Guide Bodie Bell holds Lorraine Golightly’s impressive 106cm barra caught casting a Berkley Gulp 4" Shrimp
From inshore river runs to brief reef and island raids, it’s been a productive week for anglers across Far North Queensland, despite persistent wind and unsettled offshore conditions. Here's what's biting right now.
Reef Fishing
The rough weather limited most offshore trips, but a few larger boats managed to sneak out during light wind windows and were well rewarded. Coral trout have continued to dominate the catches, especially around the bommies, with reef jacks not far behind.
The deeper rubble zones are holding good numbers of spangled emperor, along with both large and small-mouth nannygai. A mix of mackerel species, including Spanish, school, and spotty, have been caught on floated pilchards while bottom fishing. Golden trevally have also featured and are proving to be surprisingly tasty when eaten fresh.
Coral trout continue to be caught off Port Douglas with Dragon Lady Charters
Reef jacks have been another prized catch recently off the reefs around Cairns and Port Douglas
Islands & Headlands
Around the islands and inshore headlands from Cairns to Hinchinbrook, the mackerel action has picked up again now that the wind has eased. Bigger Spanish mackerel are responding well to trolled wolf herring, garfish, and deep-diving lures like the Strada Pro Tracka 160, particularly during early morning sessions.
School and spotty mackerel are also showing up inshore on floated pilchards and live sardines, especially around channel markers, wharves, headlands, and inshore shoals. Giant trevally and queenfish are lighting up bait schools, with surface lure casters enjoying explosive strikes around the headlands.
Spotty mackerel are showing up around the southern islands and local reefs
Rivers & Estuaries
Estuary fishing has been consistent this week. The Endeavour River at Cooktown is still producing quality barramundi, fingermark, queenfish, and trevally, especially when fishing live herring in deeper holes and along submerged structure.
Cairns and Dixon Inlets have seen plenty of mangrove jacks, particularly in upper sections where baitfish are holding. Soft plastic prawns and live baits have both been effective. Flathead are holding near the Barron River mouth, and the crabbing remains solid in Cairns Inlet and the Hinchinbrook Channel on bigger tides.
In the Tully and Hinchinbrook region, barra and jacks are still active despite some recent rain. Anglers using lures or live bait and fishing persistently have continued to get the results.
Sportfishing has been red-hot in river mouths, with big queenfish and GTs smashing surface lures along the riverbanks of the Daintree, Russell, and Johnstone Rivers. Winter is prime time to target these hard-hitting river predators.
Queenfish have been common catches casting surface lures with Fish Tales Charters in the river mouths
A nice river barra caught with Fish Hunter Charters FNQ this week
Freshwater
Freshwater anglers are enjoying a solid run in the upper Daintree River, with barramundi, tarpon, jungle perch, and the odd mangrove jack being caught in both brackish and freshwater zones.
Small poppers, diving minnows, and soft plastic prawns are all doing the damage. The early morning surface bite has been especially productive. Further south, anglers pushing up into the freshwater of the Tully River have encountered solid sooty grunter on small poppers and hardbodies.
Sooty grunter have been active in the upper freshwater of the major river systems
Weekend Outlook
Offshore winds are forecast to stay strong, limiting reef and island access for trailer boats. However, the larger charter vessels will still be out chasing coral trout and mackerel behind the sheltered reefs.
With neap tides on the way, live baiting prawns and herring in deep holes should turn up fingermark, barra, trevally, and possibly blue salmon if bait schools are thick. Soft plastic vibes will also be effective.
Inshore spots like Cairns Inlet, Mourilyan Harbour, and the Hinchinbrook Channel should fish well. Expect more queenfish and GTs in the river mouths, especially on surface lures. Smaller tides will suit saltwater barra and jack fishing in the big rivers like the Daintree, provided we don’t see too much rain.
Look to target barramundi by deep dredging imitation prawns or trolling deep structure
Fingermark will be a prime target this weekend over the smaller tides
🎉 Don’t Forget – It’s Our Birthday Sale!
Take a break from fishing and celebrate Cairns Tackle World’s Birthday Sale this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Score up to 50% off storewide*, plus giveaways and prizes up for grabs.
There’s never been a better time to gear up!