Luxury, adventure, and the ultimate fishing experience with Aroona Luxury Boat Charters, but honestly, those words barely scratch the surface of what this trip gave us. It’s hard to explain how much you need this kind of escape until you’re out there, miles from anything that resembles “everyday life,” standing barefoot on the deck with the ocean stretching endlessly in every direction.
Our journey began at Lizard Island and took us north through the wild beauty of the Great Barrier Reef. From the moment we stepped aboard Aroona, a 70-foot monohull that somehow manages to be both luxurious and completely unpretentious, we felt like the weight of the world had lifted. The crew welcomed us like old friends, the rooms were immaculate, and the food… don’t get me started on the food. Let’s say every meal could have been a highlight in itself.
But it wasn’t the luxury that stayed with me — it was the feeling of being completely immersed in nature. We spent two full days in Princess Charlotte Bay, a place so vast that you can actually watch the sun set over the ocean on the east coast, something I didn’t think was possible. The bay is alive with crocs, mangroves, birds, and fish. We chased barra in those winding river systems with adrenaline pumping and eyes peeled, then explored the huge, untouched flats, absolute paradise for fly fishing.
As we went further north, the reef shifted from stunning to otherworldly. We threw surface lures in crystal clear shallows, wrestled with Giant Trevally that hit like freight trains, and jigged the outer shelf for powerful yellowfin and dogtooth tuna. There were moments we could barely keep up with the action, fish after fish, the kind you dream about. But even more than the fishing, it was the sense of being in places so raw and remote that it felt like stepping back in time. Just us, the reef, and more fish than I’ve ever seen in my life.
We snorkelled in pristine reef systems that were truly unbelievable, coral gardens brimming with colour and life, sharks cruising by, turtles drifting like they owned the place. There were no crowds, no noise, just that calm you feel when everything around you is thriving and wild.
At one point, we were cruising past the Flinders Islands, heading out to the outer reef. Spirits were high, rods ready, spearguns prepped, and you could feel that buzz of anticipation in the air. We were chasing “doggies” (dogtooth tuna), and the excitement was real. That’s what it’s like on Aroona: equal parts adventure, serenity, and that pure childlike thrill of discovery.
The best part? You don’t need to be a hardcore fisherman to love this. Sure, the fishing is next-level. But if you’re just someone who wants to unplug, eat amazing food, swim in impossibly blue water, and remember what it feels like to breathe deeply, Aroona will give you that too.
There’s something incredibly restorative about being out here. You lose track of time. You sleep better. You laugh more. You feel small in the best possible way. And if you’ve been thinking about doing something like this, stop thinking. Just book it. Life’s too short to wait for “someday.”
This wasn’t just a trip. It was a reset. And I honestly can’t wait to come back. – Corey Weier
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Special thanks to Tropical Sports Fisher, Rory Brookes, for his knowledge and skill set and Wilson Fishing for the quality, Australian-made tackle.
