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

Comino’s clear water is the main event here, but this is more than a quick Blue Lagoon stop. You get a private boat for up to six, a flexible route, and time for handline fishing, swimming, and snorkelling around Comino, Gozo, or Malta. Captain Mario and Joe have both made a strong impression, especially with families and first-time anglers.

I like the freedom to shape a three-hour trip around your group, and I like the practical comforts: shade, seating, a cooler, WiFi, and snorkelling gear. The main catch is the price structure. The $171 rate covers the boat, but the professional skipper and fuel are listed separately at €78 each, and fishing gear is not included.

Key points at a glance

• Private boat for up to six: The price applies to the boat, not to each person, so it can work well for a small family or group.
• Fishing with a flexible route: Choose from offshore and inshore fishing areas around Malta, Gozo, and Comino, with handline fishing available.
• Comino’s bays and caves: Your skipper can adjust the route for coves, beaches, swimming, and snorkelling.
• Captain Mario and Joe: Mario has taken groups around Comino’s bays, while Joe has helped make handline fishing fun for first-time anglers.
• Useful onboard comforts: Expect seating, a sun deck, a canopy, an ice cooler, Bluetooth speaker, WiFi, safety equipment, and snorkelling masks and snorkels.
• Extra costs matter: The skipper, fuel, food, drinks, BBQ, and fishing equipment are all outside the advertised boat price.

What this private Comino charter is really like

This is best understood as a small, flexible fishing and swimming charter rather than a fixed sightseeing cruise. You have three hours on a private boat, and the route can focus on fishing, quiet water, snorkelling, caves, beaches, or some mix of all five.

That flexibility matters around Comino. The island is famous for the Blue Lagoon, but the best part of a boat trip is the ability to move beyond the busiest patch of water. Your skipper can change the route based on sea conditions, tides, shallow areas, and your group’s interests.

You are not buying a long day at sea. Three hours passes quickly, especially if you want time to fish, swim, and stop for photographs. I would treat this as a compact outing that fits neatly into a Malta or Gozo holiday, not as a full-day expedition.

The private format is a real benefit. With room for up to six people, you can keep the pace relaxed and avoid sharing the boat with strangers. A family can spend more time swimming, while a group of friends can give fishing a proper try without worrying about holding up a larger party.

Choosing between Malta and Gozo departure points

You can meet the boat in Gozo at Mgarr Harbour, near Sicilia Bella Restaurant in the harbour terminal departure area. From Malta, the meeting point is at Cirkewwa, close to the Cirkewwa Kiosk in the Gozo Channel Terminal.

These locations matter because Cirkewwa and Mgarr sit on opposite sides of the channel. Pick the departure point that fits your day, and allow extra time for traffic, ferry movement, and finding the exact meeting spot. You are asked to arrive 30 minutes early, a sensible rule for a boat that cannot extend the trip if you arrive late.

Pickup is included from the designated meeting points, but the information supplied does not promise hotel pickup. I would plan to reach the stated harbour area rather than assume a vehicle will collect you elsewhere.

Clear directions are part of the appeal here. The Cirkewwa point is close to a named kiosk, and the Mgarr point is close to a named restaurant, giving you useful landmarks instead of a vague harbour instruction.

The first hour: setting a route around Comino

Once aboard, you can work with the skipper to set the tone of the trip. The choices include fishing around Malta, Gozo, and Comino, stopping for a swim, or making the water and coastline the main attraction.

Comino is the natural focus. Its coast has clear water, small bays, caves, and beaches, and the boat gives you a better view of these places than you get from the island’s walking paths alone. The Blue Lagoon may be the famous stop, but your skipper can also look for calmer water and less exposed spots when conditions allow.

Do not expect a rigid list of stops. The skipper has the final say on the route, and that is a safety issue rather than a flaw. Weather, tides, shallows, and sea conditions can force a change in plan. A boat trip that leaves the exact route open is usually more sensible than one that promises every cove in every kind of weather.

