If your skipper cancels a Malta fishing trip because the wind or the sea makes it unsafe, you get back everything you paid online, or you move the trip to another day at no extra cost. The skipper makes the call, usually the evening before or at the marina in the morning, and you choose between the refund and the new date. One thing to avoid: if the skipper asks you to cancel because of the weather, do not press the cancel button yourself. Write to Reelzy support first, so your deposit is protected.
The short answer
On Reelzy, a weather cancellation is not a guest cancellation. The cancellation policy on the listing only applies when you change your mind. When the skipper calls the trip off for safety, its deadlines do not apply and you are refunded in full or rebooked, as set out in our cancellation policies.
That is the rule. The rest of this guide is about how it works on a real windy day in Malta, which winds actually stop the boats, and how to plan a holiday so one lost morning does not cost you the trip.
Who decides, and when
The skipper decides. Nobody knows the boat, the harbour mouth and the sea off the point as well as the crew who fish it every week, and on Reelzy the weather call is at the captain’s discretion. You will not be asked to go out in conditions the skipper is not happy with, and you should not try to talk them into it.
There are usually two moments when the call is made:
- The evening before. Skippers watch the forecast and the wind the afternoon before a trip. If it looks bad, they message you in the Reelzy chat to call it off or to suggest a different plan.
- At the marina. On a borderline day the skipper may want to see the sea at first light. Be there on time; you might be asked to wait, or told the trip will stay closer to shore.
A short message the evening before is worth sending even on a fine day: ask what the wind will do, whether the offshore run is still on and where exactly to meet the boat.
The winds that stop Malta fishing trips
Malta is small and exposed on every side, so the direction of the wind matters more than its strength on paper. Skippers talk about three.
The majjistral (north-west). The most common wind in Malta, all year round. A moderate majjistral is a normal fishing day; a strong one makes the north and west coasts and the Gozo Channel lumpy, while the south-east coast around Marsascala sits in its lee.
The gregale (north-east). The wind Maltese fishermen respect most. It blows mainly from autumn to early spring and pushes a heavy swell straight into the north-east facing bays and harbour entrances: St Paul’s Bay, Marsamxett and the Grand Harbour. A strong gregale day is the classic cancellation, and the swell can stay up for a day after the wind drops.
The xlokk (south-east). The warm, damp sirocco from Africa, most common in spring and autumn. It is often only a moderate wind, but it brings a short, uncomfortable sea onto the south-east coast, the side that is sheltered in a majjistral.
On top of that, late summer and autumn can bring sudden thunderstorms. A skipper who sees lightning on the forecast will move the trip, whatever the wind.
The official forecast, including sea state and warnings, comes from the Malta Meteorological Office at Malta International Airport. Look at it with your skipper’s view in mind: a forecast that looks fine for the beach can still mean a rough crossing for a small boat.
Which boats and ports this affects
Reelzy’s Malta boats leave from several sides of the islands, which is good news on a windy week:
- From the Marsamxett and Grand Harbour side: Fishingmalta in Ta’ Xbiex, Hooked Malta in Gzira and the Axopar 37 cabin boat in Floriana.
- From the north: Aquaholic Fishing Charter in St Paul’s Bay.
- From the south-east: Mister Fish Charters in Marsascala.
- From Gozo: fish in deep waters out of Xaghra, with early starts.
Fishingmalta’s own page says the distance they travel depends on the fish you want, the weather and the type of trip, and that they can head to the other side of the island. That is exactly the kind of flexibility you want to ask about. The Axopar 37 has a cabin whose air conditioning, its owner says, keeps you warm on rough and cold days, which helps on a breezy winter trip.
