Rhodes: Fishing Trip, Snorkelling, BBQ, & Professional Guide

A fresh fish lunch is the heart of this Rhodes outing. You fish for part of the morning, then Skevos and Captain Mike grill the catch on a handmade barbecue while you swim nearby. It feels more like joining a fishing family than boarding a large sightseeing cruise.

I like the small group of up to 10 people and the genuine father-and-son setup. I also like that beginners get real help, not just a rod and a quick safety speech. The main drawback is simple: fishing depends on weather, season, and luck, so a big catch is never guaranteed.

Key points at a glance

• Traditional 10-meter wooden boat: A handcrafted fishing vessel with a separate fishing area, dining space, toilet, freshwater shower, Wi-Fi, and safety equipment.
• Two kinds of fishing: Start with trolling for larger predator fish, then spend about two hours on bottom fishing.
• Fresh lunch on board: Your catch is grilled with extra virgin olive oil and coarse sea salt, alongside sea bass, gold seabream, Greek salad, and bread.
• Personal instruction: Skevos and Captain Mike work with first-time fishers as well as experienced anglers.
• Swimming and snorkelling stop: The exact bay depends on wind and sea conditions, with Kallithea Springs, Santa Marina, or a sandy beach among the possible destinations.
• Good value at $88: The price includes equipment, bait, food, beer, soft drinks, water, snorkelling gear, and a five-hour boat trip.

A fishing trip that ends with lunch

This is not a fast ride around Rhodes with a few fishing rods tossed over the side. The point is to learn how local sea fishing works, spend time on the water, and eat a meal connected to the activity.

You leave from Kolona port, just outside Rhodes Old Town. Once aboard, Skevos and Captain Mike set a course based on the day’s sea conditions. The plan can include Kallithea Springs, Santa Marina, or a shallow sandy beach. The exact destination is flexible, which is sensible on a small boat. Calm water matters more than sticking to a fixed postcard stop.

The experience lasts five hours. That gives you enough time for several fishing methods, a proper swim, and a cooked lunch without turning the day into an endurance test. Still, you should eat breakfast first. The trip includes a substantial meal, but lunch comes later in the outing.

Meeting Captain Mike and Skevos

Captain Mike has more than 35 years of professional fishing experience. Skevos grew up on the boat with his father and also works as a certified professional chef. That combination explains the structure of the trip: Captain Mike handles much of the fishing experience, while Skevos moves easily between teaching, helping with the catch, and preparing lunch.

Both men are trained in lifeguarding. The information provided also notes certified VHF and UHF communication systems and full compliance with safety regulations. Those details matter on a fishing boat, where rods, hooks, moving lines, and wet surfaces create more practical concerns than you face on a standard cruise.

The guides use English. You can expect simple instructions and hands-on help, which is especially useful if you have never handled sea-fishing gear. Several guests with no fishing background managed to catch fish after getting tips from Skevos. Experienced anglers should also find enough equipment and variety to stay interested.

The atmosphere is social rather than formal. With no more than 10 people, you have room to talk without being lost in a crowd. Solo visitors can fit in well, and families can bring children who are excited about fishing, although the trip is not suitable for pregnant women or wheelchair users.

The boat: practical comfort with a working feel

The boat is a traditional, wooden, handcrafted vessel measuring 10 meters. It is not a luxury yacht, and that is part of the appeal. You get the feel of a working fishing boat, but with the comforts needed for a half-day at sea.

A separate fishing area is designed for up to 10 people. There is also an independent dining and relaxation area, a toilet, freshwater shower, Wi-Fi, and snorkelling equipment. The boat carries a Lowrance 1000W fish finder, GPS, depth sounder, and radar.

The equipment is more serious than the casual appearance of the boat might suggest. Rods and reels come from brands including Shimano, Daiwa, Okuma, Penn, WFT, and Ryobi. Bait and fishing equipment are included, so you do not need to bring your own gear.

