Cairns Fishing Report | 31st October

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Tackle World Cairns Weekly Fishing Report.

The Far North is putting on a show with glassy seas, light winds and a building full moon firing up everything from the outer reef to the freshwater creeks. Conditions look set to continue well into next week, with bluewater anglers planning reef trips and impoundment fishers gearing up for big barra at Tinaroo Dam. Coral trout and nannygai are biting hard, black marlin are keeping heavy tackle crews busy, and the barra bite across rivers and headlands has been outstanding.

The offshore reefs from Hinchinbrook to Cooktown are alive for bluewater anglers. Coral trout are hitting hard along reef edges in some areas, while other patches are more tentative. Pilchards, strip baits and squid are producing strongly. Around deeper rubble and wonky holes, largemouth nannygai are stealing the spotlight, with many fish in the 6 to 9 kg range.

Neap tides have delivered multiple hookups and fast-filling ice boxes. Smaller tides have also produced small-mouth nannygai, emperors, painted sweetlip, spangled emperor, cobia and trevally. Grey mackerel are starting to show on the southern islands and inshore reef edges, taking trolled silver spoons and jigged metals. Schools should thicken into November and can be targeted during the Spanish mackerel closure.

The 2025 heavy tackle season is shaping as one of the best in years. Giant black marlin are thick on the grounds off Cairns, Linden Banks, Opal Ridge and along the Ribbon Reefs. Multiple releases per boat are becoming the daily norm, with many fish in the 250 to 400 kg range. A season to remember is unfolding.

Skipping tuna and swimming scad have accounted for most bites, and charter operators are reporting ideal conditions with strong numbers of visiting anglers.

The barra bite is hot across the Endeavour, Daintree, Russell, Murray and Barron Rivers, plus the Hinchinbrook Channel, with many fish in the 70 to 90 cm range and a few cracking a metre. Hard-bodied lures and soft prawns are working well, while live baits along mangrove edges are producing consistent results.

The Sovereign Hotel Barra Comp at Cooktown showed just how good it is right now, with junior and senior anglers both taking home boat and motor packages. Mangrove jacks are smashing lures around structure on the hot days. King threadfin salmon have shown up along the Cairns Northern Beaches, and grunter are running the beaches, creek mouths and estuary flats on the building tides.

The upper freshwater reaches are fishing beautifully with the hot weather. Sooty grunter are smashing small hard-bodies and surface walkers with explosive strikes. Jungle perch are active in shaded pools and are a great visual target. Low and clear water has made stealth and sight casting very rewarding.

Tinaroo Dam has switched on with the full moon build and local storms, with several big barra hitting the decks at night. Keep a close eye on storm safety while the bite is hot.

Friday is the last opportunity to target wild barramundi. The closure runs from Saturday 1 November through to 1 February 2026. During this period, barra cannot be targeted or taken and any fish caught incidentally must be released immediately. Queensland Stocked Impoundments, including Tinaroo, are an exception. Barramundi can be targeted and taken all year round if legal size, with an online SIP permit required.

Light winds, calm seas and a full moon build point to another prime weekend on the water. Reefs should hold trout and quality red fish, while offshore bait schools attract wahoo, tuna and marlin. Inshore, jacks will feed hard under mangrove shade and structure. Hard-bodied minnows and plastics are great options, and live mullet fished tight to snags should also find solid fish.

Remember that wild barra are off limits. Grunter should run the estuary flats of the Cairns Inlet and Hinchinbrook Channel and along coastal creek mouths. Fresh strip mullet and garfish are primo baits. Freshwater anglers should work shaded water where sooties and perch fire up on surface lures. Tinaroo Dam will fish excellently on the moon build and is well worth a trip for a trophy barra.