Cairns Fishing

Cairns is the destination for many anglers who seek to catch a Black Marlin, and is known as the Black Marlin Capital of the World. With excellent estuaries, Great Barrier Reef, and Continental Shelf just off its shore, Cairns delivers many different options for fishing.

Fishing offshore Cairns for Black Marlin is best between September and December. Yellowfin Tuna are around all year long, and Dogtooth Tuna are thick the last half of the year. December through February are ideal for Blue Marlin and Sailfish, which also corresponds to the Mahi-mahi (Dolphinfish) and Wahoo season.

Reef fishing is excellent all year round with species like Coral Trout, Giant Trevally, Nannygai, Red Emperor, and Tricky Snapper, but the highlight is June through September. Near shore you can expect to catch Spanish and Spotted Mackerel.

The rivers and creeks around Cairns offers Blue Salmon, Flathead, Mangrove Jacks, Estuary Cod, Queenfish, and School Trevally. Barramundi are also found in this area and are most active during the breeding season between October and February.

Cairns Fishing Prediction

Optimal fishing activity will be between 3 - 7 AM on Saturday.

Target Species of Fish

Based on historical data in Cairns, you should target one of the following top 6 species for this time of year:

Recommedations above based on 11 local reports and 5 species of fish for August in Cairns.

View full Cairns Fishing Prediction to see all species and best lures and colors to use.

Latest Cairns Fishing Reports

2017 Giant Black Marlin Season Dates Available!
7/10/2017 7:11:33 AM - 5 days for this season October 3-7 have opened up today (that were held for the owner and now not able to be used!). Get in touch now if you are interested – they won’t last

Gulf Barramundi Season 2017
5/21/2017 11:41:26 AM - The boys on this trip asked me why I wasn’t blogging this year! Alas but I am. On Facebook. You can see all our latest trip photos on there. I must admit its a lot easier to

2017 Reef Closure Dates
1/20/2017 3:29:18 PM - The Coral Reef fin fish dates for 2017 are 17th October to 21st October and 15th to 19th November. All dates are inclusive. Closure dates are timed to coincide with the new mo

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Top Cairns Fishing Charters & Guides

KEKOA Sports Fishing
KEKOA is a 56 foot O’Brien Boat custom built for the Cairns Marlin Fishing (Giant Black Marlin) season and integrates luxury, quality and comfort to cater for all your individual charter experiences.

Iona Game Fishing Australia
Iona Game Fishing Australia offers the optimum in fishing charters in Australia from as far north as Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef, following the migrating marlin along the East Coast of Australia to as far south as Port Stephens and Newcastle.

Ross Finlayson Marlin Charters
Ross Finlayson is one of Australia's leading marlin and sportfishing captains. With more than 23 years professional game fishing experience. Captain Ross provides exclusive marlin and game fishing charters directly from Cairns year round on the G

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Top Cairns Bait & Tackle Stores

Bransfords Discount Tackle Shop
Located in Cairns, Queensland, Australia, Bransfords Discount Tackle Shop specialise in good service, and will give you honest, no-bull advise on fishing tackle equipment ranging from rods, reels, combos, any type of fishing line, lures, hooks, sinke

DownUnder Fishing Supplies
Quality game fishing tackle for Australian blue water fishermen. Cairns, Queensland, Australia. The Giant Black Marlin capital of the world.

Tackle World Cairns
With over 20 years serving the local fishing community the modern and fully stocked CAIRNS TACKLE WORLD caters for all styles of fishing and species. From the western rivers and coastal sweet water rivers chasing the Sooty Grunter, Jungle Perch,and o

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Top Cairns Marinas

Cairns Marlin Marina
Australia's premier marina, Cairns Marlin Marina provides first-class facilities and customer service for a diverse fleet including some of the world's most advanced super yachts.

Yorkeys Knob Boating Club
Yorkeys Knob Boating Club is located at Yorkeys Knob, one of the northern beachside suburbs of Cairns – just 15 minutes from the Cairns CBD and easily accessible by land or sea. The 197 berth marina was constructed in 1994 and is nestled in the pi

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