You should, however, bring beachwear and a towel. Wear something that can get wet. One useful point from the trip experience is that sea spray can reach you while fishing, especially if the water is lively. A waterproof phone pouch would be sensible, though it is not listed as an included item.

The first hour: trolling along the Rhodes coast

The trip begins with about an hour of cruising and trolling. Trolling means the lines trail behind the moving boat, giving you a chance to target fish that chase moving bait.

The possible catches include small tuna, mahi mahi, amberjack, barracuda, trumpetfish, and great trevally. These are not guaranteed catches, and the guides are direct about changing conditions. August, in particular, may not offer the best fishing conditions every year. Wind can also affect the experience, as it did on one outing when the crew still worked hard to find fish and keep the trip enjoyable.

This part is exciting because you do not know when a line will pull. It also requires patience. If you expect nonstop action, you may find the waiting frustrating. If you enjoy the suspense of watching the water and learning how the gear works, the slower rhythm feels right.

The guides help with the technical side. They can show you how to hold the rod, manage the line, and respond when a fish takes the bait. When a stronger fish is hooked, the catch can become a group effort. Captain Mike and Skevos coordinate closely, helping you bring it in without losing the fish or tangling the lines.

Bottom fishing for about two hours

After trolling, the boat moves to ground fishing for roughly two hours. Here, the target fish are closer to the seabed, and the pace can feel more accessible to beginners.

This is often the most reliable part of the fishing program for anyone hoping to catch something. The crew adjusts the setup and explains what to do, so you do not need prior experience. The guides also make an effort to give everyone a chance with the rod rather than letting one confident fisher dominate the action.

That said, you should keep your expectations realistic. The crew can improve your chances, but they cannot control the sea. Some days produce several species, while another outing may yield less. The honest appeal is learning how fishing works in local waters, not receiving a guaranteed trophy catch.

For families, this section may be the easiest to enjoy. Children and first-time fishers can get quick feedback when the line moves, and the crew can step in when a rod feels difficult to manage. Keep in mind that fishing still involves hooks and active equipment, so close attention is needed around younger children.

Swimming and snorkelling in a quiet bay

Once the fishing is finished, the boat anchors in a quiet bay. You can swim, snorkel, or stay aboard and relax while lunch is prepared.

Possible destinations include the famous Kallithea Springs, Santa Marina, or a shallow sandy beach. The actual choice depends on the weather and sea conditions. That flexibility is useful, but it also means you should not book this trip expecting one guaranteed swimming location.

Snorkelling gear is provided if you want it. The stop is best understood as a relaxed break rather than a dedicated reef excursion. You get time in the Mediterranean, a chance to cool off, and a pleasant pause between fishing and lunch.

If you are not a strong swimmer, ask about the available flotation aids. A pool noodle was helpful to one nervous swimmer, and the boat carries snorkelling equipment. Still, basic comfort in the water is important because swimming is part of the program.

Take your towel and swimwear. Even if you plan to stay dry, the combination of spray, fishing, and a swim stop makes wet clothes quite possible.

Lunch: fish from the sea to the barbecue

The meal is where this trip earns much of its value. Skevos and Captain Mike grill the fish caught during the outing on a handcrafted barbecue made by Skevos’s father.

The catch is cooked with extra virgin olive oil and coarse sea salt. The meal also includes fresh gold seabream and sea bass weighing at least 250 grams, so lunch does not depend entirely on what the group catches. That is an important detail. You may have a slow fishing day and still receive a proper fish meal.

The menu includes:

• Grilled fish
• Greek salad with herbs
• Charcoal-grilled bread
• Olive oil, sea salt, and fresh Rhodian oregano
• Cold beer
• Cola and lemonade
• Bottled mineral water

Skevos’s Greek salad receives especially strong praise, and his homemade lemon sauce is another memorable touch. The salad is not filler beside the main course. It is treated as part of the meal, with herbs and dressing that give it a local character.

