Fisher’s Trek: Cominotto Island, Prime Fishing Spots & Gozo

Catch fish, coves, and quiet water. Fisher’s Trek is a three-hour private boat charter around Comino, Gozo, and Malta, with room for up to six people. I like the freedom to choose between fishing, swimming, and snorkelling, and I like that the skipper can take you to lesser-used bays instead of following a fixed group-tour route. The private boat also includes a canopy, cooler, sun deck, WiFi, and snorkelling gear.

The main caution is the real cost. The advertised price is $171 per boat, but the professional skipper and fuel are each listed at €78, while fishing equipment and fishing bait are not included. You should confirm the final total before booking, especially if your goal is serious fishing rather than a pleasant boat ride with a few casts.

Key points at a glance

• Three hours on a private boat: The charter is for your own group, with space for up to six people rather than a crowded shared excursion.
• Fishing is flexible: You can choose offshore or inshore fishing around Malta, Gozo, and Comino, with help from the skipper if you are new to the sport.
• Comino brings the best scenery: Expect clear water, caves, small beaches, and bays suited to swimming and snorkelling.
• The Blue Lagoon can be part of the route: Lagoon permits are included, although the skipper may change the route because of weather, tides, or shallow water.
• Skippers add local direction: Joe and Captain Mario are among the names connected with these trips, and both have been praised for showing guests around the islands and helping with fishing.
• Pack for a sunny, wet outing: Bring swimwear, a towel, sunglasses, sunscreen, and cash. Food, drinks, fishing gear, and barbecue supplies cost extra or are not provided.

What Fisher’s Trek is really offering

Fisher’s Trek is best understood as a private coastal outing with fishing at its center, not as a guaranteed catch-and-cook fishing trip. You get a boat, a skipper, access to Maltese fishing grounds, and the freedom to shape the three hours around your group.

That distinction matters. If you want a calm cruise with a few handlines, a swim, and time to see Comino from the water, this setup makes good sense. If you want specialist rods, a large fishing cooler, or a serious offshore campaign, you need to arrange and pay for those items separately.

The boat leaves from either Gozo or Malta. From Gozo, the meeting point is near Sicilia Bella Restaurant at Mgarr Harbour Terminal. From Malta, it is near Cirkewwa Kiosk at the Gozo Channel Terminal. You are asked to arrive 30 minutes early, which is sensible at a busy ferry terminal where a few extra minutes can prevent a rushed start.

The charter is private for your group of up to six. The listed $171 price applies to the boat, not to each person. That can be good value for a family or group of friends, especially when split six ways, but you must add the skipper and fuel charges. Since those two fees are listed in euros while the headline price is in dollars, ask for the final price in one currency before confirming.

Setting out from Gozo or Cirkewwa

Your departure point shapes the feel of the outing. Mgarr Harbour is Gozo’s main sea gateway, while Cirkewwa sits at Malta’s northern tip and connects Malta with Gozo by ferry. Both locations are practical rather than romantic, so the reward begins once the boat leaves the terminal area.

The early part of the trip is useful for settling in. You can find a place on the comfortable seating, check the canopy for shade, and speak with the skipper about your priorities. Tell the skipper clearly if fishing matters most, or if your group would rather spend more time swimming and seeing caves.

This is where a private charter earns its keep. You do not need to accept someone else’s preferred pace. A family with young children can ask for a gentler outing with a swim stop, while experienced anglers can request more time near fishing grounds. The skipper still makes the final call for safety, but your wishes help shape the day.

Joe and Captain Mario have both been associated with particularly friendly, hands-on outings. Mario has taken groups around Comino and its bays, while Joe has combined island sightseeing with handline fishing. You cannot guarantee a particular skipper unless the company confirms one, but it is worth asking when you book.

Fishing around Malta, Gozo, and Comino

The fishing side of the trip offers two broad choices. Offshore fishing takes you toward selected fishing grounds, while inshore fishing keeps the action closer to the coast around Malta, Gozo, and Comino.