Refund or reschedule: what you get
| What happened | What you get |
|---|---|
| The skipper cancels because conditions are unsafe | A full refund of everything paid online, or a new date at no extra cost |
| The skipper cancels for any other reason | A full refund of everything paid online |
| The skipper asks you to cancel because of the weather | Tell Reelzy support in the chat within 24 hours instead of cancelling, so your deposit is protected |
| You decide to cancel yourself (the skipper is happy to go) | The listing’s own policy applies |
| Delivery fees, if any | Always refunded if the trip does not go ahead |
Most of Reelzy’s Malta boats use the Moderate policy (a full refund if you cancel 5 days or more ahead); the Axopar 37 uses Flexible (a full refund 24 hours or more ahead). That only matters when you cancel, but it tells you how much freedom you have if your plans change for reasons that have nothing to do with the sea.
A plan B on the water
A cancelled offshore run does not always mean a day on land. Ask your skipper about:
- A shorter trip or a later start. A gregale or a summer storm sometimes eases by midday.
- Fishing the sheltered side. With a majjistral blowing, the south-east coast is often calm, and the reverse is true in an xlokk. A boat that can run around the island has options.
- Bottom fishing closer in. Fishingmalta lists trolling and bottom fishing for reef fish, which needs much less distance than a run for dorado or tuna 10 to 20 miles out. Our guide to fishing seasons in Malta shows what you can target near the reefs in each month.
If you came for big game, such as the dolphinfish (lampuki) season in late summer and autumn, you may prefer to wait for a proper day rather than settle for a short inshore session. Both choices are fine; tell the skipper which you want.
Gozo: one more thing to check
If you are staying in Malta and fishing from Gozo, or the other way round, a rough day can hit you twice: the fishing trip is off and the crossing is unpleasant. Book the trip from the island you are sleeping on when you can, and if you do cross, keep the boat’s meeting time loose. Our guide to a fishing trip in Gozo covers how the day works.
How to plan so weather cannot ruin the trip
- Book early in your holiday. If you fish on day two of a week, a cancelled morning can move to day four. If you book the morning before your flight, there is nowhere to move it.
- Keep one spare morning free. A free morning is what makes rescheduling painless.
- From October to March, expect the gregale. It is the season with the most weather days, so the spare morning matters more in winter. Summer is usually settled, apart from storms.
- Pick the boat by its port. On a windy week, a boat on the sheltered side of the island is the one that goes out. Ask the skipper where they launch and what they do in each wind.
- Keep everything in the Reelzy chat. Weather messages, agreed new dates and any request to cancel are your record if anything needs sorting out.
On the morning itself
- Check the chat before you leave. A late change is sent there.
- If you arrive and the skipper says no, ask whether they are cancelling or suggesting you cancel. If it is the second, write to Reelzy support in the chat straight away.
- If the trip goes out but is cut short because the weather turns, talk to the skipper on the day, and tell Reelzy support within 24 hours of the trip start if you are not happy with how it was handled. Reelzy mediates between guest and captain.
- If someone in your group is new to boats, our guide to a Malta fishing trip for beginners explains what a first day at sea feels like.
Questions to ask before you book
- Which wind makes you cancel: gregale, majjistral or xlokk?
- When will you tell me: the evening before, or at the marina?
- If the offshore run is off, can we fish the sheltered side or the reefs?
- How far ahead can we move the trip if the weather is bad?
A skipper who answers these clearly will look after you on a windy morning. You can ask all four in the chat on any listing before you book.
Ready to plan your trip?
See all fishing charters in Malta, check which side of the island each boat sails from, and book early in your stay. Keep a spare morning and let the skipper make the weather call.
FAQ
Do I get my money back if my fishing trip in Malta is cancelled for bad weather? Yes. If the skipper cancels because conditions are unsafe, you get a full refund of everything paid online, or you can move the trip to a new date at no extra cost.
Who decides if the weather is too bad to go fishing in Malta? The skipper. The decision is at the captain’s discretion, usually the evening before or at the marina in the morning.
What if the skipper asks me to cancel because of the weather? Do not cancel the booking yourself. Tell Reelzy support in the chat within 24 hours, so your deposit is protected.
Which wind cancels most fishing trips in Malta? The gregale, a strong north-east wind that blows mainly from autumn to early spring and sends a heavy swell into the north-east facing bays and harbours.
Cover: "New hotels" by zoetnet, CC BY 2.0, edited (colour, retouching).
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