Wahoo Fishing Charters: Off to a flying (fish) start

What a silly question. Do you catch different fish at night? Clifford Marsh, owner of Niue Wahoo Fishing Charters, laughs and politely replies, “Yes. Very different.” Having been in operation for around four years, doing much the same as other fishing charter operators in Niue, Clifford was keen to establish a new product to make Wahoo Fishing Charters stand out. A point of difference.

Night fishing was what he wanted to offer his customers. He’d been talking about it with his father for some years already but couldn’t see how he could afford to set it up. Imagine being out on those silky black waters under a blanket of stars, waiting in the silence for a school of silver flying fish to emerge and fly 200 or 300 metres out of the water. The motor revs to get ahead of them, and you scoop up the fish in a net as they dive underwater. Wow. For that, Clifford would need a very different boat.

And that’s when Wayne McCaughlin, Business Link Pacific advisor and Manager of Niue Development Bank, suggested he apply to BLP for a Business Support Grant, which would enable him to secure sufficient finance for just the right boat. It needed to be small and fast, but at $19,000 it was quite expensive. If BLP contributed $10,000, Clifford would personally contribute $4,000, and the balance would be through a bank loan.

Following Wayne’s guidance and support from BLP and the local Chamber of Commerce, Clifford applied under the ‘Innovation’ category. This category is for projects that drive new products or services, and in Niue this was to be the only night fishing charter available. This project could also have qualified under the ‘Finance’ category since it enabled Clifford to raise further funds towards his new boat purchase.

Now, Clifford is in the business of fishing, not administration, and so assistance with completing the online process was critical if he was going to succeed with his grant application. “It was quite daunting seeing all the forms and paperwork I needed to complete the application, but luckily, my partner is good at the internet, and Wayne gave us pointers along the way. It happens a lot in Niue that once people see the process involved, they shy away from it.”

A word to the wise for anyone putting together a financial budget for a new venture is to be certain of costs and to include everything you can think of. However, some things are not foreseeable, and for Clifford, the actual final costs were a little over budget. The freight to remote Niue increased by $2,000 over the figure quoted, and Clifford realised he needed additional components, such as an auxiliary outboard motor, and he funded these extra costs personally. Still, bookings are coming in, and the future looks exciting.

“I expect the impact on Wahoo Fishing Charters will be huge once the season gets fully underway. I’ve made a few promotional trips already, and I’m looking for media coverage. I’m doing all I can to make sure tourists are aware this is on offer – all the trolleys at the airport have signage about my night fishing!”

Businesses like Clifford’s often just need a financial boost to take them to the next level. In Clifford’s case, he has opened up his business offering to a whole new market where there is currently no competition. While the competition gets ready, Clifford will build his skills, customer base and online reviews.

Getting ahead of the curve can be intimidating, but with careful planning and a little support, it can also be financially worthwhile. To find out about how your business could benefit from a Business Support Grant or subsidised business advice from Business Link Pacific, visit https://about.businesslinkpacific.com/what-are-blps-finance-services-support/