Private 38′ Defender Sportfishing/Swim with Pigs in Nassau

The most unusual part of this Nassau outing is the choice built into the day: you can fish, snorkel over a reef, relax on a beach, or pay an extra $30 to swim with pigs. It is a private charter for up to seven people, so your group can set the pace instead of following a crowded boat schedule.

I like the family-friendly 38-foot boat, especially since one family outing noted plenty of room and a bathroom. I also like that the price includes fishing gear, bait, snorkeling equipment, water, and ice. The main catch is that pig swimming costs extra, and the four-hour trip may feel short if you want to fit in serious fishing, two reef stops, and the pig island.

Key points at a glance

• Private boat for up to seven: The $850 price covers the group, not each person individually.
• Rose Island reef stops: You get a chance to snorkel among colorful fish, then choose another reef or beach time.
• Fishing gear and bait included: Bottom fishing is part of the plan, with equipment and ice supplied.
• Pig swimming costs $30 extra: The activity is optional and handled as a separate island fee.
• A practical family setup: The 38-foot boat has room for families, and one outing specifically noted an onboard bathroom.
• Flexible four-hour format: You can focus more on fishing, snorkeling, sightseeing, or beach time, depending on your group.

A private Nassau boat day with several ways to spend it

This trip leaves from Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Bahamas2 Marina on Paradise Island. From there, you board a private 38-foot Defender Express for roughly four hours on the water around New Providence Island.

The appeal is simple. You are not buying a single-purpose fishing trip or a standard snorkeling cruise. You can mix several classic Nassau activities in one outing, with the captain and crew adjusting the day around your group’s wishes.

That flexibility matters most for families and mixed groups. One person can fish while another snorkels. Someone else can prefer the beach. You can also ask to include the pig-swimming stop, provided you are ready to pay the separate $30 fee.

The boat is private, so only your party participates. For a group of seven, that makes the $850 rate about $121 per person before gratuity and any pig fee. For two people, the same price becomes a much less attractive deal. I would look at this as a group charter first, not a budget excursion for a couple.

Leaving from Margaritaville Bahamas2 Marina

Your meeting point is Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Bahamas2 Marina, at Marina Drive on Paradise Island. The tour ends back at the same marina, which keeps the day easy to plan around other Nassau activities.

The mobile ticket is useful here. You can keep the booking on your phone rather than carrying printed paperwork. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability, so do not assume the reservation is instant.

I would allow extra time to reach the marina and get organized before departure. The supplied details do not give a required arrival time, so check your confirmation for the exact meeting instructions. Since this is a private boat, arriving late can have a greater effect than it would on a large group cruise.

What the 38-foot Defender means for your day

A 38-foot boat gives this trip a more practical feel than a small open skiff. The vessel is described as a Defender Express, and the boat has fishing space, room for a family group, and a bathroom. One family outing also described it as a good fit for children.

That does not mean the boat will feel like a luxury yacht. You are choosing a working excursion boat built for moving between fishing grounds, reefs, beaches, and the pig stop. Still, the size is a meaningful advantage when you have children, several adults, or people who want to change activities during the day.

The bathroom is worth noting. It can make a half-day on the water much easier for families, particularly when the group includes younger children. The trip also supplies bottled water and ice, so you do not need to start by arranging basic drinks and cooling supplies.

Bring the personal items you want for a day near the water, but remember that the included equipment is focused on the activities: snorkeling gear, fishing equipment, bait, water, and ice. The supplied information does not specify towels, food, or other personal items, so do not assume they are provided.

Fishing near Nassau with gear and bait included

Bottom fishing is one of the main options on this charter. Fishing gear and bait are included, which saves you from renting equipment or buying supplies before reaching the marina.

The fishing is best understood as a family-friendly part of a mixed day rather than a dedicated full-day sportfishing charter. You have about four hours total, and that time may also include the boat ride, reef snorkeling, beach time, sightseeing, and perhaps the pig island. If fishing is your top priority, tell the crew at the start so you do not spend too much of the available time elsewhere.

One family outing focused on kid-friendly fishing close to Nassau and reported catching lots of fish. That makes the activity sound approachable for a family group, but no specific species, fishing grounds, or catch guarantees are provided. I would enjoy the fishing as an active chance to try something new, not book it expecting a tournament-style result.

The included ice is useful for the day’s practical side, while bait means the group can begin without a separate supply stop. If you have children, fishing can also fill time while other members of the group take turns snorkeling or swimming.

Rose Island’s first reef stop

The first described water stop is at Rose Island, where you reach a large reef with colorful fish. This is the strongest snorkeling part of the itinerary.

You can expect the appeal to come from being in the water rather than simply viewing the coast from the boat. Snorkeling equipment is supplied, so the main value is convenience. You can move from the boat into the reef area without arranging separate gear.

The reef stop is also a useful pause from fishing. If your group includes people who do not want to hold a rod for hours, they get a chance to swim and look for fish. Families can divide their time naturally, although the tour details do not promise separate instruction or a dedicated snorkeling guide.

I would ask the crew how long the group can spend at the first reef. Four hours passes quickly once you account for travel between stops. A private charter gives you flexibility, but it does not create unlimited time.

