Fishing Trips – Wilderness Island – Exmouth, Western Australia
Wilderness Island is an exclusive island getaway, hidden over the horizon on the eastern fringe of the Exmouth Gulf in North West Australia. Wilderness Island is a true fishing and ecological paradise. Specializing in catering to small groups, the Wilderness Island Safari Holidays team offers an exclusive and unforgettable experience for the adventure angler.
In a largely untouched environment, guests can expect to experience the beauty of the island and its surrounding waters and participate in a variety of activities including fishing, scuba diving, whale watching, snorkeling, kayaking, bird watching, exploring, watching of stars or just relax. .
Living up to the true definition of the term ‘desert’, the island is ideally located in the pristine waters that make up the eastern passage of Exmouth Gulf. Small in stature but big in options, the island is only 1.6 kilometers long and 800 meters wide. From sandy beaches and limestone cliffs to mangroves and sand dunes, Wilderness Island offers much for the explorer to experience.
Your host, Jim Alston, has captured the imagination of many travelers with his ‘Robinson Crusoe’ inspired eco-camp. Jim has designed and built the island’s facilities in a natural setting with as little impact as possible. “It’s rustic, simple and homey, with an interior touch and a nice touch of luxury added for good measure.” -Jim Alston
Fishing – Wild Island
Exmouth is home to some of the best fishing Australia has to offer. Wilderness Island is widely recognized as “Australia’s Best Flat Fishing Destination”. You can’t get much closer to the action – the camp is located just 15 meters from the high water mark, providing easy access to some of the best inshore sport fishing in the country.
So what is on offer from the coast? The species are seemingly endless, but you can expect a hit from Golden Trevally, Giant Trevally, Giant Herring, Mangrove Jack, Permit, Barramundi, Spanish Mackerel, Queenfish (over 1 meter in length), Longtail Tuna, Snapper, Cod, Bluebone Groper and Coral trout between around
100 other species of fish.
A stay on Wilderness Island ensures that no matter what the wind or weather throws at you, you can continue fishing. Windy days can be spent fishing the prolific mangrove systems and renowned flats that are protected by the headlands and islands on the eastern side of Exmouth Gulf.
The offshore shoals are very productive with the popular sailfish, longtail tuna, cobia and Spanish mackerel. The main aggregation area for sailfish in Exmouth Gulf is just 13 miles from Wilderness Island Base Camp. If you do not have a boat, arrangements can be made to charter a boat to suit your needs.
So whether you’re a fly fisherman, sport fisherman or just a keen hobby angler, whether you want a fully guided fishing charter or want to bring your own boat and take care of yourself, the Wilderness Island team can provide you with a fishing trip you will remember for a long time.
Sport Fishing – Isla Salvaje
There are two’fishing game’ Options available to guests on Wilderness Island:
Option 1: (Rates start at $1,750.00 per day for 4 people – All inclusive)
Full Day Sport Fishing – If you start early, you’ll be heading to where the big fish are. Catching live bait along the way will be a nice distraction as you head out to the fishing grounds. A variety of live slow trolling lures or baits may be the order of the day. The more adventurous may want to try their hand at ‘team and switch’, an exciting and productive way to catch billfish.
Or maybe you prefer…
Full Day Sport Fishing – An early start will make those mackerels wish they had never visited Exmouth Gulf. As you head out to catch some great ocean speedsters, you better be prepared! Big Spaniards with light equipment, Cobia and Longtail Tuna are offered. There are also inshore options with record-size Golden Trevally, Queenfish, Cobia and Mack Tuna all available in the calm gulf waters.
Any of the options includes…
Popper Fishing: Casting big poppers and stick lures like an angry GT or huge Queenfish is a truly spectacular way to spend the day. All tackle is supplied or you can bring your own.
Jigging: Jigging for the mighty Amberjack, Trevally and Tuna will make your braid sing with joy (and your back ache at the end of the day). Jigging for tasty species like Pearl Perch or Gold-band Snapper will have you craving a delicious dinner of fresh caught fish.
Fly Fishing: For those who prefer fly fishing, you can visit the inshore reefs and flats at Queenfish, GT’s and Golden Trevally. Try your luck casting Tuna who intends to end the life of a poor bait fish! If you’re really excited about getting a billfish hit your pen, your guides will happily tease one of the abundant Marlin or Sailfish to give you the best possible chance of landing a holy grail of fly fishing.
