Fishing Cairns, Australia

Just ask a local – the Far North is a fantastic place for fishing. Not only does this part of the world enjoy beautiful warm weather most of the year, but the tropical waters are brimming with exotic sea life. Recreational fishing is a major pastime in the area, for obvious reasons.

What can I catch?

The two most famous fish to catch in this area are Barramundi and Marlin.

Barramundi is an elusive fish that spawns in freshwater creeks and then migrates to saltwater estuaries. During this transition, the Barramundi changes sex from male to female. Barra, as is it commonly called in the north, is a delicious table fish and is without doubt the most sought after catch. Please note that Barramundi must be released back into the wild between midday 1st of November to midday on the 1st of February.

Marlin is big game. It's the equivalent to catching a tiger in the African wilderness, without the danger of driving it to extinction. Boat tours operate daily to hunt for the marlin. These are large fish, several meters long and they provide an exciting fight for any angler.

Other prized fish in the area include:

• Mangrove Jack
• Coral Trout
• Flathead
• Sooty Grunter
• Barracuda
• Snapper
• Red Emperor
• Sweetlip
• Spanish Mackerel
• Jungle Perch
• Queenfish

…the list goes on…

Types of fishing

In the Far North, there are multitudes of fishing environments to experience.

• Estuary Fishing – Mangrove-lined creeks such as the Cairns Inlet are a breeding ground for many marine creatures. Top catches include Mangrove Jack, Flathead and Whiting. While fishing in this area, place a few crab pots alongside the mangroves and score a feed of fresh mud crabs.
• Beach Fishing – There is very little surf in this part of the world, making beach fishing relatively easy. Large scavengers patrol this area of water, including small sharks and mackerel.
• Reef Fishing – One of the most popular areas to fish because of the crystal clear waters and exotic fish in great numbers. Coral Trout are the big prize when fishing the reef.
• Deep Sea Fishing – This is where the big boys play. Seek out marlins, big sharks, and barracuda.
• Freshwater Fishing – Creeks, lakes and dams are home to large varieties of fish. Tinaroo Dam on the Atherton Tablelands, 1.5 hours drive from Cairns, is home to the biggest wild barramundi in the world.

When fishing in the Far North, please respect fishing seasons, bag limits, and the fragile tropical ecosystem. If you don't intend to eat your fish, release it back to the wild to live another day.

Enquiries & Bookings

INSTANT BOOKINGS - See the Fishing section to view a huge range of fishing trips with discount prices and itinerary planning.

Please feel free to ask us any questions you might have about fishing in Cairns... we want to help make your holiday experience a memorable one. If you prefer, you can email us on enquiries@cairnsattractions.com or fill out the form below.

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Some individual Fishing Companies

Here's a small selection of just some of the fishing companies and tour operators which leave from Far North Queensland. Click on their business names below to see their website. You may also find many individual charter operators as the members of the Cairns Professional Game Fishing Association.

Estuary Fishing

• Fishing The Tropics - A long-term Cairns local business, Fishing The Tropics is a very well known local fishing tour. Offering lure & flyfishing, river fishing and estuary fishing, Fishing The Tropics provides quality Daiwa fishing tackle on all charters.

Reef Fishing

• Boomerang Sportfishing Holidays - Extensive experience in North Queensland fishing, Boomerang concentrates on the Cape York river systems as well as reef fishing.
• Cape Tribulation Wilderness Cruises - With full day reef fishing charters form just $165 with all tackle included, this charter is hard to go past. Additionally, their set off near the Daintree Rainforest location means it takes just under 1h to reach the great fishing areas of the Great Barrier Reef.

Deep Sea Fishing

• Moana Cairns Marlin Fishing - Clocking up the biggest marling award in last year's Lizard Island Classic, Moana Marlin Fishing is one of the best operators if you are looking for a heavy tackle charter, or hoping to do a spot of black marlin fishing. Skip Daniel is mad keen and highly experienced.
• Billfish Sports Fishing – Highly celebrated crew in Cairns, MV Billfish specialises in heavy tackle marlin fishing, popper casting and light tackle sports fishing.

For comprehensive information about fishing throughout Tropical North Queensland, visit Fishing Cairns. This website provides detailed instructions about the best fishing spots in the region and how to catch the silver giants beneath the waves.

Accommodation for Fishermen

At Flying Fish Point, Villa Waters Beach House is ideally located for accommodation during your estuary fishing holiday.

If you're heading up to Cape York, many people stop in at Portland House near the Iron Range National Park. This holiday home by the beach is a gorgeous place to get back your land legs.