Fishing in Paradise

There’s no doubt about it – Cairns is an angler’s paradise. The Cairns area is a haven for a huge variety of popular fish species – including Barramundi, Bream, Coral Trout, Estuary Cod, Fingermark, Javelin Fish, Mackerel, Mangrove Jack, Mud Crabs, Nannygai, Queen Fish, Red Emperor, Salmon, Thread Fin Salmon, Trevally and Tuna. The best aspect of fishing Cairns estuaries and reefs is that you’ll be surrounded by total paradise during every moment! What more could you ask for?

Estuary Fishing Options

Only minutes from Cairns’ city centre, some of Tropical North Queensland’s most spectacular fishing spots can be found. Surrounded by mountainous regions covered with lush tropical rainforest and bursting with wildlife, Cairns Trinity Inlet and Cairns Harbour offer around 100 kilometres of winding waterways with deep channels, bountiful creeks and open mudflat areas. Within these areas, you’ll be able to catch as many as twelve species within the one area, depending on weather conditions.

Within the mangroves that line the shores, you might be able to land a mud crab – assuming one of the resident estuarine crocs don’t beat you to it!

For a truly educational fishing experience, let Darryl and Raewyn from Fish Tales Charters take you on a full day (10 hours) or half-day (4.5 hours) fishing experience like no other. This friendly duo won’t just take you to the best fishing spots; they will also let you in on their wealth of fishing experience and knowledge. Regardless of whether you are a complete beginner or an avid angler, you’ll end your day with a new arsenal of hints and tips, ranging from how to catch different saltwater species and how to handle them, to how to cook them! On your trip, you’ll be provided with top quality rods and reels, all the bait and tackle you’ll need, plenty of shade, safety equipment, hot drinks and an esky full of icy cold drinks.

Another excellent half-day option is the Fishing the Tropics tour. After a live bait catching experience in which you’ll learn how to source your own live bait, you’ll hop aboard the extremely comfortable, custom-built boat for a day of fishing fun. With more than 40 recorded species within the Trinity Inlet region, your guide will choose the best area based on the conditions of the day and you’ll be able to drop a line in and relax… but not for long! You’ll be reeling in your first catch in no time, regardless of your prior experience. Your friendly and knowledgeable guides will ensure you leave with new fishing abilities and the absolute best technique. You’ll be equipped with the best equipment and tackle, a tank full of live bait and a nice cold drink out of the shaded boat’s built-in icebox!

Reef Fishing Options

The Great Barrier Reef is known for its unparalleled variety of sea life, so why would you want to fish anywhere else? Located only a short distance from Cairns, the Reef offers some of the best light tackle sports fishing options on the planet. Offshore reef fishing is also an extremely exciting sport and there’s simply no comparison when it comes to the views!

For a truly amazing reef fishing experience, the Fishing the Tropics tour will see you hopping aboard a custom-built vessel – the ‘Reef Runner 1’ – for a nine-hour fishing extravaganza! You’ll be taken to inshore wrecks and blue water reefs to try your hand at high speed jigging, live baiting, trolling and bottom fishing in order to reel in tuna, nannygai, red emperor, coral trout mackerel and trevally. The ‘Reef Runner 1’ is fully equipped with an on board toilet, comfortable padded seating, shade canopy, esky, electronic equipment and stereo. You’ll also be fully equipped with the best rods, tackle and bait, and you’ll also enjoy a delicious morning tea and lunch as you enjoy the fishing trip of a lifetime!