Bottom Fishing – Drop your bait into the abyss and hook a delicious reef fish. All types of bottom fishing are catered for in depths from 20 to 200m. Red Emperor, Coral and Coronation Trout, Blue Line, Spangled and Red Throat Emperor, Cods, Gold Band Snapper and many other tasty fish can be targeted. All tackle is supplied, no hand lines are used, and your catch is gutted and browned for you.
Option 2: (Minimum adventure of 3 days $1,800.00 per day for up to 5 anglers)
The waters surrounding Exmouth are home to some of the most incredible reef fishing Australia has to offer. Wilderness Island Safari’s fishing charters use state-of-the-art equipment to give guests the best possible chance to catch the fish of a lifetime. Try jigging, moving a soft plastic, or dunking bait for Red Emporer, Ruby or Goldband Snapper, Coral Trout, Rankin Cod, and Norwest snapper.
If sport fishing is more your style, cast lures and poppers on Queenfish, Cobia, Golden Trevally, Mackerel and Longtail Tuna or get your blood pumping as you try to haul one of Exmouth’s Giant Trevally off the reef. Fishing charters cater to small intimate groups of up to 5 passengers and provide a personalized charter you will remember for years to come.
Spearfishing – Exmouth and its surrounding waters are blessed with some amazing dive sites. A custom spearfishing charter can be arranged to suit your needs and abilities.
Spend a day diving deep targeting Red Emporer, Green Jobfish and Rankin Cod around offshore reefs or choose to drift dive the blue water surfaces to see pelagic species such as Wahoo, Spanish Mackerel, Dolphin and Tuna, whatever your preference, there is an option to follow you
For safety reasons, an experienced guide will be in the water with you at all times and the use of float lines is mandatory. All the diving equipment can be rented if the idea of taking your equipment with you is not ideal. Underwater fishing is totally selective; Absolutely no bycatch on charts is tolerated. As part of the camp’s eco-management strategy, you are encouraged to limit your catch and are asked to take only what you need.
Accommodation in Wild Island
During the summer of 2012, new accommodations were built on the island to cater to a market with more demanding tastes. With just five cottages perched on top of a secluded cliff just 15 meters from the water’s edge, the cottages are simple but comfortable with majestic views over Exmouth Gulf.
The relaxed atmosphere at Wilderness Island is stress-free and unpretentious, making it the ideal place to discuss the day’s itinerary, relax with a book from the library, listen to some great music, or simply listen to the whisper of the waves on the beach. Without the daily interruption of crowds, busy schedules, television, telephones and the Internet, the island is the perfect destination for a unique nature experience.
The focus of the camp is about minimizing the impact on the environment and the ecosystem of the islands. To ensure that guests can get as close to nature as possible, there is a notable emphasis on ecologically sound management.
the cabins – cater mainly to couples or double rooms, although they can be arranged for 4-person occupancy on request. Each has a private terrace offering uninterrupted views over the ocean. There’s nothing like a lazy afternoon relaxing in your hammock in your own private space.
The cabins include mosquito nets, comfortable beds and all bedding is provided. The bathroom is one of the characteristics of the room. Built directly into the cliff of the beach, guests can enjoy a hot bath or shower and watch the spectacular sunset as the waves crash on the shore.
the camp – is their center of operations on the island and is situated on top of a high cliff. There is much to offer including indoor and outdoor lounges, dining room, bar, kitchen with pizza oven and a terrace overlooking Exmouth Gulf.
Meals include the freshest seafood delights straight from the ocean. The camp offers a well-stocked pantry if you prefer something other than seafood. Being completely self-contained, the camp also provides fresh rainwater for drinking, a gas stove, refrigerators, freezers, lights, and power to charge electronic devices.
Wild Island Philosophy
The owners understand the need to protect the natural environment for future generations. The island’s philosophy is simple: be as kind to the environment as humanly possible. Green management practices include:
- Production of water from solar water treatment plants.
- Sustainable fishing measures, fish are never taken from the area.
- They use local produce whenever possible and they even grow some on their own.
- Solar energy is generated and used as much as possible.
- Greywater is recycled for use on the grounds.
How to get to the wild island
Guests are transferred from Exmouth by plane or boat. There is no direct access from the mainland. The boat trip takes about an hour (depending on weather conditions). Air travel to the island takes about 20 minutes. If you have your own boat, GPS coordinates are provided prior to your departure.
Both Qantas and virgin airlines operate direct flights to Learmonth Airport from Perth daily. Connections are available from other Australian capital cities via Perth. A short road trip from Learmonth to Exmouth is by bus (small fee applies). Your bus ticket will need to be pre-booked prior to arrival with Coach hire in Exmouth.