If swimming is important to you, say so at the start. If fishing is the priority, make that clear too. The charter is designed to be tailored, but the three-hour clock means your skipper needs to know where you want the emphasis.

Fishing around Malta, Gozo, and Comino

Fishing is the distinctive feature of this charter. You can try offshore fishing or fish closer to shore around Malta, Gozo, and Comino. The skipper provides guidance, so you do not need to be an experienced angler to take part.

The handline option is especially suitable for a casual group. One outing produced a catch on the way back to harbour, which shows the fun of the activity without suggesting that a catch is guaranteed. Another group went hoping for tuna and did not catch one, but still had time for swimming and enjoyed the day at sea.

That is the right expectation. This is not a guaranteed-catch fishing trip. The sea decides what happens, and even a well-chosen fishing spot may produce nothing. You should book it if you like the process, the setting, and the chance of catching something, not only for the result.

Fishing equipment is not included. Bring or arrange what you need before departure, and remember that a fishing cooler is also excluded. The onboard ice cooler is listed as included, but it is not the same thing as a dedicated cooler for a catch.

For families, fishing gives children a simple activity between swims. Claire’s birthday outing included a group of children, and the skipper was patient while taking them to good fishing spots. That makes this a promising choice for a family celebration, provided everyone understands that fishing takes patience.

Blue Lagoon, swimming, and snorkelling stops

The Blue Lagoon is included within the Comino boating area, and lagoon permits are part of the package. You can expect a chance to see its clear water from the boat and, if conditions and timing allow, stop for swimming or snorkelling.

The lagoon is attractive, but it is also the place most likely to feel busy during popular periods. A private charter helps because you can ask about quieter coves and adjust the timing, though the skipper cannot control how many other boats are in the area.

Snorkelling equipment includes a mask and snorkel. That saves you from packing basic gear, although you may prefer to bring your own if fit and comfort are important. The water around Comino is described as clear and full of marine life, making a short snorkel stop a natural part of the outing.

Bring swimwear and a towel. You should also pack sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen. Malta’s summer sun is strong, and the boat’s canopy provides shade but does not replace sun protection.

Caves, beaches, and the view from the water

A boat lets you see Comino at water level, where the coastline’s caves, small beaches, and rock formations become the focus. You may stop at a cove for a swim, pass close to a cave, or simply cruise along the coast while the skipper points out bays.

The route can also include Gozo and Malta. That gives you a wider view of the islands, but keep the three-hour limit in mind. The more ground you cover, the less time you have for fishing or swimming. A group wanting a relaxed swim and several fishing stops may prefer to keep the route close to Comino.

I like this kind of flexible planning because it avoids treating the sea like a checklist. Still, you should not expect a full tour of all three islands in three hours. The value is in choosing a small area and enjoying it at your own pace.

Captain Mario, Joe, and the feel onboard

The skipper can make or break a short private charter. Captain Mario has taken groups around Comino and its bays, including a family with two young boys who did not get seasick. He has also been praised for making conversation easy and showing people around the coast.

Joe has made a good impression with handline fishing and island sightseeing. One group caught something on the way back in, which turned the return ride into part of the fishing experience rather than dead time.

The supplied information identifies English and Maltese as the tour languages. That should make basic planning and safety instructions straightforward for English-speaking groups.

The boat has comfortable seating areas and a sun deck, plus a canopy for shade. A Bluetooth speaker and free WiFi are included, although I would use those as extras rather than the reason to book. The main pleasure is being on the water with your own group.

What the $171 price includes, and what it does not

The advertised price is $171 per group of up to six, not $171 per passenger. That can be reasonable for a small group, especially when split six ways. For two people, the per-person cost is much higher, so group size affects the value sharply.

The boat, safety equipment, port and marina fees, taxes, canopy, ice cooler, Bluetooth speaker, WiFi, snorkelling equipment, and lagoon permits are included. Those inclusions reduce the small add-on costs that can make a boat trip feel nickel-and-dimed.

