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The Skipper

Skipper Charles has a long history in fishing in Europe and on the ocean of the north & south coast of France where he spent most of his time.

Not only catching sea bass to massive river pikes but also spearfishing & catching Breton lobsters.

Charles also has an immense passion for cooking. Being from Luxembourg in the middle of Europe gives the perfect base for cooking skills in the french & mediterranean kitchen. If you book one of our fish & cooking trips, you will be in for a culinary ride. Kitted out with an onboard Traeger, there are almost no limits.

  • A GOOD TIME ON THE WATER
    We want you to have a great time and make lasting memories.
  • EXTENSIVE WILDLIFE KNOWLEDGE
    Whatever mammals and fish we come across, Charles can tell you more about them.
  • GOOD LUCK CHARM
    We not only catch fish, but come across a lot of different species on our trips.
  • CHEF
    Experience a unique approach to onboard cooking.

TFI Merch

Designed in New Zealand – Illustrations by Skipper Charles.

Let us know what edition you would like to get. Try it on while on our vessel.

Payment possible on the boat by card or bank transfer. We also ship to anywhere in New Zealand. Get in touch with us.

We tested our merch many years – in harsh conditions, holding many kingfish, getting bait and berley all over it – we approve that it still looks like brand new!


  • TFI JERSEY – BLACK EDITION
  • Long sleeve with hoodie and hand drawn illustration
  • FRONT: TFI Logo
  • BACK: Illustrated ‘Alrighty, let’s get cooking!’
  • UV 50+
  • Sizes S-XXXL
  • NZD $ 75

  • TFI JERSEY – GREEN EDITION
  • Long sleeve with collar, buttons and hand drawn illustration
  • FRONT: TFI Logo
  • BACK: Illustrated ‘Craylife forever’
  • UV 50+
  • Sizes S-XXXL
  • NZD $ 75

  • TFI JERSEY – GREY EDITION
  • Long sleeve with hoodie and hand drawn illustration
  • FRONT: TFI Logo
  • BACK: Illustrated ‘Mad fisho crew’
  • UV 50+
  • Sizes S-XXXL
  • NZD $ 75

  • TFI CAP – GREEN or BLACK EDITION
  • Choose between the green & black edition
  • FRONT: TFI Logo
  • BACK: Mesh
  • Sizes One Size Fits All
  • NZD $ 25

  • TFI FACE BUFF – GREEN or BLACK EDITION
  • Choose between green or black edition
  • FRONT: TFI Logo
  • UV 50+
  • One Size Fits All
  • NZD $ 10

Our Vessel

Welcome aboard our Surtees Gamefisher 750!

A unique look and comfort like no other. You will love this custom made Surtees while fishing, sightseeing or just relaxing on the vessel.

  • ONBOARD ELECTRIC TOILET
    Privacy when it’s needed most.
  • 7.5 METERS OVERALL LENGTH
    With a beam of 2.4M and a length of 7.5 there is enough room for comfortable sitting, fishing and enjoying the day on the water.
  • SPOT-LOCK
    Our Minn Kota makes extremely precise fishing possible and goes well over 12h non-stop with a 36V Lithium Battery.
  • HUMMINBIRD HELIX®
    A fish finder like no other, featuring one of the most precise finders on the market, makes locating kingfish and deep-dropping for bluenose a walk in the park.
  • CUSTOMISED SEADEK
    We designed our very own unique SeaDek so it fits perfectly to the boat, but is also extremely comfortable for your feet in the summer or on colder days.
  • DIVE-LADDER
    For snorkeling, spearfishing, diving, or just a casual dip in the water.
  • FRIDGE
    We have a Dometic fridge onboard to keep the drinks cool and food fresh
  • TRAEGER GRILL
    From BBQ to smoking, we offer only the best for our cooking trips.
  • FRESH-WATER SINK
    There’s no shortage of fresh-water onboard with a 80l tank.
  • OVER 25 ROD HOLDERS
    You can never bring enough rods on a trip!.
  • JIGGING PLATFORM
    Get the best angle for kingfish jigging on the back of our vessel.

WHY THAT NAME?

The inspiration behind the boat’s name, “The Floating Island,” originates from the skipper’s love for a particular dessert—Île flottante, a famous French delicacy. This delectable treat features a crème anglaise (vanilla custard) as its base, with a meringue floating on top like an island. The meringue is baked in a bain marie, best out of milk. Finish it off with caramelised sugar and a sprinkle of sliced almonds.Create this from scratch if you’re keen to try it out.

Stay & Fish

We give our clients the option to have the full experience of what the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand has to offer. Combine your fishing trip with staying at our newly built accomodation, Hillbrook. Situated at only 15 min from the boat ramp!

We offer a unique discount of 20% per night! Get in touch with us today.

Nestled in the heart of the beautiful Bay of Plenty, Hillbrook is a brand-new architecturally designed house that seamlessly blends nature with relaxed comfort. Situated just a brief 15-minute drive away from Mount Maunganui, which has been consistently voted as New Zealand’s best beach, Hillbrook is the perfect spot to explore the surroundings while staying in a modern and stylish haven of tranquility.

  • MIELE KITCHEN
    Fully kitted out Miele kitchen and the needed nespresso machine.
  • MAX. NUMBER OF GUESTS: 4
    2 bedrooms with linen double king size beds.
  • STEAMSHOWER
    We provide towels for our guests at no extra-charge.
  • GARDEN AREA
    Enjoy a glass of wine in the outdoor dining area to cling off your day fishing.
  • SECURE PARKING
    Our property is CCTV covered at 360° 24/7.
  • CHAUFFEUR
    We will drive you to and from the boatramp at no extra-charge.
  • FISH FILLETING & VACCUM PACKING
    We fillet your fish and properly vaccum pack & label them at $2 per fish.
  • WE COOK YOUR CATCH OF THE DAY
    Let us know if you wish your catch to be prepared by Chef Charles as an add-on.

Make sure to check our accomodation’s availability here.

And let us know when you would like to book your Stay & Fish.