Seal Island or Western Carracks lies approximately 3.5 miles from St Ives along the West Coast and is home to a colony of Grey Atlantic Seals. 'Carracks' is Cornish for rocks and the Island is just that, however it is very special as it is home to these magnificent creatures. They are a protected species with numbers across the world currently at around 300,000. They can be spotted mainly on the west coasts of England and Scotland as well as the Eastern shores of Canada and in the Scandanavian Baltic. The UK population accounts for under half that of the worldwide one at approximately 112,000.  

On our way, you will see beautiful beaches, the NCI station (National Coastguard Institution) and the Tate Gallery. We also see the famous rock formation known as Mans Head - you will see why it is called this!

At Seal Island, we will spend enough time for you to take some photographs and observe the seals in their natural habitat. Of course, we are sometimes lucky and see dolphins along the way and the Skipper will always allow time to observe their magic. We are passionate about wildlife and the marine life in our local waters and we ask that you observe the instruction on the boat when observing the seals and any other marine life. Whilst we do get closer to the seals than is possible by land, the quality of photographs we have seen from cameras with wide lens and zoom is incredible. That said, the majority of our passengers just use mobile phones and the photography is just as memorable. 

Heading East from St Ives harbour towards Hayle, we pass the beautiful sandy beaches of Porthminster and Carbis Bay to Godrevy Lighthouse, which lies approximately 3 miles away. Also visible is the mouth of Hayle estuary as we near the lighthouse and the sandy white saltings of Lelant. There are two separate rock formations at Godrevy, on which one stands the lighthouse, made popular by the author Virginia Woolfe in her classic novel 'The Lighthouse'. The lighthouse is home to its own colony of Atlantic grey seals as well as a variety of sea birds. We regularly see oystercatchers, gulls and pipits.

There are plenty of photo opportunities along the way and at the Lighthouse as we take a good look around it's beauty. It is really spectacular to see the waves crashing against the rocks and the Lighthouse and we have been sent some incredible photos in the past.

Other wildlife we regularly see common and Risso dolphins, sunfish, jellyfish and usually later in the season, Bluefin tuna and bottlenose dolphins.

Our popular twilight trips offer a slightly longer experience and are only advertised on specific dates when we have assessed the conditions and believe, that to the best of our knowledge and previous experience, there is a good chance of observing a variety of marine life in good conditions. The twilight trips also offer a chance to be out at sea as the sun sets over St Ives and Hayle on sunnier evenings; an amazing sight to behold. Examples of marine life we have seen on these trips at various points of the year are Bottlenose dolphins, Risso dolphins, Common dolphins, Porpoise, Minke whale, grey Atlantic seals, Sunfish, Bluefin tuna, Gannets, Cormorants, Guillemots, Manx Shearwaters, Razorbills, Oystercatchers, Kittiwake, Common Tern, Fulmar, Great Black backed and Herring gulls. Whilst we cannot guarantee observations, the Skipper will do his absolute best to find marine life but as always, we are in mother nature's hands! Please note this trip time is approximate and we sometimes run over 2 hours depending on the time of sunset and how much marine life we spend time observing!

Save 5% on bookings for 6 or more passengers by selecting the Group option.

Enjoy having a private charter on the boat with just your party on board! We have vast experience in charters for any special or memorable occasion. From birthdays, weddings, engagements, proposals, hen and stags, ashes scatterings or just because you want to spend quality memory making time with loved ones! Our Captain, Andy will take you along the beautiful coast of St Ives, heading either East or West to see the grey Atlantic seals on the way at Godrevy Lighthouse or Seal Island. Longer charters (1 hour plus) can go further offshore if you wish, depending on your available time and budget. For a special celebration, we can decorate the boat for you at no extra charge - please give us plenty of notice and your requirements. Bring a bottle or two, a picnic and relax whilst we take a gentle cruise across the clear blue waters of St Ives for you to enjoy. Please note the maximum capacity of passengers is 12 - this includes children aged 12 months plus. Babies under 12 months can be brought along and do not count in the legal capacity amount of the boat. Any additional persons brought along, taking the total above 12 will not be allowed to board. 

Fishing is also available as a private charter, please select the appropriate booking option.

From Gwithian to Hell's Mouth and Zennor to Gurnard's Head and beyond - an extended trip at sea allowing you to see more of the beautiful Cornish coast line and spend longer spotting marine life further out to sea. Join our experienced and friendly Skipper, Andy, on a Beyond the Bay Adventure leaving from St Ives to Seal Island or Godrevy Lighthouse to see the grey Atlantic seals and from there head onwards along the coast, exploring hidden inlets and tranquil coves. Due to this being a longer trip, giving us time to steam out further, the chance of spotting of the marine life off our coast increases. We regularly see different species of dolphin (Risso, common, harbour porpoise), sea birds, sunfish, jellyfish, minke whale, basking sharks. This trip is suitable for all ages however please bear in mind with young children, they will be on the boat for a minimum of 2 hours. 

This is a popular family friendly trip and is a great taster into fishing for novices as well as a great experience for those with fishing experience. Our Skipper, Andy, has been fishing since he could stand and his enthusiasm and knowledge have earned us our reputation as one of the best pleasure fishing trip operators in St Ives and beyond. We supply all that you need to fish; rod, reels and tackle. Andy will help those that need it and assist children to land their catch safely. He provides a fantastic learning environment for children as well should other species of fish be caught with his knowledge of marine life. If you would like to, you can take your catch home for the BBQ! 

Mackerel are a really healthy fish to eat and full of Omega 3. They taste delicious lightly salted and oiled and grilled or barbequed skin side down for a few minutes to get that crispy skin, then only needing a minute on the other side. The mackerel also show the most beautiful colours and pattern on their skin.

Take a look at our photos and you will see that we don't just catch mackerel on some days! We have hooked cod, pollock, squid, red gurnard and even tope!

Children under 16 must be accompanied on the fishing trips with at least 1 adult over 18 years old. There is no minimum age limit however we have found that children from age 4 to 5 years onwards get the benefit of the experience. Dogs are only permitted on fishing trips that are privately chartered.

Our Pro Charter P4 boat is ideal for making the most of the large deck space to ensure there is plenty of room for up to 12 people to fish comfortably. We supply good quality rods and reels and our Captain, Andy is fishing mad so will always go above and beyond to make your trip enjoyable and fun. You do not need any experience of fishing to try mackerel fishing and Andy will help any novices to get the most out of the trip. Take home your catch if you wish to cook up for dinner! There is no age limit and children absolutely love the thrill of feeling the fish tugging at the rod and pulling up their catch. 

Please note that 12 people is the legal capacity of our boat and this includes any children aged 12 months plus. Babies of under 12 months can be brought along with no need to count in the numbers. A private charter is for a maximum of 12 people and any additional people who arrive, will not be allowed to board.