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About Us - Earl Grey Fishing Charters
+64 (0)27 205 4401 info@earlgreyfishing.co.nz

The vessel – Earl Grey II

Earl Grey II is a purpose built 36 foot sportfish vessel, designed specifically for our recreational charter fishing operation.

Launched in March 2006, we worked closely with naval architect Richard McBride from McBride Design to incorporate ideas and features that can only be gained after years of experience at sea.

Functional and carefully thought out, we have included some of the excellent features from our smaller original Earl Grey in this much larger custom designed vessel.

Earl Grey II provides our customers with a particularly spacious cockpit, a luxury for anyone out on the water.

Powered by a shaft driven 9 litre 450 hp Scania diesel engine, Earl Grey II features:

  • dual controls in the cabin and the cockpit
  • enclosed cabin with galley facilities
  • walk in electric flush toilet
  • a huge in floor live bait tank constantly fed with fresh sea water
  • generous uncluttered deck area so as to allow plenty of space for anglers playing a serious fish
  • sunken cleats for unobstructed fishing, especially important for saltwater fly fishing
  • a game chair which is fitted when targeting Marlin

Earl Grey II operates under Maritime New Zealand’s MOSS – Maritime Operator Safety System (M.N.Z. No. 132245) and carries a full range of safety equipment including life jackets, VHF marine radio, a combination Radar/ GPS/sounder navigational system using two Simrad Evo II units along with another stand-alone Simrad fish finder. We’ve got it well covered !

The Team

Steve Butler

Steve Butler

Fishing Guide, Captain Steve Butler

Steve has a lifelong passion for fishing and the ocean which was ignited while he was very young fishing the Hibiscus Coast and Hauraki Gulf with his father.

With 40 years charter fishing in the Bay of Islands, Steve has the local knowledge and experience to ensure you have the very best fishing excursion possible.

Steve qualified as a skipper passing his Masters License (RLL) in 1980.

Steve’s first 10 years in charter fishing was spent aboard game fishing vessels. During that time he initially worked as deckhand then moved on to skipper a number of the bay’s popular game fishing vessels.

Around then Steve got hooked on another game fish, Yellowtail Kingfish.

In these early days Steve could see a niche in the market for a form of game fishing that was available all year round. And so Earl Grey Fishing was born. The original Earl Grey was built in 1991 and Steve diversified to include live bait and jig fishing for Yellowtail Kingfish, light tackle and saltwater fly fishing.

In 2006 Earl Grey II was launched allowing for Steve to now offer a full range of fishing options.

Wendy Butler

Wendy Butler

Operational Manager

The team member whose office doesn’t have a superb ever-changing sea view.

Wendy runs our office and is the person you will usually talk to when making bookings. She is renowned for providing a personalised service, taking the time to find out what you really want and organising a day to suit your individual needs. Attention to detail is paramount and you will even get advice about where to park, where to have your catch cooked for you and other local information that may be helpful.

 

Wendy is a Northlander, passionate about what our area has to offer and keen to help make your stay in our area the best.

 

A major focus of our business is ensuring our client’s expectations are fulfilled and that they enjoy a quality experience. We have the background to make this happen. Our excellent return clientele rate is testimony to this.

 

We are long standing members of the historic Bay of Islands Swordfish Club, the oldest gamefish club in New Zealand. Originally established in 1918 as the Bay of Islands Kingfish Club Inc, the present-day Bay of Islands Swordfish Club was incorporated in 1924. There are now club rooms both sides of the bay, in Russell and Paihia. Day Memberships with the Bay of Islands Swordfish Club can be organized for those anglers wishing to target line class species while fishing aboard Earl Grey II.

What our clients have to say…..

 

“I can thoroughly recommend Earl Grey Fishing Charters for a great day out in a special part of the world. Steve is a fantastic, knowledgeable and friendly guide who worked incredibly hard to ensure us Aussies had a memorable fishing trip”

          Richard M. Australia

 

“What a wonderful day’s fishing for kingfish, snapper & John Dory. Steve willingly shared knowledge of fishing tips to us e.g. We’d never been live bait fishing before. Wonderful experience with great catches. Steve is an amazing Skipper who has such a wealth of knowledge”

          David, Waipu

 

“Absolutely epic session on the kingfish with Steve on Earl Grey. We will be back, highly recommend. Fantastic boat/skipper/gear.  Wendy is a brilliant organiser for everything you require for your trip. “

          Angie T, Australia

Contact US

Charter

Wendy & Steve Butler

Email: fish@earlgreyfishing.co.nz

Phone (within NZ): 027 205 4401

Phone (from outside NZ) +64 27 205 4401