Come with us on the best fishing and dining experience in North Norfolk
September 2, 2026 | Things to do | 4 minute read
There are many great things about working at The Victoria: the camaraderie between the staff, the beautiful location, the power to make a guest’s day, and the fantastic opportunities that come about courtesy of our local connections. It was for this latter reason that myself, the Compliance and Communications Manager, and Sanchez, the Restaurant Manager, found ourselves at Wells-Next-The-Sea quay at 5am on Saturday morning; ready to join Laura and John from Off The Hook to experience The Victoria’s unique offer to Cook What You Catch.
The idea is a wonderful one, providing customers the opportunity to experience a 3-4 hour fishing trip with Laura and John (starting from £45 a head), with the chance to catch mackerel or bass, before taking your successes to The Victoria, where one of our chefs will create a bespoke dish for just £15 per person.
And so, as the sky was easing its way from deep blues and blacks to soft oranges and pinks, Laura heartly threw a bucket of water over the side of the boat and beckoned us to jump on board.
As someone who has never fished before, I learned so much, not just about how to catch a fish but also about rules and regulations within the industry, and facts about the fish themselves; did you know that a mackerel’s skin only develops that distinctive blueish hue after its death? Laura was a fountain of information, and it was incredibly clear that both her and John are passionate about their trade. Whilst I lapped up the facts, Sanchez was joyfully filling up our bag with mackerel; proudly catching the first of the day, and taking home seven overall (although, he wants it to be known that he caught eleven in total but that the others got away!). With guidance and encouragement from Laura, he went from tentatively pulling in his first catch, to handling, measuring and killing his own fish (something that Laura and John will do if it’s not for you!).
The only thing that could top the wonderful experience of being out on the peaceful sway of the sea, watching the sun rise and the myriad of sea birds; the cry of the oyster catchers, the shadows of the herring gulls, and the privilege of a curlew sighting, was returning to The Victoria to enjoy our hand caught mackerel for lunch. Senior Sous Chef Rainy created a delicious dish, serving our mackerel with an assortment of seasonal veg and potatoes, topped with mojo verde. A simple but wonderful combination that allowed the flavours of the fresh fish, caught only a few hours before, to shine through.
Cook What You Catch is a fantastic offer that provides a unique experience to enjoy Wells from a different point of view; with the expertise and passion of Laura and John, the excitement of catching your own fish, and the bespoke lunch that awaits you at the end – I really cannot recommend it enough.
Visit Off The Hooks website now and make a booking, you won’t regret it.
Top tips:
- Pack a coat that can block out the wind – it gets pretty breezy at sea!
- Laura and John offer tea and coffee onboard, but be sure to take your own snacks / water to keep you going.
- Don’t stand at the end of the board when it’s moving…you will get very wet …trust me!!!
