Charter Boat: Hard Labour

Boat and Skipper Details

Licensed For: up to 10 passengers
Code Of Practice: cat2 code
Hours: 8hr / 10hr / 12hr / Multiple Days Trips
Type of Fishing: Uptide fishing the Thames Estuary for smoothound, bass, tope, roker, cod etc
Tackle Available: Yes - Contact Skipper
Bait Available: Yes - Contact Skipper
Boat Specification: Blyth 10m, powered by twin Iveco NEF 280hp, 18 knot cruise. 16ft wide deck for ample fishing space. side doors for easy boarding / wheelchair access.
Facilities: Heated wheelhouse, full size on deck toilet and shower, ample seating. Oven for heating pies etc
Additional Description:

Launched at the end of september 2011, after a 10 month build, Hard Labour is fitted out to the highest spec, fully coded and insured, with the latest electronics onboard. She has easy access for wheel chairs and plenty of deck space. Being 33ft long at the waterline and with a beam of 16ft she is an extremley stable fishing platform and with her large deck area she comfortably accommodates the 10 anglers she is coded for. Being the size she is means less days lost to the weather.

Powered by twin Iveco NEF 280hp engines she has a comfortable cruise of 18kts and a sprint speed of 25kts. Meaning we can fish the distant marks of the Thames Estuary, with less time travelling andmore time fishing.

About the Skipper:

Hard Labour is owned and run by two brothers, Shane and Carl Porter. We have fished the Thames for the past 35 plus years, so have a lot of marks under our belt. Both of us are fully licensed and insured. We have had boats for the last 35 years, . Between us we have a vast knowledge of the marks in the Thames Estuary.

We aim to give our customers a memorable day out and can tailor a trip to suit the needs of individual parties. Beginners are always welcome aboard and where required we will offer as much or as little assistance as is needed to get you fishing with the correct techniques for the area.

We look forward to welcoming you aboard for a great day out.

This Charter has been listed as Wheelchair Accessible. Contact the Skipper for full details.

June 2020

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Color for Fully Booked
Fully Booked
Color for Available
Whole Boat Available
Color for Partially Booked
Partially Booked (Individual Spaces)
Color for Whole Boat or Individuals
Whole Boat or Individuals
Color for Not Available
Unavailable
Color for Unspecified
Unspecified

N.B. Not all Skippers keep this dairy up-to-date. Always check with skippers before making any plans. Last calendar update: 31-Oct-2024

Mon 1st Jun

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Tue 2nd Jun

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Wed 3rd Jun

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Thu 4th Jun

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Fri 5th Jun

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Sat 6th Jun

Fully Booked
david cousins
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Sun 7th Jun

Individual Spaces
J banks x 3
Ivan hayes
Ian kennard
Phil browning

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Mon 8th Jun

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Tue 9th Jun

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Wed 10th Jun

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Thu 11th Jun

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Fri 12th Jun

Fully Booked
nick robins
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Sat 13th Jun

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Del
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Sun 14th Jun

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Del
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Mon 15th Jun

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Tue 16th Jun

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Wed 17th Jun

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Thu 18th Jun

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Fri 19th Jun

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Baz
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Sat 20th Jun

Fully Booked
Brian Crates x 5
J Willis
Phil
Ian Hewitt
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Sun 21st Jun

Fully Booked
david cousins
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Mon 22nd Jun

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Tue 23rd Jun

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Wed 24th Jun

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Thu 25th Jun

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Fri 26th Jun

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Chris
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Sat 27th Jun

Fully Booked
Darren weatherald
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Sun 28th Jun

Fully Booked
Adrian
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Mon 29th Jun

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Tue 30th Jun

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Upcoming Individual Spaces on Hard Labour

Sun 03/11/2024 1 Space
Del x 2 stacey x 2 Barry x 2 Marc
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Sun 24/11/2024
Jason Banks x 4 Clayton x 2 Del
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View more availability on the Full Calendar

Reviews

Summary:

5-star 17
4-star 0
3-star 0
2-star 0
1-star 0
  • 5-star gavin french (26/09/2021)

    First time out sea fishing and couldn't have had a better experience.
    Shane was welcoming, friendly and helpful throughout the day.
    Others on-board were regulars and were as helpful and friendly as the skipper.
    Great experience and looking forward to the next time out.

  • 5-star gavin french (26/09/2021)

    First time out sea fishing and couldn't have had a better experience.
    Shane was welcoming, friendly and helpful throughout the day.
    Others on-board were regulars and were as helpful and friendly as the skipper.
    Great experience and looking forward to the next time out.

  • 5-star keith bakewell (05/05/2018)

    Always a excellent day out, been out loads of times, skipper's are very helpful and willing to teach you and give you great tips, both do this for the Passion of sea fishing, and not just for the money, which makes it first class, and look forward to many more trips to come :-)

  • 5-star Howard Matthams (30/10/2016)

    Another flawless days fishing aboard Hard Labour , nothing is too much for the skipper. Full of advice and knowledge and does everything he can to catch you fish. Thanks again Shane and looking to be back as soon as possible . We all had a brilliant day.

