Owner, operator and skipper of Reef Encounters Fishing Charters, Mark Wynbergen, is a dedicated outdoors person with many and varied interests, such as offroad motorbikes, hunting, surf jet skiing, wave sailboarding, scuba diving, boating, water skiing, four wheel driving and, of course, all types and styles of fishing – from saltwater fly for tropical pelagics to lure fishing for the mighty Murray cod.
Mark has spent a lot of time living in and exploring many regions of Australia, including Darwin, The Kimberley, Cape York, Sydney and his home state of South Australia.
Mark has decided to combine his love and experience of the outdoors and the ocean to start a fishing charter operation, settling on the spectacular Pondalowie Bay, located on the south-western tip of lower Yorke Peninsula in the ruggedly beautiful Innes National Park. He chose this as the best and closest location
established itself as one of the foremost charter services in South Australia, with a large return client database from South Australia and interstate. It provides fishing charters and accommodation packages, with clients staying in Pondalowie Bay and fishing aboard Freedom II, a custom built Cairns Custom Craft 27 foot full walk around fly bridge cat.
Reef Encounters now operates a 45 foot Harriscraft flybridge monohull, surveyed for up to 12 passengers. It’s fully customised and set up for day fishing operations, as well as long range, extended live-aboard excursions that venture to some of the most remote and fish-rich areas of the state. Including Wedge Island (on their doorstep), Althorpe Island, Neptune Islands, Thistle Island, Kangaroo Island, Investigator Strait, Cabbage Patch and beyond.
The major target species are snapper, blue morwong, tuna, nannygai, King George whiting,
hooked on a jig or bait from a deep water reef system. You could possibly see a whale following its migration route or even one of the more unusual things like leatherback turtles, sunfish or even dolphin fish (mahi mahi), which Reef Encounters caught just outside the entrance of Pondalowie Bay this year.
Mark’s qualifications are Master V, Skipper Grade 3, Marine Engine Driver Grade 3 and National Parks and Wildlife Licensed Tour Operator.
Reef Encounters have also incorporated accommodation at nearby Marion Bay (the gateway to Innes National Park), where they operate from in the winter months. Marion Bay is recognised as one of the best places in Australia to fish for trophy-size King George Whiting over 60cm longs and weighing in excess of 1kg.
Reef Encounters plan to keep growing with this exciting industry in South Australia and continue to provide a professional service that is safe, convenient and an exhilarating way to fish this often inaccessible area due to its remote location, lack of boating facilities and open ocean nature.
So, whether it is just a full day fishing charter experience with a night’s accommodation in one of Mark’s beachside shacks, a multiple day charter with accommodation and provisions for a bacon and egg breakfast or a three to five day overnight live aboard charter exploring and fishing for tuna, Mark can provide it all.
Reef Encounters Fishing Charters can look after you for your next fishing experience of a lifetime. They can be contacted on (08) 8854 4102, mobile 0407 609 988 or through their website at www.reefencounters.com.au
to fish one of the most exciting offshore areas of Australia,
surrounded by amazing deep offshore reef systems, spectacular islands,
species-rich cobalt blue waters and breathtaking scenery.
In 1998 Reef Encounters Fishing Charters commenced operations and quickly
samson, harlequin, salmon, kingfish, trevally, sweep, flathead and shark.
One of the attractions of fishing this open ocean area is that you really don’t know
what is going to turn up next. It may be a species you have never caught or even seen before,
