends Ambition Charters
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  Ivan Bennett Captain replied

Bryan T.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

February fishing trip

VERIFIED   NEW  10 Hour Game Fishing on February 27, 2024
Bryan T. recommends Ambition Charters
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Chris C.
Kensington, NH
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Awesome Day

VERIFIED   10 Hour Game Fishing on April 23, 2023
Captian Ivan and his mate made a wonderful experience for us.  He is very knowledgeable, experienced and always had a smile...
Chris C. recommends Ambition Charters
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  Ivan Bennett Captain replied

Solomon L.
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Experience:
Very good
4.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing with Ivan

VERIFIED   10 Hour Game Fishing on December 4, 2023
Solomon L. recommends Ambition Charters
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Solomon L. recommends Ambition Charters
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