queensland Anyone used Back to Basics Smooth Water Charters?

[billp]

Hey everyone,

 

My son is getting too big to fish out of the back of my Kayak, so I was going to take him on a charter in the Bay. He has never been in a boat before so figure something like this would be a good start.

Has anyone used Smooth Water Charters and if so have any thoughts on them?

The price I was quoted for a private charter for 2 was pretty good, however went on a charter out of Noosa last month and was not really impressed with them, so I plan on doing my homework this time.

[ellicat]

I can't help with that charter operator, but can tell you the Bay is currently overrun with sharks. Last night we hooked up to 11 of the suckers and a couple of weeks back we got sharked bringing in fish 7 times. So it may be best to wait until the weather/water cools off a bit around March-April before you make a booking.

[Old Scaley]

No experience with those guys. Looks like he might be John Palermo’s son, so there is a good pedigree. One local charter I can definitely recommend is Sean Conlon’s. I haven’t been out with him for a few years but he really knows his stuff and will do whatever style of fishing you want and give you lots of great info and tuition along the way. Very honest operator.

[kmcrosby78]

18 minutes ago, Old Scaley said:

No experience with those guys. Looks like he might be John Palermo’s son, so there is a good pedigree. One local charter I can definitely recommend is Sean Conlon’s. I haven’t been out with him for a few years but he really knows his stuff and will do whatever style of fishing you want and give you lots of great info and tuition along the way. Very honest operator.

Yes I keep meaning to make a booking with him Steve. What did you target - squire and flatties? He certainly seems to have them sussed. 

[Old Scaley]

3 minutes ago, kmcrosby78 said:

Yes I keep meaning to make a booking with him Steve. What did you target - squire and flatties? He certainly seems to have them sussed. 

First time was quite a while ago now and we wanted to learn about plastics fishing for flathead. Sean nailed it and we got some great fish. Second trip was to learn about trolling hardbody lures for snapper. Again, we got some good fish and learnt heaps. 

[billp]

Thanks for the replies. Will keep it all in mind while researching some more. 

[geishbddjdn]

Don't go with them, dodgy as, lying operator.  I booked last year whole boat in october had to cancel due to weather that was fine no stress. Re booked for Nov got cancelled on because was having boat troubles. Next day vids posted at Tangalooma. Asked for money back this time as we moved up north.  Nothing, he stopped replying and gave sob story about why I couldn't have it back. Fast forward to today he won't reply to me and I've only received back 600 of the 1150 I paid. Even went out of my way to wait at a servo on the side of the highway for him as he said he'd meet there and give me cash. Meeting time came nothing, wouldn't pick up phone, hour later nothing. Left after 2 hrs waiting past time and he gets back to me immediately after I post on fb a review that he deleted immediately. 

[kmcrosby78]

On 06/10/2022 at 12:54 PM, geishbddjdn said:

Don't go with them, dodgy as, lying operator.  I booked last year whole boat in october had to cancel due to weather that was fine no stress. Re booked for Nov got cancelled on because was having boat troubles. Next day vids posted at Tangalooma. Asked for money back this time as we moved up north.  Nothing, he stopped replying and gave sob story about why I couldn't have it back. Fast forward to today he won't reply to me and I've only received back 600 of the 1150 I paid. Even went out of my way to wait at a servo on the side of the highway for him as he said he'd meet there and give me cash. Meeting time came nothing, wouldn't pick up phone, hour later nothing. Left after 2 hrs waiting past time and he gets back to me immediately after I post on fb a review that he deleted immediately. 

That sucks!  Next time you're down this way use a different phone number to try to book a trip - if he says he is booked for that day, meet at the ramp (unannounced) and confront him in front of that day's paying customers ........ . More than one way to skin a cat ..... .

Edited November 14, 2022 by kmcrosby78

[Hweebe]

Gated Community though

[Jacynta]

Does anyone who has used them got a contact number? Booked with him this year, months ago. Cancelled twice due to weather, 3rd time due to putting boat in for a service. Kept telling us he would let us know if he got it back that afternoon so we could go the next day. We were always the ones following up. Ended up asking for money back, after sending a few messages were told this was okay, since has either deleted page or blocked us, and haven’t received our money back. 

[Junky]

Wow. This is disgusting. 

 

I'd meet him unannounced at the ramp as @kmcrosby78said.

I've never heard good things about that perlumo. Dodgy bugger to say the least. 

 

 

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

There are heaps of comments on facebook saying the exact same or very similar thing too. 

[antom]

Did any one get thier money back? Look like I am the next victim 

[antom]

On 12/11/2022 at 3:52 PM, Jacynta said:

Does anyone who has used them got a contact number? Booked with him this year, months ago. Cancelled twice due to weather, 3rd time due to putting boat in for a service. Kept telling us he would let us know if he got it back that afternoon so we could go the next day. We were always the ones following up. Ended up asking for money back, after sending a few messages were told this was okay, since has either deleted page or blocked us, and haven’t received our money back. 

Did u get you money back?

[antom]

On 14/11/2022 at 5:39 PM, AUS-BNE-FISHO said:

There are heaps of comments on facebook saying the exact same or very similar thing too. 

He shut face book Page down

[Jono4500]

Sorry to hear mate, hope they get what they deserve. 

[Bretto77]

Starting to sound like an insolvent operation. If it looks like.... Smells like.... Probably best not to taste it.

[Crittski]

He got me too.  Booked and paid in June, been chasing dates for the trip with him cancelling each time and now not giving a refund, only dates that he then doesn’t keep to paying it back.

[ellicat]

Has anyone tried the Police or Small Claims Court ?

https://www.qcat.qld.gov.au/resources/forms/our-online-services/start-an-application-for-a-minor-debt-dispute

[Bretto77]

@Kat

[Kat]

@Bretto77 don't know what you mean?