But budget carefully. The professional skipper is listed separately at €78, and fuel consumption is also listed separately at €78. Food, drinks, party supplies, BBQ food, BBQ drinks, the BBQ itself, fishing equipment, and a fishing cooler are not included.

Because the skipper and fuel are essential to the trip, check the final total before booking. The base rate looks strongest for a group of four to six people, particularly if you value privacy and plan to use the boat for swimming as well as fishing.

Bring cash, as requested in the practical information. No food or drinks are supplied, so pack what you need unless you have arranged something separately. The ice cooler can help keep items cold, but do not assume it is stocked.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this for a family, a group of friends, or a couple who wants a private boat and does not mind paying more for personal space. The format is especially useful when people in the group want different things. Some can fish while others swim or sit in the shade.

It also suits first-time anglers. The skipper offers guidance, and handline fishing is simple enough to try without a long lesson. Just keep your expectations realistic: the sea may provide a catch, or it may provide a pleasant afternoon with no fish at all.

This is less suitable if you want a guaranteed tuna catch, a full-day fishing trip, or a tightly scripted sightseeing schedule. It may also feel short if your group wants several fishing locations plus long stops at beaches and caves.

Families with children should find the private format helpful. The boat gives you more control over the pace, and the available seating and shade are practical. Still, children need to be comfortable around open water, and every group should follow the skipper’s safety instructions.

Weather, timing, and the fine print that matters

The skipper can cancel, postpone, change, or modify the charter if weather and sea conditions make it necessary. The route, departure point, and disembarkation location can also change because of tides, shallow water, or other legitimate safety reasons.

The skipper may adjust your chosen start time to find better conditions or meet operational needs. This is worth accepting as part of a sea-based activity. A fixed schedule is less important than a safe, enjoyable ride.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now while paying later. Availability determines the possible start times, so check those details before building the rest of your day around the boat.

Arrive 30 minutes early. Late arrival does not extend the charter, and three hours is already a compact window.

Should you book Fisher’s Trek?

Book it if you want a private, flexible outing where fishing, swimming, snorkelling, and Comino’s coast can share the same afternoon. It is particularly good for groups of four to six, families celebrating a special day, and casual anglers who will enjoy the attempt even without a guaranteed catch.

Think twice if your main goal is serious offshore fishing or a long cruise. The extra €78 skipper charge, €78 fuel charge, and missing fishing equipment can change the final value.

For the best experience, arrive early, pack sun protection and drinks, bring cash, and agree on your priority before boarding. Tell the skipper if fishing, swimming, or quiet coves matter most. With that planning, this charter offers a personal way to see Comino that is more relaxed and adaptable than a standard shared boat ride.

FAQ

How long is the private boat charter?

The charter lasts three hours. Start times depend on availability.

How many people can join the boat?

The private boat accommodates a group of up to six people. The price applies per boat, not per passenger.

Where does the boat depart from?

You can depart from Mgarr Harbour in Gozo, near Sicilia Bella Restaurant, or from Cirkewwa in Malta, near the Cirkewwa Kiosk in the Gozo Channel Terminal.

Is pickup included?

Pickup is included from the two designated meeting points at Mgarr and Cirkewwa. The supplied information does not state that hotel pickup is available.

Is a professional skipper included in the price?

The professional skipper is listed separately at €78. Check the final booking total to confirm how this charge is applied.

Is fuel included?

Fuel consumption is listed separately at €78, so confirm the complete cost before booking.

Is fishing equipment provided?

No. Fishing equipment and a fishing cooler are not included.

Can I swim or snorkel during the trip?

Yes. The charter can include swimming and snorkelling stops, and a mask and snorkel are included. The exact stops depend on your preferences and sea conditions.

What should I bring?

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

Can the route change because of weather?

Yes. The skipper can change the route, timing, departure or disembarkation point, postpone the trip, or cancel it because of weather, sea conditions, tides, shallow water, or other legitimate reasons.