Barra fishing from Lockhart River to Lizard Island

There's a long-running joke suggesting that the best two moments in a boat owner’s life are the day they buy a boat, and the day they sell it. But what if there was a third option?

For me, that was the day I was asked to accompany a motley collection of misfits on a Far North Queensland barramundi tour from Lockhart River to Lizard Island, accompanied by more marine hardware than a North Korean military parade.

Normally, given the opportunity I’d go to the opening of an envelope. When 10 days of mothershipping aboard the magnificently appointed 115-foot Bennetti Motor Yacht Emerald Lady, her 55-foot custom Assegai game boat Askari and four dories arose, I was certain that either my lottery numbers had all aligned or I was being set up by an elaborate Nigerian scam. Neither were the case; just a solid invitation from the owner to join him and some good friends to have a crack at barramundi, a species of fish I had never experienced.

Our trip starts at the Hinterland Aviation’s base at Cairns airport, where we board a Cessna 208B Caravan for the two-hour journey north to Lockhart River via a scenic smorgasbord of coral reefs, luscious rainforests and river systems. Justin, our pilot, provides us with a bird’s-eye view as we descend to the Lockhart River airstrip. Below us, the river looks healthy and full of potential target species. Anticipation is high and morale is strong.

Awaiting us is Corey Hard from Hardcore Game Fishing Charters. Hard runs the Askari and provides an absolute first-class service alongside his two crew, Rhys and Bodie. The brains of the operation, he has planned our journey with same precise movement as a Rolex to make the experience even more relaxing for the group.

Hard is one of Australia’s most accomplished captains and fishermen, with notable tournament wins including the 40th and 50th Cairns Anniversary Black Marlin events, the Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic and many metre-plus barramundi. He and his crew specialise in heavy and light tackle marlin fishing, sport fishing and barramundi fishing charters from the Askari, which in itself is something of an Australian icon.

After seeing his smile at again having me on board, we jump in cars for our quick trip to the beach. Dories await to take us out to Askari, which then makes the short cruise to Emerald Lady, lying at anchor a few miles out in the bay due to shallow waters.

For those of you that love fishing and have never mothershipped, it is like flying first class; something we all aspire to do at least once in a lifetime. Having a luxury 115-foot motor yacht as a base for a perfectly comfortable 50-plus-foot gamefishing boat doesn’t get any better. The Emerald Lady’s opulence, comfort and space is out of this world. Stepping aboard, we received a personal greeting from all five crew and a refreshing towel to remove the grime of travel. The greeting was followed by free-flowing Bollinger champagne and fresh canapes prepared by the ship’s chef while seated on dual aft tables watching a pink, glowing sunset.

After a few glasses and some dips of fresh mangrove jack ceviche, our steward takes us on a tour of our home for the next 10 days. The Emerald Lady’s layout splits across three spaciously appointed decks. From the aft cockpit, we walk up some stairs to the main deck and an aft alfresco dining area that, on this trip, will become the meeting point for breakfasts and the twilight cocktail-hour tall tales.

Move forward, and automated glass doors open to a large lounge and formal dining room with a fully stocked bar and entertainment system. This, I discover, would become the venue for our after-dinner nightcaps of Cubaney rum or Grey Goose vodka as the generals planned the next day’s fishing in the hunt for that elusive metre-plus barra. To one side, a lower staircase leads to the owner’s cabin, a full beam stateroom with walk-in wardrobe, a desk, lounge, king-size bed and a head. An oversize rain shower installed for washing away tropical heat is a welcome addition.

Back to the main deck, and past the formal dining room is the chef’s galley where all of our meals are graciously prepared – our regular three-course dinners that occasionally turn into four-course affairs. There is also a stateroom with king-size bed and head in the bow.

Down a staircase are two more staterooms with their own heads, each with three oversize king singles. The top deck houses a fly bridge wheelhouse with lounge seating and a wet bar, and a clears-covered alfresco dining area that opens up to allow the cool trade winds to flow though.

Behind the alfresco dining area is a day bed that opens to a helipad, but here it doubles as a tender store and another viewing platform for tropical north sunsets.

While it is tempting to stay onboard, a faux gold and emerald trophy for the largest barra was calling to me.

Over the next nine days we would visit some of the most amazing fisheries – from the Lockhart River down to Princess Charlotte Bay where we venture into the Normanby and Marrett River systems, and the Bathurst Headlands. What makes it even more fun is the mix of teams and dories for each day, so everyone fishes with different people and skill sets.

Our reels scream with barramundi, trevally, GTs, queen fish, fingermark bream, mangrove jacks and reef sharks, to name a few. There is an abundance of marine life including larger tiger and bull sharks, a pod of dolphins, and even an ever-watchful “snapping handbag” on a muddy river bank. There was also an incident with an angry frigate bird, but we’ll leave that for another day.

Returning to the Emerald Lady each night, we are greeted with a warm smile from the crew, and handed a cool towel and a drink to enjoy the sunset. Then it is off to an air-conditioned stateroom for a shower, only to find grimy clothing from the day before has returned pressed and laid fresh on the bed.

How did the competition turn out? I Bradburyed over the line, landing on the podium with the third largest barramundi of the trip, at 84cm. Outdoing me were two other fishes landed measuring 85 and 95cm.

The real winner here, though, is the Emerald Lady. If you’ve never mothershipped before, the luxury experience it can give you is more than memorable.

Dean Leigh-Smith travelled as a guest of Emerald Lady Charters and Hardcore Game Fishing. Emerald Lady is for sale via Leigh-Smith Yachts, Sanctuary Cove.