Cairns Fishing Report | November 21st

A quality largemouth nannygai caught with Exceed Sport Fish out of Port Douglas last weekend.

Reef fishing exploded across the region during the last window before the closures, with coral trout leading the charge in big numbers. These fish were feeding with remarkable intensity ahead of their spawning cycle, hitting baits and lures with force and rewarding crews who positioned themselves over bommies loaded with bait. Alongside the trout came waves of nannygai, red emperor, spangled emperor, grass sweetlip, cod, gold band snapper and stripeys, each contributing to an incredibly productive few days on the water. Reports from all sectors described heavily populated sounder readings and fast paced action.

While the closures briefly paused the excitement, the reef season is open again from Saturday for coral reef fin fish, though the return of 15 to 20 knot winds means fishing will now be confined mostly to the offshore craft capable of safely working the sheltered sides of the reefs. These protected pockets should still hold fish in good numbers.

Offshore game fishing has held strong momentum, and the region continues to shine as the black marlin capital of the world. The run of giant blacks off Cooktown to Cairns has been particularly exciting, with crews encountering fish capable of blistering runs, high speed surface crashes and sustained fights that test even the most seasoned heavy tackle anglers.

The wider grounds beyond the shelf remain rich with life, and many boats last weekend found themselves among yellowfin tuna, wahoo and the occasional mahi mahi. Dogtooth tuna have also appeared along deeper pressure edges, taking advantage of the heavy tide flow. These are the sorts of fish that test gear and stamina, and several boats reported broken tackle and lost lures among their memorable captures.

With stronger winds now picking up, only the bigger offshore capable boats will be able to target the shelf and wider grounds this week, but for those who can, the bait presence and pelagic activity suggest there is still plenty of action to be found.

While offshore fishing took much of the spotlight last week, the rivers and estuaries across the Far North have been equally rewarding. Mangrove jacks continue to dominate inshore action, striking with ferocity as water temperatures rise and baitfish gather beneath shaded mangrove canopies. The Daintree, Cairns Inlet, Mourilyan Harbour and the Tully system have all produced exceptional jack sessions, with lure casters finding success by placing hard bodied lures and prawn imitations deep into structure and allowing the fish little time to react.

Grunter have been another reliable target, particularly around creek mouths and harbour flats. Fresh strip baits and small prawns have accounted for steady captures, with some impressive fish taken from the flats of the Cairns Inlet, Mourilyan Harbour and Hinchinbrook Channel. The Cairns Northern Beaches also experienced a lively run of king salmon, adding another layer of variety to inshore catches.

One of the week’s standout locations has been the Cooktown main wharf, where dense bait schools have settled back into the harbour and attracted packs of queenfish, trevally, barramundi (must be released) and even the odd mackerel and mangrove jack. Early mornings have been particularly explosive, with anglers witnessing schools of bait erupting across the surface as predators crash through them.

Nate Pritchard with a nice grunter caught casting a soft plastic in the Cairns Inlet.

Freshwater anglers have also enjoyed excellent conditions, with many of the creeks and rivers flowing clear and consistent feeding activity. Sooty grunters have been extremely active, smashing lures worked tight to snags and shaded banks.

The upper Tully and surrounding tributaries are producing some hot light tackle action, with jungle perch and tarpon mixing in among the sooties to create fast paced fishing in pristine rainforest settings. These systems are especially productive during the calm morning periods before the heat intensifies, and small hard bodies, surface walkers and soft plastics have all proved effective.

For many anglers, the freshwater reaches remain a peaceful but exciting option while the coastal winds build.

Cairns Tackle World staffer Lance Edward with a Tinaroo barra caught trolling an RMG Scorpion on Monday night.

With winds now increasing to a steady 15 to 20 knots, offshore opportunities will narrow, and only the larger, more capable boats will be able to safely access reef country. Those who do make the run should focus on sheltered sides of the reefs and leeward pressure edges where the sea state remains manageable. Reef species should still feed well after the recent closure, especially coral trout and emperor varieties.

For most anglers, the best opportunities this weekend will come from the rivers, estuaries and freshwater systems, all of which are fishing consistently and provide far more comfortable conditions than the open sea. Pelagics may still be active offshore, but it will be a week dominated by inshore versatility and strategic planning rather than wide open reef sessions.

On the neap tides, fingermark should fire up in the deep estuary and river holes, with live sardines and prawns the premium baits. Mangrove jacks will be hitting lures or live mullet sunk into the timber on the mid morning run out tides. The Cairns Northern Beaches should also see a few king salmon rounding up the bait schools and, if conditions allow, will be another option this weekend for casting or trolling lures.