If you’re an avid fisher – or perhaps you just want a new holiday experience – you might be interested in fishing holidays. They’re not a very new idea, but they have recently grown in popularity. So, what are they, how do they work, and what should you know before booking? We cover all of these questions in the following guide:
What is a fishing holiday?
A fishing holiday can be compared to a golf holiday. You might have heard of these, and you may have even been on one before. The idea is that you book a holiday alone or with friends, then spend the whole time on the golf course. You stay at a hotel with access to local golf courses, enjoying the sport while on vacation.
Fishing holidays follow the same concept, only replace golf with fishing. The purpose of your holiday is to go out and enjoy different fishing spots that you’re not used to. This can include offshore fishing, freshwater fishing – you name it.
How do fishing holidays work?
The idea is that you organize a holiday that revolves around fishing. You book your hotel based on where you want to go fishing. It should be within a decent distance to the main locations you’ll be fishing, and your itinerary will focus on going out every day and trying to catch some fish.
This also means you need to organize things like transportation to get to the fishing locations, or boats to go out onto the water. Obviously, having your fishing gear is also essential, so ensure this is packed with you on your trip. If you can’t pack it, then you have to figure out how to rent some gear during your stay.
When you’re not fishing, you can do pretty much anything you want, just like a normal holiday. There are also no specific rules on when you should fish or how often you should fish. If you want a break on one day, you can take one. It’s entirely up to you; a fishing holiday is mainly focused on fishing, but you can still do anything else!
How can you book a fishing holiday?
Normally, you have two different ways to approach this:
- Book everything yourself
- Book your holiday through a travel company
It’s a bit like opting to book your flights and hotel separately, or going through a travel agent to get a package holiday. If you book things yourself, you have more freedom to choose where you stay and where you fish. However, the trade-off is that it can be more complicated and there’s more planning involved.
Most people prefer the second option as travel companies have been set up with packaged fishing holidays. This means you basically choose the package you want, and everything is booked and taken care of for you. You’ll have a place to stay, places to go fishing, transport to take you everywhere, access to fishing gear, and so on. It is wildly more convenient, but you are restricted when it comes to your choices.
But it’s not always as direct as booking a package, because maybe there’s a very specific location you’re after that simply isn’t available. Maybe you’re interested in Quepos fishing charters instead, in that case, sometimes you’ll need to do all the arrangements yourself, but nowadays, thanks to the internet it’s as simple as ever!
How using an RV can improve your fishing holiday
If you own an RV, considering using it to travel on your fishing holiday may add greater flexibility and cost-efficiency compared to traditional travel arrangements. Fishing from an RV gives you the freedom to choose and modify fishing locations at will, making each fishing trip dynamic and on-the-move adventure. Stay as close to your desired spot as possible using its RV’s spacious interior space – perhaps even right beside it if it’s possible! Make sure your RV comes equipped with an RV Extended Warranty so that any breakdowns don’t put an unnecessary damper on your trip. Also check local regulations regarding RV parking and camping; and also consider hookups and facilities necessary for a comfortable stay. Note that although you will need your fishing gear with you, many RV parks also provide equipment rental services, allowing for easier travel if desired. RV fishing holidays add an exciting dimension to any getaway by combining camping with fishing!
What should you know before booking?
Before you book, you need to do a bit of research. Firstly, check some online fishing guides to find the best places for a fishing holiday. This lets you figure out where you should go, so you can start looking at flights or package holiday deals.
Secondly, you need to take your budget into account. This is easier when you book through a company because there’s just one overall cost for the whole holiday. You know exactly how much it will cost, and then you can start accounting for spending money. Being aware of your budget means you don’t book something that’s far too expensive.
Likewise, if you’re booking it all on your own, you need to be extra careful. Don’t book anything until you have made an accurate calculation for how much it all costs. You could make the error of booking a hotel, then figuring out that flights are too expensive, so now you have to cancel – which could mean you don’t get a refund. Work it all out first, see how much your holiday costs, and then decide if it fits your budget.
Finally, you need to know what’s included in your package if you do book a fishing holiday through a company. Do the costs cover things like breakfast in the hotel or hiring fishing equipment? Understand what you’re paying for before you pay for it!
Hopefully, this tells you more about fishing holidays, so you can get ready to plan a trip yourself. You can go on domestic fishing holidays or explore the world’s best fishing spots abroad.