A second reef, beach, or a change of pace

After the first reef, the boat goes to another reef where you can snorkel again or spend time on a beach. This second stop is valuable because it lets you avoid forcing everyone into the same activity.

If your group loved the first reef, you can use the next stop for more time in the water. If someone is tired of snorkeling, the beach provides a slower option. The wording of the experience leaves the exact choice to your group and the crew, so ask what conditions and timing allow on the day.

The beach option may be especially helpful for families with mixed swimming confidence. Some people can enjoy the sand and shoreline while others snorkel. Since the details do not identify the beach or promise chairs, food, or shade, treat this as a simple beach stop rather than a fully serviced beach club visit.

The two reef locations also give the day some variety. You are not stuck at one site if the first location does not suit everyone. Conditions can affect what is practical, and the tour requires good weather, so the actual balance between reef, beach, and boat time may change.

Adding the swim-with-pigs stop

Swimming with pigs is optional and costs $30. That fee is separate from the $850 private charter price, so include it when comparing the total cost of the outing.

This is likely to be the most memorable choice for children and for anyone who wants a distinctly Bahamian photo opportunity. It also changes the character of the day. Instead of spending all four hours fishing and snorkeling, you use part of the trip to visit the pig island.

The supplied details do not state how long the pig stop lasts, which island is used, or whether the $30 applies per person or per group. Ask those questions before departure. The listing describes the fee as a separate charge on that island, so carry a payment method and confirm the exact total with Hunter Charters.

If your group has no interest in animals or simply wants more time in the water, skip the extra stop. The private format gives you a chance to make that choice rather than paying for an attraction everyone must join.

The crew and the family angle

Hunter Charters is the named provider. One family outing identified Mike and DeAngelo as the crew and described a kid-friendly day combining fishing and pig swimming. That account also referred to the boat as Strikezone, while the experience details describe a 38-foot Defender Express.

Because of that difference, I would confirm the assigned boat and crew when you book. The important practical point is that the outing has been arranged for families, with a larger boat and a bathroom rather than a bare-bones fishing setup.

The phrase your wish is our command suggests a flexible approach, but it should not be read as a guarantee that every activity can receive equal time. The crew still has to work with weather, sea conditions, travel time, and the four-hour limit. Give them your priority list early: fishing first, snorkeling first, pig swimming first, or a balanced mix.

Is $850 a fair price?

The value depends almost entirely on group size. At the maximum of seven people, the base price works out to about $121 per person. For a private boat, fishing equipment, bait, snorkeling gear, ice, water, and the ability to shape the day around your own group, that can be reasonable.

For a family or friend group, privacy is the major benefit. You do not have to share fishing time with strangers or persuade a large group to stop at a reef. You can also choose activities that suit children and adults in the same party.

For one or two people, the calculation is harder. The same $850 price is still charged per group, and gratuities are not included. Add the pig fee if you choose that stop, and the total rises again.

I would compare this with the cost of booking separate fishing, snorkeling, and pig-swimming outings. The charter may offer better value when you want several activities in one half-day and have enough people to fill the boat. It is less compelling if you only want one focused activity.

Who should book this private charter?

I would recommend it most strongly for families, groups of friends, and visitors who want several Nassau activities without committing to a full day on the water. The boat size, bathroom, included equipment, and private format all help make the outing manageable.

It also suits groups with mixed interests. A serious snorkeler, an occasional fisherman, a child who wants to see pigs, and someone who prefers a beach can all find part of the day that works for them.

I would be more cautious if you want a dedicated sportfishing experience with a guaranteed catch, detailed fishing targets, or a long time on the water. The trip is built as a flexible combination of fishing, snorkeling, sightseeing, beach time, and optional pigs.

People who dislike changing locations may also prefer a single reef or beach excursion. This itinerary tries to fit a lot into four hours, so you should expect a varied half-day rather than long, unhurried time at one spot.

Booking, weather, and cancellation details

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows local time.

Most people can participate, and the activity is private. The supplied details do not provide specific accessibility information, so contact Hunter Charters directly if anyone in your group needs particular boarding or water-access arrangements.

Should you book it?

Book this charter if you have a group large enough to share the $850 cost and want a flexible Nassau day that combines fishing, reef snorkeling, beach time, and optional swimming with pigs. The private 38-foot boat, bathroom, and included gear make it a practical pick for families.

Before paying, confirm the assigned boat and crew, ask how the $30 pig fee is charged, and tell the crew which activity matters most to your group. If you do that, you are more likely to get a well-balanced four hours instead of trying to squeeze every option into the final minutes.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Bahamas2 Marina, Marina Drive, Paradise Island, New Providence, The Bahamas.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long is the experience?

The tour lasts approximately four hours.

How much does the private charter cost?

The price is $850 per group for up to seven people.

Is the boat private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private tour.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is provided.

Is fishing equipment included?

Yes. Fishing equipment, bait, and ice are included.

Is bottled water included?

Yes. Bottled water is provided.

Does swimming with the pigs cost extra?

Yes. The pig-swimming fee is $30 and is not included in the charter price.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. If poor weather cancels the tour, you are offered another date or a full refund.