For a first-time angler, inshore fishing may be the easier introduction. You remain close to the islands and can combine short fishing sessions with a swim or a look at the shoreline. The skipper can show you how to use the gear and help you choose a suitable place to cast.

Handline fishing has proved especially enjoyable for families and casual anglers. It is simple, social, and easy to fit into a short charter. One group even caught a fish while heading back toward port, a useful reminder that fishing rarely follows a neat schedule.

Do not book this expecting a guaranteed tuna. A group went out hoping for tuna and caught none, but still had time for swimming and enjoyed the day. That is the right attitude here. The sea decides what happens, and a successful outing may mean a catch, a lesson in local fishing, or simply a few peaceful hours on the water.

Fishing equipment is not included. Neither is a fishing cooler, so check exactly what the boat provides before you go. The supplied information specifically includes snorkelling equipment, but not rods, lines, bait, or other fishing items. If you want to bring your own gear, ask first about what is suitable for the boat.

Comino’s caves, coves, and clear water

Comino is the scenic heart of the charter. From the boat, you can see the island’s rocky edge, small beaches, caves, and sheltered bays without spending the day walking between them.

The appeal is variety. One stop might be about looking into a cave or taking photographs from the water. Another might be a short swim in clear sea. The skipper can alter the route according to conditions, so the exact order and number of stops are not fixed.

Snorkelling equipment, including a mask and snorkel, is included. That makes it easy for a mixed group, since you do not all need to arrive with your own kit. Comino’s clear water and visible marine life give you a good reason to spend part of the trip in the sea rather than remaining on the deck.

Still, you should bring your own towel and swimwear. There is no information that food or drinks are supplied, so pack what you need or plan to buy provisions beforehand. The ice cooler is useful for keeping your own drinks cool, but it is not the same as a full catering service.

The boat also has a sun deck and a canopy for shade. Those two features matter in Malta, where a pleasant morning at sea can turn into a hot one quickly. Use sunscreen even if you plan to spend most of your time in the shade, and keep a hat and sunglasses within reach.

The Blue Lagoon without a fixed group schedule

The Blue Lagoon is one of Comino’s best-known sights, and it can be part of your private route. The included lagoon permits are helpful because access rules can affect boat operators and the timing of visits.

The lagoon is attractive for its pale, clear water and dramatic setting. It is also the stop most likely to feel busy, particularly during the warmer months. A private charter does not make the Blue Lagoon empty, but it gives you more control over when you visit and how long you stay.

You should ask the skipper whether a quieter bay would suit your group better. The charter’s appeal is not simply reaching a famous spot. It is having someone who can adjust the plan when a crowded lagoon, rough water, or a better swimming area makes another choice wiser.

The skipper may change the route, timing, or departure and return point because of wind, waves, tides, shallow water, or other safety concerns. That flexibility is worth accepting. A private boat is not a promise that every named location will be visited in a fixed order.

What is included, and what you still need to pay for

The equipment list is solid for a short private cruise. You receive:

• A private boat with comfortable seating
• A sun deck and canopy
• Safety equipment
• Port and marina fees
• Taxes
• An ice cooler
• Bluetooth speaker
• Free WiFi
• Mask and snorkel
• Lagoon permits

The skipper and fuel are listed separately at €78 each. Food, drinks, party supplies, barbecue food, barbecue drinks, the barbecue itself, fishing equipment, and a fishing cooler are also excluded.

That creates two different value calculations. For six people who mainly want a private boat, swimming, sightseeing, and a little fishing, the base price plus shared extras can work well. For two people who need fishing equipment and want a longer, serious fishing session, the total can become less attractive.

I would ask these questions before paying:

• Is the €78 skipper charge per charter?
• Is the €78 fuel charge fixed or based on actual use?
• Can fishing equipment be rented?
• Is bait supplied?
• Which skipper is scheduled?
• Can the group spend more time fishing instead of stopping for swimming?

