Don’t believe what you read on Sportquest Holiday Website
I have used this company twice now for what would be considered expensive destination fishing holidays. One was to the Seychelles and one to Northern Norway. For the one to the Seychelles I would have given them 4 stars had I reviewed it. I had to press them to have airport transfers included in the price. It clearly said on their website that they were but when the real paperwork arrived they were missing. It only changed when I complained. I was researching another trip to Bolivia. They state that booking through them causes no extra charges and you get the same price as if booking directly with the fishing lodge. I got Sportquest to quote. It seemed very high so I took the trouble to check with the lodge. There was about a £3k discrepancy which when I pointed it out to Sportquest was put down to a ‘mistake’. The trip that scores them a one star review was my most recent one to Northern Norway to fish for Halibut. I will cut and paste my review which I sent to them a couple of weeks ago. Needless to say, I haven’t heard back from them.
‘On your website you quite clearly state that you only reserve prime weeks when you reserve the fishing so that your clients don't have to worry. They can be safe in the knowledge that you have done that work on their behalf.
The holiday I booked was labeled as Guided Halibut and Plaice fishing. I will quote from your website. ' THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS WHY JOINING A SPORTQUEST HOLIDAYS GUIDED FISHING TRIP TO NORWAY IS BENEFICIAL TO THE ANGLER; FIRSTLY, WE ALWAYS BOOK PRIME WEEKS AND SECURE THESE OVER TWO YEARS IN ADVANCE. SECONDLY, YOU GET TO BENEFIT FROM ALL THE GUIDE’S YEARS OF EXPERIENCE; THIRDLY, YOU CAN TRAVEL AS A SINGLE ANGLER AT NO EXTRA COST.' The fishing was dire. I expected bringing back 18 kg of prime halibut and plaice fillets plus some cod. I actually brought back nothing. There were around 5 boats with 20 ish anglers going out each day. For the entire week not one keepable halibut was caught. Nor were there any caught that were too big to keep. A total of 4 undersized fish were caught in the week. Our guide had been guiding there for 6 years. When we asked him about when the halibut fishing was prime time he clearly said late October/ early November. This was corroborated by the other guide who had been there for two years. All the plaice we caught save 2 were undersize. Frankly I would have had better fishing and caught more fish out of any charter boat fishing the south coast.
I am extremely unhappy about the experience. I wasted a week and getting on for £3k fishing in a spot where there were no fish because I wasn't there at the correct time of year. You should be ashamed of yourselves. There is clearly a disconnect between your reassurance that you only reserve prime weeks and the actual dates of the prime weeks which are nowhere near the dates you sold me.’
Anyone who goes destination fishing will be aware that there are numerous agents out there available to book through. I will not be planning to use this one in the future.