@ellicatpolice will most likely say it is a civil matter - small claims would be way to go. Anyone checked his boat rego - trailer rego is current?

[ellicat]

6 minutes ago, Kat said:

police will most likely say it is a civil matter - small claims would be way to go.

The continued nature of the deceit sounds a bit like fraud ?

[Kat]

Wouldn't know whether it would meet the test of the crime of Fraud - in my NZ experience the police would not get involved.

Often the tax man is more interested and has more resources if you are trying to stop him from the continued behaviour.

[Junky]

Pretty sure the son has done time before. 

Best thing to do is get the word out there on social media. 

The name is well known in the fishing industry for dodgy behaviour. 

 

[Junky]

I believe this is the blokes father, or uncle or something. 

Found these online. 

I'd be calling this bloke untill he turned his phone off, or got his family member to sort out their mess. 

 

 

Hope the numbers work. 

If not, keep searching. You'll find him. 

 

 

 

[Kat]

Sounds like everyone paid upfront in full?  Is this normal for a fishing charter?

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

12 minutes ago, Kat said:

Sounds like everyone paid upfront in full?  Is this normal for a fishing charter?

On every charter I have been on (which is only two different charters) I have done this, though one you could pay after.

[Kat]

22 hours ago, AUS-BNE-FISHO said:

On every charter I have been on (which is only two different charters) I have done this, though one you could pay after.

Sorry don't understand your response? One charter was pay up front and one was pay after the charter?  Presume the latter required a deposit?

Would be good to hear from those who have been ripped off - presume that he requires up front payment in full otherwise his scam wouldn't work very well.

[Angry51]

Yeah Kat, that was how I understood what Hamish meant.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

@Kat, 

One of the charters required you to pay before you went fishing. 

The other, you could pay before or after you went fishing (but when I say after I mean immediately after in cash to the guide). 

[ellicat]

I was just reading a Facebook page/group I follow. Someone else has been done the same way. Reading through the comments he is well known as dodge city with a meth habit it seems. Also there were quite a few responders who have also been ripped off. One had success through Office of Fair Trading, one had success through the Police in actually getting their money back.

[Skungie0]

I'm in the same boat as well, no pun intended. Paid in Feb and doubled payment for private charter after several cancellations. Been cancelled at least 5 times now where after the last one I was offered a refund. No refund came and I contacted him again and got a story the business needs sorting out and payment will be in by end of the week. Two weeks later no money back and as of today no response to texts. 

After reading this thread it appears to be this jokers modus operandi.  I'm going to go to Fair Trading and lodge a case. If anyone else is interested in joining please get in touch.

[Angry51]

I think I'd be meeting him at the ramp one fine morning

before he went out.

With some of those cycling outlaws.

[Kat]

1 hour ago, Angry51 said:

I think I'd be meeting him at the ramp one fine morning

before he went out.

With some of those cycling outlaws.

By the sounds of it those cycling outlaws are probably his mate

[Diverj]

On 10/12/2022 at 1:43 PM, Skungie0 said:

I'm in the same boat as well, no pun intended. Paid in Feb and doubled payment for private charter after several cancellations. Been cancelled at least 5 times now where after the last one I was offered a refund. No refund came and I contacted him again and got a story the business needs sorting out and payment will be in by end of the week. Two weeks later no money back and as of today no response to texts. 

After reading this thread it appears to be this jokers modus operandi.  I'm going to go to Fair Trading and lodge a case. If anyone else is interested in joining please get in touch.

I would be interested in joining you as I am having the same issue. He keeps messaging me and stringing me along but no refund ever appears. This has been going on for 6 weeks. 

[Dave oh]

Hey guys. 
 

im another one of his victims. We booked close to 12months ago. He canceled the day before saying the weather way bad even though the forecast showed it to be flat all day. He then cancelled 2 more times. He never got in contact to rebook. I then saw on a Facebook page he shut down the business. He has made no effort to refund his clients.  I got in contact with him and showed him the screen shots of the bank transfer. He told me a month ago he would need a few weeks to get the cash together. He’s been dodging me since. I’ve got his phone number if anyone needs it. I also know he doesn’t live in Brisbane he lives on the Gold Coast. Long story short he was borrowing a mates boat to do tours. He took everyones money, doesn’t have any records of his clients or who he owes money too. There’s about 50-60 people who are chasing him for refunds. I do know he is paying people back in small instalments ($50-100/week). I’m sure if everyone who is out of pocket goes and makes a complaint and we can show how many people are affected the police should do something. If anyone wants his phone number let me know also he’s on Facebook and you can message him there

[Angry51]

Thanks for posting that imfo Dave, I'm not one but plenty people are angry.

[tonyren]

On 16/12/2022 at 8:15 PM, Diverj said:

I would be interested in joining you as I am having the same issue. He keeps messaging me and stringing me along but no refund ever appears. This has been going on for 6 weeks. 

Same issue to me. Been over a year now since December 2021. Anyone get money back here?

[mangajack]

Surprising he has gone this way....I went with him a few times offshore more than a decade ago and all trips were excellent.

[avatono]

On 10/12/2022 at 2:43 PM, Skungie0 said:

I'm in the same boat as well, no pun intended. Paid in Feb and doubled payment for private charter after several cancellations. Been cancelled at least 5 times now where after the last one I was offered a refund. No refund came and I contacted him again and got a story the business needs sorting out and payment will be in by end of the week. Two weeks later no money back and as of today no response to texts. 

After reading this thread it appears to be this jokers modus operandi.  I'm going to go to Fair Trading and lodge a case. If anyone else is interested in joining please get in touch.

We are have same issues he keeps promising refund but we never receive anything. would love to join others to take him down and get our money back.