Getting clear answers will make the price easier to judge. The listed cancellation terms are also useful: you can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later.

Comfort, communication, and family appeal

The boat has enough features to make three hours pleasant without turning the trip into a luxury cruise. Shade, seating, a cooler, and a sun deck cover the basics. The Bluetooth speaker and WiFi are pleasant extras, though the sea views should do most of the entertaining.

Communication is available in English and Maltese. Clear directions to the pickup point are important at both harbours, and the meeting instructions are specific enough to help you find the departure area.

Families may find this charter especially appealing. Two young boys enjoyed a trip around Comino and its bays without becoming seasick, and a birthday group found the skipper patient while helping everyone fish. Those details point to a relaxed outing rather than an intense, technical fishing session.

That said, the boat is on the sea, and conditions can change. If anyone in your group is prone to seasickness, keep expectations modest and ask the skipper about the calmest route. The crew can adapt the plan, but no boat operator can guarantee perfectly smooth water.

Who should book this private charter?

I would choose Fisher’s Trek for a group that values control. It suits families, couples traveling with friends, birthday groups, and first-time anglers who want a private outing rather than a standard sightseeing cruise.

It is also a good fit if your group cannot agree on one activity. You can fish for part of the time, snorkel, swim, look at caves, and cruise by Comino’s beaches. The private format means you are not asking a boatload of strangers to wait while your children swim or while you try another fishing spot.

I would be more cautious if your main goal is catching a particular species. The charter offers access to fishing grounds and skipper assistance, but it does not promise tuna or any other catch. Bring the right expectations, and confirm equipment costs.

The three-hour length is another factor. It is long enough for a taste of several activities, but not enough for an extended fishing expedition and a full circuit of every coast. If you want the most from the trip, decide your priority before boarding.

Practical advice for a better three hours

Arrive 30 minutes early. The company does not extend the charter for late arrivals, so a delayed start can cut into your time on the water.

Pack lightly but prepare properly:

• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Swimwear
• Towel
• Sunscreen
• Cash
• Personal food and drinks if needed

Apply sunscreen before leaving the harbour. Malta’s sun can feel stronger on the water, where there is little shade outside the canopy. Keep your towel and dry clothing in a bag that can handle splashes.

Tell the skipper what matters most at the start. Say if you want fishing to take priority, if children need a calm route, or if swimming is more important than visiting every cave. The private format works best when you use it.

Finally, accept that the skipper has the final say. Weather and sea conditions may lead to a changed route, a postponed trip, or a different landing point. That is not a failure of the experience. It is part of making a small-boat trip safe.

Should you book Fisher’s Trek?

Book it if you want a flexible private outing around Comino, Gozo, and Malta, with fishing, snorkelling, and swimming available in the same three-hour window. The strongest reasons are the private format, the friendly skipper-led approach, and the chance to see Comino’s bays from the water without following a rigid group schedule.

Before booking, confirm the full price, skipper and fuel charges, and fishing equipment arrangements. If your group wants a relaxed sea day with a chance of catching something, this is a sensible choice. If you need specialist fishing gear or a guaranteed catch, you may want a more fishing-focused charter.

FAQ

How long is Fisher’s Trek?

The private boat charter lasts three hours.

How many people can join the private boat?

The price applies to one private boat for a group of up to six people.

Where does the boat depart?

From Gozo, the departure area is near Sicilia Bella Restaurant at Mgarr Harbour Terminal. From Malta, it is near Cirkewwa Kiosk at the Gozo Channel Terminal.

Is fishing equipment included?

No. Fishing equipment and a fishing cooler are not included. Snorkelling equipment, including a mask and snorkel, is included.

Are the skipper and fuel included in the advertised price?

No. The professional skipper is listed at €78, and fuel consumption is also listed at €78. Confirm the final price before booking.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and cash. Food and drinks are not included, so you should arrange those separately if needed.