The charcoal-grilled bread is another small but welcome detail. After several hours outdoors, salty bread with olive oil works wonderfully. The unlimited drinks also make the $88 price easier to assess, especially if you would otherwise pay separately for lunch, a boat ride, fishing equipment, and snorkelling gear.

If you do not eat fish or Greek salad, bring a few snacks. The listed meal is built around those foods, and no alternative menu is described. Beer is included, but drink sensibly on a small boat, particularly if you plan to swim.

How the $88 price holds up

At $88 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a morning in Rhodes. It is also not just a boat transfer. You are paying for five hours on the water, a small group, fishing instruction, rods and bait, two types of fishing, snorkelling equipment, a cooked meal, and unlimited beer, soft drinks, and water.

The small group is a major part of the value. A 10-person limit gives you a better chance to receive help and a turn at the rod. It also keeps the lunch and swimming stop calmer than a large party boat.

The food adds real value. Fresh grilled fish, sea bass, gold seabream, salad, and bread would make a respectable restaurant lunch on their own. Here, the meal follows an activity and comes with the pleasure of eating at sea.

The price makes the most sense if you want a full half-day outing. If your only goal is swimming, a simple beach day will cost less. If you want serious offshore fishing for large game fish, you should ask questions before booking, since the trip is designed for a mix of trolling, bottom fishing, swimming, and lunch rather than a specialist fishing charter.

Weather, timing, and practical concerns

The trip runs in rain unless conditions become unsafe. It does not operate during storms. Wind and sea conditions can change the planned destination and affect the fishing, so you should accept some flexibility.

The boat is located in the port of Kolona outside Rhodes Old Town. If you drive into Rhodes Town, allow extra time to find parking. The port is easy to reach once you are there, but parking can be busy.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the available start time when booking, since the exact departure schedule can vary.

This is not suitable for wheelchair users because the experience takes place on a traditional fishing boat. It is also not suitable for pregnant women. Bring beachwear and a towel, and have breakfast before you arrive.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this trip for a couple wanting a more personal day on the water, a solo visitor who likes meeting a small group, or a family with someone keen to try fishing. The guides are used to beginners, and the combination of fishing, swimming, food, and conversation gives the day a natural rhythm.

It also suits people who want an authentic working-boat feel rather than a polished resort cruise. You will see equipment, bait, rods, and a real fishing setup. The boat has useful facilities, but it remains a fishing boat first.

You may want to skip it if you dislike fish, cannot swim comfortably, or need step-free access. You should also avoid booking it with the promise of catching a particular species. The sea decides what comes aboard.

Should you book the Skevos Fishing Trip?

Book it if you want to spend five social, active hours on the water and like the idea of eating a meal prepared from the day’s catch. The strongest reasons are the small group, patient instruction, father-and-son crew, and generous lunch.

I would treat the fishing as an adventure rather than a guarantee. Some days bring several species, while wind, season, and sea conditions can slow things down. Even then, you still have a swim, snorkelling equipment, a good meal, and time along the Rhodes coast.

At $88, this is a strong choice for a full half-day experience, especially if fresh fish, Greek salad, and a traditional boat sound better to you than another crowded sightseeing cruise.

FAQ

Where does the fishing trip start?

The boat is at the port of Kolona, outside Rhodes Old Town.

How long does the trip last?

The activity lasts five hours, including cruising, fishing, swimming, snorkelling, and lunch.

How many people can join?

The group is limited to 10 participants.

Are fishing equipment and bait included?

Yes. Fishing equipment and bait are provided on board.

What fish might we catch?

The trolling section may target small tuna, mahi mahi, amberjack, barracuda, trumpetfish, and great trevally. Bottom fishing targets fish near the seabed. Catches depend on the conditions of the day.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The meal includes grilled fish, sea bass, gold seabream, Greek salad, bread, and drinks.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Unlimited bottled water, soft drinks, and beer are included.

What should I bring?

Bring beachwear and a towel. It is also advised that you eat breakfast before the trip.