What to Look for When Choosing a Niue Fishing Charter
With Niue being such a small island with a population of only around 1,500 people, you often don’t get a “choice” when it comes to any type of tour in Niue. But that’s certainly not the case when it comes to fishing; this island nation that has been living off the waters for centuries! What is a way of life is also an exciting sport that locals and passionate expats are eager to share with visitors. But since Niue has around 10 fishing charters to choose from, how do choose the best fishing tour in Niue? We go over a few ideas in this guide.
5 Things to Compare Between Niue’s Fishing Charters
Before we go into detail, here’s an outline of the five key differences between Niue’s fishing charters:
- Availability
- Length of trip
- Speciality fishing
- Size of the boat
- Whale interactions
Finally, pricing is an important factor to compare. However, you’ll find that Niue’s fishing charters have competitive pricing with very little difference between companies.
© NiuePocketGuide.comAvailability of Fishing Charters in Niue
Although there are almost 10 fishing charters in Niue, not all of them are available full-time all year round. With that, sometimes the choice of fishing charters is made for you.
The fishing charters that usually have availability full-time all year round are Niue Wahoo Fishing Charters, Fish Niue Charters and Sea Turtle Charters.
That’s not to say that it’s not worth getting in touch with other fishing charters, especially as some offer services that those above do not. But if you’re struggling to find availability, the three charter companies mentioned above can usually fit you in at some point during the week.
(c) niuepocketguide.comLength of Trip
Luckily in Niue, you don’t need to compare the time actually spent on the water fishing, as lines are commonly cast soon after launching. Niue’s blue water is only about 100 m (330 ft) offshore. However, comparing the length of the trip itself may be important, as keen anglers may want to spend as long as they can on the water, while families or more casual fishermen and women might want to experience something more relaxing for a couple of hours.
In Niue, fishing charter trips typically last 5 hours, 3-4 hours or 2 hrs 30 mins. You’ll likely spend maximum time on the water if the fish aren’t biting. On the other hand, if you catch fish early into the trip and are keen to get back to sure sooner than the planned trip time, this is usually not a problem; charter skippers are usually flexible on what the client wants to do. If you shorten a trip, however, that’s not to say that you’ll receive a discount.
How Long is Each Charter?
- 5 hours: Fish Niue Charters, Niue Fishing Charters, Niue Wahoo Fishing Charters and Paul Pasisi Charters
- 3-4 hours: Gone Fishing Niue Charters, Niue Fishing Charters, Paul Pasisi Charters (spearfishing)
- 2 hrs 30 mins: Niue Wahoo Fishing Charters.
(c) Niue TourismSpeciality Fishing
All of Niue’s fishing charters come equipped with rods, reels, baits and lures to suit most techniques of fishing, including trolling, jigging and casting. However, only some fishing charters offer spearfishing.
Spearfishing charters in Niue take you to drop-offs, bluewater currents and offshore FADs to spear game species. Note with spearfishing that you almost always need to bring your own equipment, excluding weights, although Niue Fishing Charters can arrange a gun, weight belt and weights on request. It’s also important to note that spearfishing is prohibited in Niue without a local guide and/or appropriate permission.
Fishing charters that offer spearfishing include Fish Niue Charters, Niue Fishing Charters and Paul Pasisi Charters.
Learn more about spearfishing in The Complete Guide to Spearfishing in Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.comSize of the Boat
While you hardly need to compare equipment used by the fishing charters in Niue, as Niue’s passionate fishing guides wouldn’t be caught dead with bad equipment, you will need to compare the size of the boat. The main reason is to make sure the boat is suitable for your group size. Most fishing charter boats in Niue are alloy Stabicrafts or something similar measuring 5 to 7 m long.
Here are the fishing charters, sizes of the boat (where available) and how many anglers they carry:
- Niue Fishing Charters: 7.3 m (24 ft), 5 pax
- Fish Niue Charters: 6.3 m (20.7 ft), 4 pax
- Niue Wahoo Fishing Charters: 6.2 m (20.5 ft), 4 pax
- Paul Pasisi Charters: 6 m (20 ft), 4 pax
- Teresa’s Charters: 6 m (20 ft), 3 pax
- Kiu Tahi Charters: 5.7 m (18.7 ft), 4 pax
- Gone Fishing Niue Charters: 5.6 m (18.5 ft), 3 pax
- Sea Turtle Charters: 5.5 m (18 ft), 2 pax.
Compare all of the charters further in the 10 Best Fishing Charters in Niue.
(c) Niue TourismWhale Interactions
Some of Niue’s fishing charters are licensed to approach and interact with humpback whales during the whale season. Otherwise, fishing charters have to keep their distance from whales in accordance with local laws. If you want to opportunity to watch whales or even swim with whales, then you need to be with a licensed operator.
Currently, Niue’s fishing charter that is licensed to interact with whales is Fish Niue Charters.
Learn more about what tours with these charters and more in the 5 Best Whale Tours in Niue.
(c) Niue TourismPrice and Inclusions
Finally, the price of a fishing charter and its inclusions can also be a good comparison of the value of a fishing charter. All of Niue’s fishing charters come with all the high-quality equipment you’ll need for fishing as a standard. However, only some fishing charters might include other comforts like drinks and refreshments. It’s always worth asking what is included.
As for price, Niue’s fishing charters prices are ever-changing so it would be pointless to list all of the prices here. As a rough figure, Niue fishing charters are typically NZ$450-$500 for a 4-5 hour tour for two people on a private charter. Get in touch with your chosen fishing operators for the latest pricing.
For more costs to consider for your trip, take a look at our guide, Niue Travel Budget: How Much Does a Trip to Niue Cost?
More About Choosing a Fishing Tours in Niue
That’s it for our guide on how to choose the best fishing charter in Niue. More comparisons are made in our 8 Best Fishing Charters in Niue. Otherwise, check out these guides to reel in more fishing tips:
- What Types of Fish Can You Fish For in Niue?
- The Complete Guide to Spearfishing in Niue
- The Best Time of Year for Fishing in Niue
Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Ultimate Guide to Fishing in Niue.
