BLOG: DIY adventures

When looking to book a fishing holiday to an unknown destination you are faced with two options. You can either have the red carpet laid at your feet by invoking the expertise of a local guide, or you can run the gauntlet and go DIY.

The sensible option is to book through a reputable guide or booking agent who can arrange guides, accommodation, suggest locations and target species. This approach allows for a fair degree of flexibility and customisation depending on what experience you are looking for, budget and timeframes, and will regularly see more positive results on the fish front. Local guides are best placed to understand the prevailing conditions, which generally mean the overall experience is pleasant and productive.

My advice would be that this is the best approach for most fishos. It means less organisation and less risk. If you're organising a once-in-a-lifetime trip you may not want to leave anything to chance, especially if the success of your trip is measured in fish caught, as so many are.

However, everything in life is a trade-off. By selecting a moderate approach, something is lost in the process. I guess I am slightly more adventurous than most as I tend to think a real adventure lies in something less predictable. My idea of a fishing holiday is to hire my own boat, select my own meagre accommodation, if any, and wing the rest. I don’t judge the success of my fishing trips solely by fish caught but more a holistic outlook on the experience, adventure and also the wildlife, which includes fish.

This approach requires far more planning and organisation. You need to understand the local waterways, how they fish, the effects of the tide, and any special permits needed to get to the location. You need to plan fuel and food supplies, first aid kits and appropriate fishing gear, which at times is difficult if you don’t really know what you are going to be up against. The good news though is this additional effort puts you on a path of discovery. Once you have organised a DIY trip and returned, the experience means you have learned a substantial amount about the place you have visited. Let me tell you from firsthand experience, this is an awesome feeling.

This approach is not without its risks either. It would be remiss of me not to mention it. Always tell someone where you’re going and try to have a rigid itinerary, even if the trip is filled with unpredictability. If possible carry a satellite phone for emergencies and make sure you have ample food and fuel supplies. If your trip is three days, prepare as if you are going for five days.

While the planning and risk factor is highly increased by DIY, this also raises the excitement factor. My next adventure is in January in the NT and I have been scoping out this trip for three months. Who knows how successful it will be? All I know is that the unknown element is just exciting as the fishing.

Do you go DIY or do you prefer the help of a local guide?