Cairns Fishing Report | 28th November

Red Emperor have impressed anglers fishing with Cooktown Barra Charters

Fishing across Far North Queensland has delivered another strong week, with excellent action coming from the reefs, estuaries, freshwater streams and offshore pelagic grounds. Anglers fishing both inshore and offshore have reported a wide variety of species as the warm and humid conditions continue to push bait schools together and activate predatory fish. Largemouth nannygai have again been the star performers across much of the coastline, coral trout numbers have held up well on the shallows, pelagics have been feeding aggressively, and the estuaries are producing jacks, grunter and fingermark. The freshwater scene is equally impressive, with sooty grunter, jungle perch and big Tinaroo barramundi all responding well to the seasonal temperature rise. With northerly winds of 10 to 15 knots forecast for the weekend, the broader outlook remains positive for most anglers preparing to hit the water.

Reef Fishing

Reef fishing this week has produced a decent mix of species, with many crews enjoying steady sessions on both the shallow reefs and the deeper rubble grounds. One of the standout highlights has been the run of largemouth nannygai stretching from Cooktown down to Hinchinbrook. These fish have gathered in reasonable numbers over deep wonky holes and broad rubble patches, and anglers drifting combinations of squid and pilchards through the schools have been rewarded with some impressive models. Multiple location shifts have been required to find the isolated schools, with some locations barren of bait and fish. The inshore wonky holes that have held good concentrations of bait, and where the bait has been thickest, have also produced quality fingermark. Live baits have been the most consistent approach for fingermark, though anglers working vertical vibes or Gulp soft plastics through the deeper marks have also found success.

Coral trout fishing off the Cairns and Port Douglas region has remained reliably productive, albeit slightly patchier as the post-spawn surge begins to ease. The shallower reef edges continue to deliver steady trout numbers, particularly during periods of strong tidal flow. Meanwhile, those exploring the offshore rubble grounds have found good patches of nannygai and the occasional red emperor. While patience has been required, often checking multiple marks before locating actively feeding fish, those who persisted have come home with quality catches. Spangled emperor, various trout species, cod and trevally have also rounded out the mixed reef bags, ensuring diversity across most trips.

Largemouth nannygai have dominated catches for Exceed Sport Fishing

Game Fishing and Pelagic

The pelagic activity offshore has been particularly exciting this week, with yellowfin tuna providing some spectacular sessions. Packs of yellowfin have been hammering rising bait schools, offering anglers fast-paced, adrenaline-filled fishing. As always, sharks have been a constant threat, and those who applied steady pressure and brought hooked tuna to the boat quickly have been the most successful at avoiding tax. These yellowfin remain highly prized on the table, with many crews taking home fish destined for sashimi plates or a quick, rare grill.

Closer inshore, the pelagic scene has also been lively. Mack tuna, doggy mackerel, queenfish and trevally have been aggressively feeding around bait schools, and metal lures and stickbaits have been the most effective presentations for anglers making fast, energetic retrieves. Looking ahead to the weekend, the forecasted northerlies will allow larger offshore boats to comfortably push wide. Many crews will be trolling skirted lures and deep-diving hard bodies such as Halco Laser Pros in search of more yellowfin action.

Yellow Fin Tuna have been schooled up on the out reef edges like Linden Banks

Rivers, Estuaries and Headlands

The estuaries have delivered another productive week of fishing, largely driven by the heat, which has put mangrove jacks into a fiery and aggressive mood. Jacks have been smashing hard-body lures, soft plastic prawns and even surface presentations, particularly during the early morning and late afternoon periods. The Cairns Inlet, Daintree River, Russell River and the broader Cassowary Coast systems have all reported strong numbers. Larger jacks have shown a clear preference for live mullet fished tight to shaded and snag-rich structure, especially during the hottest parts of the day when they retreat deeper into cover.

Grunter have also been a steady presence despite the smaller tides. They have been feeding across harbour flats and creek mouths, with squid strips and prawns proving reliable baits for anglers fishing the falling tides. A handful of fingermark have been taken around deeper estuarine structure where bait has been thick, with live baits and soft vibes producing the better-quality fish. Meanwhile, the Cairns Northern Beaches are expected to fire over the next few days, particularly for anglers targeting king salmon. Both lures and live baits are working, and livescope sounders are proving particularly effective for locating these roaming schools.

Fingermark have been in decent numbers along the FNQ Coast and in the Rivers Estuaries

Freshwater

Freshwater streams and upper catchments continue to fish extremely well as the warmer temperatures increase insect activity and lift bait life in the shallows. Sooty grunter and jungle perch have both been very active, particularly in shaded pools with gentle flow where they are most comfortable. Anglers adopting a stealthy approach and using small hard bodies, surface walkers and lightly weighted soft plastics have reported excellent success, especially during the cooler parts of the day when these fish hunt most confidently.

Tinaroo Dam is shaping up for another classic big-barra window with the building full moon phase. Anglers casting hard bodies and soft plastics around prominent points, deep timber and wind-blown bays have already been reporting good fish, and conditions over the coming days should continue to favour those targeting trophy barramundi.

Tinaroo Dam will be a hot spot this weekend on the full moon build

Weekend Outlook

The weekend forecast of northerly winds at 10 to 15 knots offers a promising outlook for most anglers. Larger reef boats will find the conditions manageable, allowing continued access to the protected reef systems where coral trout and mixed reef species should remain active. Offshore crews will also be chasing yellowfin tuna with deep-diving minnows and skirted lures, capitalising on the continuation of this strong pelagic run.

For river and estuary anglers, early morning sessions will provide the most comfortable and productive fishing before the heat settles in. Mangrove jacks, grunter and fingermark are all expected to feature prominently as the moon builds. The Northern Beaches should offer action on king salmon, while inland anglers will find Tinaroo Dam primed for targeting big barramundi.

A broad and exciting range of fishing opportunities lies ahead, with almost every system showing strong signs heading into the weekend ahead.

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