Office workers will surely look on in envy at the new business of entrepreneurs Travis Lewis and Allen DeSilva that means they get to spend the entire summer on fishing expeditions around the reef.

Bobbing up and down on the aquamarine waters that surround Bermuda and pointing out the best fishing spots to visitors and locals nicely describes their party/family fishing boat business that takes to local waters next week.

The 56-foot Jolly Roger has been fitted out over the past six months to equip it for daily fishing expeditions, carrying up to 40 customers who can enjoy four hour trips fishing from the deck of the boat in the gentle inshore reef areas.

At weekends the boat can also be privately chartered for more serious anglers seeking deeper waters and encounters with tuna, wahoo and other big fish.

Mr. DeSilva is experienced in the business, having been a partner in the Eureka fishing boat for a number of years in the 1990s. He has been involved in boat fishing for 30 years.

He also runs the DeMa$> boat, used for high-end sports fishing. Mr. DeSilva has returned to the fun/family fishing business after linking up with friend Mr. Lewis and purchasing the Jolly Rog<$>in the US.

It was being used mainly as a bird-spotting boat, but has undergone a transformation that has kitted it out with deck-mounted fishing reels to cater for up to 40 day-fishers.

The main cabin is air conditioned and features a cash snack bar and two restrooms.

From Monday to Thursday during the cruise ship season, the Jolly Ro<$>will run trips twice a day, one from Dockyard and one from Hamilton, taking customers out to enjoy some fun fishing. Once a fish is caught it is usually returned to the water, although a local who wants to bring a fish or two back to the Island to cook is permitted.

Serious fishers on the weekend private charter trips can catch and keep what they want.

The business is promoted to the cruise ships with passengers able to book up for a four-hour fishing trip (which cost $80 for adults, $40 for children) before they arrive.

Locals can also book by calling up or visiting the web site at www.jollyrogerbermuda.com, alternatively they can simply walk-on board providing the boat is not full.

Mr. Lewis said: “Not everyone can afford $1,000 to charter a boat. This is more for families who want to go out for four hours and have some fun fishing. Everyone gets a rod. The majority of the passengers will be from the cruise ships.”

As for putting caught fish back in the sea, he said: “Why fish out the spots? This is a fun fishing thing rather than hard core fishing. If a local wants to take a fish home that’s fine, but we would not allow them to come on and start filling up the fish box when there are tourists onboard. That can be done on the private charters at weekends.”

The two men believe most people will catch something on their trip, especially once fish become more abundant as the sea warms up.

The third man in the team is first mate McRee Bean, who previously worked with Mr. DeSilva on the Eka<$> boat trips and has given up his day job to return to the sea with the Jolly Roger.

Explaining his decision, he said: “I was still getting a lot of tourists coming up to me who recognised me from before and asking about the trips. I’m a people person, I love meeting people and enjoy fishing.”

The boat trips can be booked by calling 293-2127 or 535-6559.