Daniele Virgilio

Rating

• 

  Victor Radchenko

  Repeat angler

  

  Ukraine

  •

  Member since 2018

  •

  3 trips

  3.0

  Verified

  A lot of fish but poor decisions by the captain.

  8 Hour Trip – Tuna Drifting on July 25, 2026 • 4 adults

  To begin with, instead of departing early in the morning when the sea was calm and temperatures were lower, the captain decided to leave around midday. By then, the sea was already quite rough, significantly reducing the experience and chances of catching tuna, even though we did spot some on the radar. The captain used live bait left over from a previous trip, but after spending the entire day in the bait tank, the fish seemed to be weak and in poor condition. After drifting for a long time without any success, we agreed to change locations and try deep-sea fishing instead. However, there was only one setup available for deep dropping, so the experience felt largely unproductive. At around 5:30 p.m., we returned to the original spot, but the wind only eased around 6:00 p.m. We then fished with two rods using two live baitfish. Instead of casting live bait from the beginning, the captain did so only when we spotted another tuna on the radar, which to my mind was too late… The boat itself was well equipped and featured professional-grade equipment. Unfortunately, the overall value for money was very poor. For €1,200, I would have expected a much more proactive approach from the captain, including techniques such as chumming or a greater overall effort to maximise our chances of success. I have been on many high-quality offshore charters, including trips at a similar and higher price point, and based on this experience, I would not recommend this one.

  

  Response from Captain

  July 28, 2026

  Hi Victor, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I completely understand that not landing a tuna affects the overall experience, and I’m sorry the day didn’t go the way you hoped. That said, I’d like to clarify a few points, since some of the review doesn’t reflect what actually happened on board. Regarding timing: departure was set for midday because, in this particular period, the bite around our fishing grounds near the Egadi Islands has consistently been in the afternoon rather than early morning. Regarding the bait: we had about 20 live baitfish in the tank, and only 2 of them were sluggish — the rest were very lively, active enough to jump out of hand when handled. We also kept trolling until sunset specifically to try to give you a shot at a fish, changing spots four times over the day and using well over €300 in fuel in the process. We’re equipped with top-level fishing gear, and I did my best to explain every detail of how this kind of fishing works and to keep everyone involved throughout the day. Spotting a tuna on the radar doesn’t mean it was going to feed — that’s simply not how this fishing works, and no captain can guarantee a bite based on a radar mark alone. We didn’t manage to catch even a single baitfish-sized fish that day, not just tuna — the bait simply wasn’t there. The sea had some chop, but I’ve trolled and caught tuna in similar or rougher conditions before; if anything, dead-calm water tends to be less productive. Beyond the fishing itself, I also made sure the day was enjoyable overall — lunch (which you told me was excellent), plus drinks, beer, and fruit throughout the day. I also want to mention that no concerns were raised on board during the trip, and you thanked us at the end of the day — which is why this review came as a surprise. I always prefer to address any issue directly while we’re out on the water, so please don’t hesitate to speak up next time — we can sort things out on the spot. In fact, you also asked me, very warmly, for suggestions on nightlife in Palermo and what to do there — so this tone really wasn’t what I expected after the day we spent together. I’d genuinely welcome the chance to have you back out with us for another try.

  • 
  • 
  •