    Skippers Reponse: thanks Howard always a good laugh with you and the guys look forward to the next angling adventure

  • 5-star Howard Matthams (26/06/2016)

    I fished on Hard Labour, skippered by Shane. We had a great day, my nephews friends had Hounds and Ray ......but not me. Skipper saw a shoal of Bass that saved my blank. My mates had plenty though and we're all happy with a great day. Skipper worked so hard netting and baiting for the novice. Great Skippe, friendly and so was his dad. I had such a good time I've bought a boat rod and reel and hope to book many more trips. Thanks Shane for a great day. Howard

Bait & Tackle

Catch Stats

Latest Catches 68 photos uploaded

Brian Forsyth

3 lb 4 oz Thornback Ray

27-May-2023
Brian Forsyth

5 lb Smooth-hound (Common)

27-May-2023
Brian Forsyth

8 lb 4 oz Smooth-hound (Common)

27-May-2023
Brian Forsyth

5 lb Smooth-hound (Common)

27-May-2023
Brian Forsyth

3 lb Smooth-hound (Common)

27-May-2023
Brian Forsyth

8 lb 4 oz Smooth-hound (Common)

27-May-2023

52 lb 8 oz Stingray (Common)

Aug-2022

52 lb 8 oz Tope

Jun-2021

23 lb 8 oz Stingray (Common)

Aug-2021
Rodger

18 lb Spurdog

Apr-2021
Chris

22 lb Spurdog

Apr-2021
Jim

16 lb 2 oz Thornback Ray

27-Apr-2021
Jim

17 lb 13 oz Spurdog

27-Apr-2021
Paul

15 lb 2 oz Spurdog

27-Apr-2021
Nick

11 lb 7 oz Spurdog

27-Apr-2021
Skipper

47 lb Tope

Jun-2018

Latest Fishing Reports and News

  • 27/05/2023 Fishing Report by Brian Forsyth

    27 May 2023 by Brian Forsyth

    Well what a fantastic day we had. We have done about 7 trips but this one exceeded all others by miles. Carl the skip was so good with helping the novices bait up how to cast explaining what bait would catch what as for his patience outstanding. We had various types of fish coming all day George won the day just with 10 a nice mixed bag all returned for next time. Which we are already planning. Apart from catching fish all day the icing on the cake was the Skipper could make a pucker cuppa coffee what more did we need well happy and sorted. Many many thanks the Finsbury Park Mob.

  • 07/2017 Fishing Report by carl porter

    Jul 2017 by carl porter

    Well the last couple of months have been fishing their socks off. Excellent numbers and sizes of smoothounds caught with multiple double figure fish caught each day. Biggest so far this season is a shade over 18lb, but there is always the chance of those elusive 20lb fish. In the last month or so we have done a couple of way offshore sortees with good results on the plaice. The Tope fishing hasnt really kicked off in ernest this season although we have had them to just over 33lb.

    Now the Bass ban has been lifted, we have started to target the bass with great success. plenty of fish in the 2 to 8lb bracket, but by far the best specimen locally this season is a 14lb 2oz beauty caught by the skipper. Yes she swam off happily too, no point in killing breeding stock in our eyes.

    We are now offering our evening trips as and when required at a reduced rate from full day charter.

    We look forward to seeing our loyal customers on the boat soon and welcome any newcomers who have not fished with us before

    Shane and Carl

  • 04/2017 Fishing Report by carl porter

    Apr 2017 by carl porter

    Skate are here in amazing numbers 60 to 70 fish a day most days one day produced 103 to 6 anglers mostly 6-7 lb with a fair smattering of double figure fish
    Went offshore earlier this week and found plaice to 2.5lb along with mackerel dabs sandeel whiting weevers and red /tub//and grey gurnard
    First hounds are starting to show although small they will increase in size and numbers as the month goes on

  • 04/2017 Fishing Report by carl porter

    Apr 2017 by carl porter

    Saturday saw us back on the skate again with our anglers taking over 60 many in double figures ...good rod bending fun !!!!
    sunday we wanted something different and we got it ......
    mackerel / grey gurnard /tub gurnard /sandeel / weaver/ dab / whiting/ herring and about 15 plaice to 2.5lb
    summer species are here on the banks and the turbot and brill wont be far away
    not to mention the bass and smoothounds that will arrive this month
    we often have spaces available at the weekends and during the week so give us a call
    to get amongst the fish

  • 04/03/2017 Fishing Report by carl porter

    4 Mar 2017 by carl porter

    WERE BACK
    seeng as the cod fishing failed to materialise this winter we decided to pull the boat out and have a proper clean up and add some more gadgets!!
    a new five year codeing has been issued ensuring she is fully compliant and is fully up to date with all safety an life saving equipment
    refurbished propellors and a sqeaky clean hull will ensure a fast ride out to those offshore banks
    looking forward to the summer now and those big smoothounds and the plaice and turbot fishery we only just
    scratched the surface of last year
    our first trip this weekend produced over 50 skate for one of our regular crews !!! no monsters but a lot of fun after 3 months ashore ! as the days grow longer and the water warms we should see plenty more and the big girls