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 Forecast

View full Cairns Fishing Forecast to see all species.

Latest Cairns Fishing Reports

• Thu 28 Jul 2022 02:07:55 +0000
  The Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) is a not-for-profit private sector membership-based organisation representing the interests of Queensland’s tourism and hospital

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• Thu 28 Jul 2022 02:07:55 +0000
  The Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) is a not-for-profit private sector membership-based organisation representing the interests of Queensland’s tourism and hospital

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• PHONE ISSUES
  We’re currently experiencing some phone issues so you can contact us on 0438291094 as an alternative.

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• Reef Closures 2021-23
  2021 Reef Closure dates are 3 to 7 October and 2 to 6 November 2022 Reef Closure dates are 22 to 26 October and 21 to 25 November 2021 Reef Closure dates are 12 to 16 October

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• Reef Closures 2022-23
  2022 Reef Closure dates are 22 to 26 October and 21 to 25 November 2023 Reef Closure dates are 12 to 16 October and 10 to 14 November

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• Short Bill Black!
  

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• Great shot thanks Julian Pepperell!
  

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• Birthday Big One!
  

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• 5 for 6 days with 2 big ones ….
  

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• Kaitlin’s best haul yet!!
      #cairns #marlin

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View Cairns Fishing Reports

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Top Cairns Fishing Spots

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The Top 10 Fishing Spots for Cairns are the following:

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Top Cairns Bait & Tackle Stores

1. 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
   

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2. 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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View more Cairns Bait & Tackle Stores

Top Cairns Fishing Charters & Guides

1. 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.
   

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2. 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.
   

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3. 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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4. Cairns Fishing Charters
   Cairns Fishing Charters is a locally owned and operated fishing charter business based at The Marlin Marina, Cairns, in beautiful Far North Queensland. We take pride in giving our passengers an enjoyable, reef and deep sea fishing charter experien
   

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5. Shikari Expeditions
   Wether your ambition is to target the "Grander" Black Marlin or catch the most remarkable sport fish on the Great Barrier Reef - Big Game can customise an amazing experience.
   

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6. Fish Tales' Charters
   
   

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7. Fishing Cairns
   Whether your goal is to land a "grander" black marlin out from the continental shelf, or Australia's premier light tackle sportfish, the famous barramundi up the creek, or a prime-eating reef dweller from the largest fish attractor on t
   

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8. Cairns Reef Charter Services
   
   

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Top Cairns Marinas

1. 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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2. 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.
   

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