Private Fishing in St Lucia Charters

Big fish require patience. This private St. Lucia charter gives your group a 31-foot boat, a local captain, and fishing time along the island coast without strangers sharing the rail. I like the one-to-four-person setup, which keeps the day personal, and the use of Shimano and Penn tackle means you are not expected to bring your own gear.

I also like the crew’s hands-on style. Captains and mates such as Jason, Robert, and Andre have earned repeated praise for working hard even when the fish are slow. The main concern is timing: one outing had a delayed pickup, and ocean fishing never guarantees a catch. At $860 per group, this makes the most financial sense with four people rather than one or two.

Key points to know before booking

• Private 31-foot boat: Maximum capacity is four anglers, so your group gets the full fishing area and crew attention.
• Serious offshore targets: The charter trolls for dorado, wahoo, mahi mahi, yellowfin tuna, sailfish, and blue marlin.
• Skilled local crew: Jason, Robert, Andre, and other crew members are praised for their effort, patience, and fishing advice.
• Flexible length: Trips run approximately four to eight hours, with the shorter outing suited to cruise schedules.
• Cruise pier pickup included: Hotel transportation is not included, but cruise ship pickup and drop-off are available.
• Fishing is never promised: Past outings have produced marlin, wahoo, tuna, barracuda, grouper, and smaller reef fish, but some days produce little or nothing.

What this St. Lucia charter is really like

This is a private sport-fishing trip rather than a sightseeing cruise with a fishing rod added as an afterthought. You meet the boat at Hackshaw’s Boat Charters on Seraphine Road near Vigie Marina in Castries, then head out along the St. Lucian coast to troll for larger fish.

The private format matters. With no other party aboard, you can set the pace around your group’s experience and comfort. A seasoned angler can focus on offshore species, while a beginner can receive one-on-one help with the tackle and technique. The crew can also adjust the outing for a mixed group, which is useful if one person spends weekends fishing and another is simply hoping to try it once.

The advertised price is $860 for up to four people. Split four ways, that works out to $215 per person before any extra beer charges. For a private boat, captain, mate, tackle, bait, and fishing licenses, that is a reasonable group cost, especially for people who would rather avoid a crowded shared charter. For one or two people, the same flat price becomes much harder to justify.

The experience is offered for roughly four to eight hours. The exact length should be clear when you book, since a half-day trip and a full-day charter are very different commitments. A four-hour trip is easier to fit into a cruise stop, while a longer outing gives you more time to move offshore and wait for a serious fish to find the lure.

Meeting the boat at Vigie Marina

Your stated meeting point is Hackshaw’s Boat Charters St. Lucia on Seraphine Road in Castries, close to Vigie Marina. Cruise ship pickup and drop-off are included, which removes one of the biggest headaches for people arriving by ship.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. If you are staying at a hotel or villa, you need to make your own way to the marina unless the operator confirms another arrangement. That detail is easy to miss, so I would settle it before paying.

Cruise passengers must provide the ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and required re-boarding time when booking. Give accurate information. A fishing trip can run late if a fish takes the line or the boat encounters a delay, so leave a sensible cushion before you must return to the ship.

One past outing involved a delay of nearly an hour connected to the fuel dock. The operator said the delay had been communicated before the trip, but the situation still caused frustration. I would ask for the planned pickup time and reconfirm it close to the day of departure. A written message is useful if your cruise schedule is tight.

Fishing along the St. Lucian coast

Once you leave the marina, the main activity is trolling along the coast and in deeper water. The boat carries a range of lures, bait, fishing licenses, and Shimano and Penn reels, so you do not need to assemble an offshore kit before arriving.

The target list is impressive:

• Dorado and mahi mahi
• Wahoo
• Yellowfin tuna
• Sailfish
• Blue marlin

You might also encounter barracuda, triggerfish, squirrelfish, grouper, or other smaller fish. The catch depends on conditions, location, and luck. Several outings produced tuna or wahoo, and some included sailfish or blue marlin. Other trips had only a few fish, and one group caught nothing.

That is the honest bargain with this kind of outing. You are paying for access, equipment, time on the water, and the crew’s effort, not a guaranteed cooler full of fish. If you need certainty, choose an activity with a fixed result. If you enjoy the waiting, the changing conditions, and the possibility of a powerful fish taking the lure, this charter makes more sense.

The reports of a 50-pound wahoo and blue marlin hookups show the possible reward. One outing produced a first sailfish, a blue marlin hookup, wahoo, and a large barracuda. Another ended with a blue marlin being landed and released. Those are memorable results, but they should be treated as possibilities rather than promises.

The captain and mate make the difference

A fishing charter is only as good as the people running the boat. Here, the crew receives some of the strongest praise. Jason and first mate Robert are repeatedly singled out as a productive team, while Andre and Robert are also praised for their effort and friendly approach.

That praise is not limited to days when the fish cooperate. The crew has been credited with changing tactics when the big fish were not biting, helping younger anglers, giving instructions at the rod, and keeping the mood positive during slow stretches. One 13-year-old joined a half-day trip that produced barracuda and yellowfin tuna, showing that the experience is not reserved for highly experienced anglers.

You should still tell the crew what you want from the day. If your priority is blue marlin, say so. If you have a mixed group and want some easier fishing as well as a chance at a large offshore species, explain that at the start. The private format gives the crew room to tailor the outing, but they need clear guidance from you.

