Reef Fishing
With extended stretches of ideal weather, local anglers have taken full advantage, hitting the inshore reefs in big numbers – and the action has been hot! Coral trout have been the standout catch, especially over shallow bommies in 15-20m where bait schools are thick. Whole pilchards on light sinkers have been irresistible for these prized table fish. Arlington, Thetford, and Sudbury Reefs off Cairns have fished well.
Spanish mackerel are in abundance at these same locations, smashing floated pilchards and live fusiliers. Trolling Halco Laser Pros along reef pressure points has also been producing bag-limit catches of Spaniards in no time! In deeper waters, Grafton Passage and Trinity Opening have been delivering solid hauls of large and small-mouth nannygai, spangled emperor, gold band snapper, and a mix of other quality reef species.
Large mouth nannygai have been biting well on the deep water rubble patches for those fishing with Exceed Sport Fishing
Southern Islands!
Dunk Island and the Family Group Islands have been on fire for Spanish and grey mackerel. Local fishos have been jigging metal vibes and high-speed slugs around bait schools for top-tier results. Don’t overlook grey mackerel (broad-barred mackerel) – they’re just as tasty as their Spanish cousins and easily identified by their broader bars. For those keen on trolling, small silver spoons are a deadly weapon for targeting greys.
Headlands Rocky Foreshores & Beaches!
Calm seas have been a game-changer for anglers chasing big barramundi. East Trinity’s rocky outcrops in Cairns Harbour have produced several quality barra in the 90cm range. Large soft plastic prawns and the hot new Panic Station Mullet have been the go-to lures around submerged boulders. Other hot spots include the Cardwell Rock Wall and the headlands leading to Missionary Bay. A few barra have also been hooked along the flood snags off Cairns’ Northern Beaches.
Rivers & Estuaries
Barramundi remain the prime target, especially with recent big tides firing up the mangrove flats. The Cairns Inlet, Mourilyan Harbour, and Hinchinbrook Channel have all fished well, particularly on draining high tides. Live baiting along the flats’ drains has been highly productive as barra move out of the mangroves. For lure fishers, estuary gutters and drains have been hotspots around low tide, with surface lures drawing aggressive strikes.
Grunter have been another reliable catch, with anglers having success on the flats using fresh mullet and garfish baits. The Russell, Johnstone, and Hull Rivers have all produced good barra action, with soft plastic Mintoss skipping prawns, frogs and diving minnows like the Jackall Squirrel being the standout lures. In freshwater sections, sooty grunter, barra, tarpon, and the occasional mangrove jack have all been in the mix.
Sooty Grunter & barramundi have been on the bite in the upper freshwater sections of the major river systems.
Young Cairns Tackle World Staffer Clay Edward shows a river Barra that smashed a Mentoss Skip Frog.
Weekend Outlook!
With 15-20 knot winds forecasted for Saturday, offshore conditions may be challenging. However, there’s hope for an improvement on Sunday, particularly to the south along the Cassowary Coast. Be sure to check local weather observations on the day—those looking to fish inshore reefs and islands may still have a window of opportunity.
Target Species & Techniques:
- Coral Trout & Red Throat Emperor: Shallow to mid-depth bommies, whole pilchards on light sinkers.
- Spanish & Grey Mackerel: Floated pilchards, live baits, or jigging metal lures. Trolling wolf herring around Dunk Island often produces larger Spaniards, while small silver spoons are deadly on greys.
- Barramundi & Jacks: Mid-morning high tides mean prime flats fishing. Target the mangroves and rocky foreshores, while half tide down should see snags fire up. Low tide? Cast the gutters and drains with shallow minnows and soft plastic prawns.
- Grunter & Salmon: Still around in decent numbers on the flats—fresh baits are your best bet.
- Tinaroo Dam Barra: With the full moon on Friday, now is the time to target a monster barra in Tinaroo Dam under prime moon-phase conditions!
Coral Trout have been on fire on the local reefs off Cairns & Port Douglas.
The Cairns Inlet has seen consistent Barra catches with All Tackle Sport Fishing on live baits fishing the flats draining gutters.
Mud Crab Alert!
If you’re after a feed of muddies, the Cairns Inlet has been producing good numbers. With solid tidal movement this weekend, it’s well worth setting a few pots!
Tip of the Week
The brand-new Panic Station Mullet has been making waves on social media – and for good reason! This revolutionary lure has already been responsible for landing multiple giant barramundi.
Available in 4, 5, 6, and 8-inch models, there’s a size for every barra fishing scenario, from river systems to coastal headlands. We launched sales on Wednesday, and demand has been off the charts!
If you haven’t got one yet, now is the time to stock up and start hooking more barra!
Dan Kaggelis with a Daintree River barramundi caught this week casting plastics.