Light Tackle Sports Fishing.

The Cairns section of the Great Barrier Reef is internationally famous for its prime Black Marlin fishery. What should not be overlooked however, is the incredible array of light tackle sportsfishing options. Almost every species of Pacific game fish inhabit the plankton and bait fish rich waters off Cairns, adjacent to the reef and continental shelf.
Imagine trolling rigged baits or deep diving minnow lures for the likes of wahoo, spanish mackerel, yellowfin tuna, dolphin fish (Mahi Mahi), barracuda, scaly mackerel, various trevally and sailfish.

On the right tackle, 12-20lb test, these tropical speedsters offer exceptional sportsfishing opportunities. You are in prime company indeed.
Much has been written about the variety of fish species abundant in the warm tropical waters off the coast from Cairns. Not knowing exactly what fish is going to crash your trolled offering is half the fun, hooking up to a leaping, gyrating, lit up sportfish is the other.

All top quality tackle, custom made rods and only the best in reels such as Shimano, Penn, Fin Nor and Abu, perfectly matched to the various line classes, are used by these guys.
The boats are fully fitted out with the fisherman in mind. The latest in electronic equipment including temperature and location plotters, GPS, colour video sounders, radios and all safety gear.

Some even have an air-conditioned saloon for clients' complete relaxation and comfort whilst traveling to the grounds, while toilet and limited cooking and kitchen facilities are usually standard.
Seasons apply to the above species (refer chart) with most fishing concentrating inside the reef from June to October and outside the reef from November to March, weather permitting.
Charter prices vary depending on angling numbers, with most starting at around $250 per person for a share charter through to $1500 for the sole use of the vessel.

Fly Patterns.

Our fish are not primarily insect feeders and matching their food source is obviously a major consideration. In fresh water streams sooty's will even eat berries falling into the water. Species like permit can be singularly focussed on small crabs while barras will do the same on jelly prawns or shrimps amongst the weeds. Milkfish are regularly caught on "bread" patterns!
We commonly use quite large streamer flies in various patterns and colors with the following proving reliable fish takers in our waters.. Obviously the thrill of tying your own fly and having it succeed in capturing a new species is a very rewarding exercise, if you think it might work, give it a go!

Target Species

Any fish that will take a lure can be successfully targeted using fly fishing techniques. Although I don't intend to list them all here (refer to Target Species) we have reproduced an excellent article penned by Steve Starling from Modern Fishing magazine listing his prime salt water fly "flats" fishing targets.

Heavy Tackle Game Fishing.

The mere mention of the name Marlin conjures up a vision of the most splendid of creatures. Glistening and shimmering through the air on a gigantic leap from its blue ocean home, thrashing the ocean surface wildly and powerfully as it tries to rid itself of that intruding offering connected by a spindly thread to the anglers screaming reel.
The smell of diesel fumes and smoke as the skipper gainfully backs down on the line in a valiant attempt to stay connected to the speeding monster. The deckie barking orders to the angler, still in shock at the mere sight and power of that fish.
The Cairns region has long been recognized as the Black Marlin capital of the world with the area stretching from Lizard Island in the north, to just south of this beautiful modern tropical city, the envy of many fisherman, and regularly rated the number one gamefishing region on the planet.

The preferred technique for catching the giant Black Marlin is to troll large whole fish baits such as Scad, Queenfish, Rainbow Runner, Tuna and Mackerel. These baits are rigged to either skip across the surface or swim within the surface layers.
We have a lot to live up to here and this challenge has seen the development of the most modern, well equipped and experienced fishing fleet available. Magnificent custom built craft fitted with all forms of safety and communication gear, air-conditioned state rooms and offering the most comfortable lodgings available on the water. A once in a lifetime trip, or the never ending pursuit of the most revered gamefish of all, the elusive 1,000 pounder.
Every year commencing in early September, the giant female Black Marlin arrive from the Pacific Ocean to spawn along this 250 km stretch of the Great Barrier Reef. The rich waters off the reef and near by continental shelf offering these breeders an abundant food supply. The Marlin season extends through to late December and an impressive array of gameboats and mothership options are to be found on the outer edge of The Reef and Coral Sea.

Fly Fishing.

Fly fishing is one of the oldest known methods of angling. It is steeped in history and has its own rules, traditions, techniques and skills, all of which have been developed from the fine art of deceiving fresh water fish into taking the delicately placed offering.
Salt-water fly-fishing however is re-writing the rulebook and here in Tropical North Queensland we have an abundance of piscatorial targets well suited to this magnificent sport.
Our fish don't usually feed on insects, jungle stream species excepted, but rather small fishes, (large baitfish if talking blue water targets) shrimp, prawns and crabs are their prime tucker and obviously your offering must imitate their foods. We tropical anglers therefore use quite large flies by comparison to our southern, fresh water trout stream cousins.

Whether your bag is wading along a secluded white sandy beach, sight casting to schools of golden trevally; to deftly placing the "pink thing" on the nose of a prime silver salt water barramundi hiding amongst the mangrove roots, to the ultimate thrill of landing a billfish on fly, our region can deliver all of the above and lots, lots more.

The Tackle

Many articles have been penned about the preferred tackle for this species and that, the best lure, the most productive fly. A lot however depends on the angler's confidence and skill level.
Confidence in the quality tackle at hand to do the job, confidence in the chosen fly to imitate the food source and the skill require to work the retrieve in a way irresistible to the predatory fish.
On some occasions a hungry, excited fish will have a go at almost anything. On most occasions it will take a little bit of patience, skillful presentation and repetitive casts to entice the right response. Once the art of fly-fishing is mastered though, most proponents enjoy a level of satisfaction rarely found in any other form of angling or sporting pursuit, for that matter.