Several accounts also praise the boats as well equipped and well maintained. Boats referenced include Blue Boy and Limited Edition. The exact boat may depend on availability, so do not assume a particular vessel unless the company confirms it.

Snacks, drinks, and what to wear

Light snacks, mineral water, and soft drinks are included. Beer can be requested, but it costs extra according to the inclusions information. Budget for that separately rather than assuming all drinks are covered.

Wear cool, comfortable clothing. Fishing can be wet and tiring, so clothes you do not mind getting splashed are sensible. The operator asks for a moderate level of physical fitness. You may need to remain steady on a moving boat and handle a strong fish at the rod, particularly if a tuna, wahoo, sailfish, or marlin strikes.

One important detail comes from a mixed group in which a passenger did not handle the sea well. When conditions became rough, the crew adjusted the outing so that the passenger could cope better. That does not mean the water will always be calm, but it does suggest you should tell the crew about motion sickness or limited boating experience before departure.

The supplied information also states that the offices, boats, and equipment are regularly sanitized and that hand sanitizer and hand-washing products are provided. Those policies can change, so check the current arrangements if they matter to you.

Is four hours enough?

A four-hour trip can work well for a cruise port day. It gives you a focused chance to fish without turning the whole day into a boat outing. It is also the safer choice if some members of your group are unsure about endurance or seasickness.

The drawback is simple: four hours can pass quickly if the fish are slow. Time is used getting to productive water, setting lines, trolling, and returning. A full-day option gives the crew more time to cover water and wait for a strike, but it also costs more in time and may be tiring for casual anglers.

Ask what duration is confirmed for your booking. The experience is described as lasting approximately four to eight hours, so do not assume the $860 rate automatically means a full eight hours. Clarify the departure and return times, especially if you are boarding a ship later that day.

What the 4.6 rating tells you

The overall rating is 4.6 from 17 ratings, with a clear pattern in the written feedback. The most praised elements are the crew’s effort, the quality of the boats, and the personal attention provided on private trips.

Successful outings include blue marlin releases, a 50-pound wahoo, yellowfin tuna, barracuda, grouper, and sailfish. Several anglers specifically praise Jason, Robert, and Andre. Even people who did not catch much often appreciated the crew’s company and willingness to keep trying.

The negative experience centers on service timing and communication rather than the basic fishing idea. One group waited for a late pickup, and another reported a wait of 30 to 45 minutes before getting onto the boat. The operator responded that fuel dock or scheduling issues had affected the timing and that updates had been sent.

I would not ignore those complaints, particularly if you are visiting from a cruise ship. At the same time, they appear to be exceptions within generally positive feedback. Reconfirming the pickup time and leaving a generous return buffer is the practical fix.

Who should book this private fishing trip?

I would consider this a strong choice for:

• Up to four people who want a private boat
• Experienced anglers seeking wahoo, tuna, sailfish, or marlin
• Beginners who want direct help from the crew
• Families or couples who prefer not to fish beside strangers
• Cruise passengers with enough time for a four-hour outing
• Groups willing to accept that fishing has no guaranteed result

I would think twice if you dislike boat motion, have a very tight ship departure schedule, or want a guaranteed catch. I would also compare the total cost carefully if only one person is fishing, since the price is charged per group rather than per angler.

The private setup is particularly useful for a group with different skill levels. You can spend part of the trip learning the basics, then hand the rod to a more experienced angler when a larger fish strikes. That flexibility is hard to get on a crowded shared boat.

Booking, cancellation, and practical details

Confirmation is provided within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability, and the booking information also says confirmation is given when the reservation is made. Since those details are slightly different, I would wait for a clear written confirmation with the meeting time, boat, duration, and pickup plan.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund. The cutoff follows local St. Lucia time.

Mobile tickets are supported. Bring the booking details on your phone, along with the cruise information if you are arriving by ship. Keep your schedule flexible enough to handle a delayed departure, particularly when the trip is tied to a cruise port call.

Should you book Hackshaw’s private charter?

Book it if you want a serious, private fishing outing and can share the $860 cost with three other people. The best reasons are the small group size, strong crew reputation, included tackle and licenses, and real chances at wahoo, tuna, sailfish, and blue marlin.

Do not book it expecting a guaranteed marlin or a perfectly timed departure. I would choose the four-hour option for a cruise day, confirm every pickup detail, and reserve a longer trip only if fishing is a main purpose of your St. Lucia visit. For the right group, the chance to work with Jason, Robert, Andre, or another attentive local crew member is worth more than simply counting fish.

FAQ

Where does the fishing charter meet?

The meeting point is Hackshaw’s Boat Charters St. Lucia on Seraphine Road in Castries, near Vigie Marina.

How many people can join the private boat?

The 31-foot boat accepts a maximum of four anglers. The activity is private, so only your group participates.

How long does the trip last?

The outing lasts approximately four to eight hours. Confirm the exact duration when booking.

What fish can I target?

The charter targets dorado, wahoo, mahi mahi, yellowfin tuna, sailfish, and blue marlin. You might also catch barracuda, triggerfish, squirrelfish, grouper, or other local fish.

Is equipment included?

Yes. Tackle, bait, and fishing licenses are included, along with a professional guide. The boats use Shimano and Penn reels and carry a selection of lures.

Are drinks and snacks included?

Light snacks, mineral water, and soft drinks are included. Beer can be requested at an additional cost.

Is hotel transportation included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. Cruise ship pier pickup and drop-off are included.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.