What to catch and when!

Cairns Fishing Charters

Besides the giant black marlin that bring anglers to Cairns every year between September and December, there is a plethora of options for Cairns Fishing Charters available year-round for both novice and experienced anglers! And plenty to do for non-anglers while you are visiting too!
Whether you’re squeezing a quick day trip into a packed holiday schedule or visiting specifically to fish and seeking a longer-live aboard trip offshore , Cairns boasts fantastic pelagic fishing action to complement its world-class reef experience – which includes not just fishing but snorkeling, diving and even bird-watching (seabird) options.
This page is designed as a guide for traveling anglers and visitors to Cairns alike. Read on for the year round ‘fishing’ schedule and more information and ideas for your visit to the Cairns region!
01 May08:23
01 May08:23
May 2025
May 2025
gorgeous-baby-black

Juvenile Black Marlin

MAY-SEPT:
The annual run of baby black marlin in Cairns offers anglers novice and experienced alike fun on light tackle May to September!

These fish are the product of the previous year’s giant black marlin season – typically coming onto year-old fish who’s only goal in life is to eat, eat and eat some more.

For this reason they are spectacular on the bite and multiple hook ups are common. They are also extremely aerial and acrobatic and are a lot of fun particularly on the light line!

20 Sep10:36
20 Sep10:36
Sep 2024
Sep 2024
big-bertha

Giant Black Marlin

SEPT-DEC:
Year after year come September, the giant black marlin start to congregate along a stretch of the Great Barrier Reef called the Ribbon Reef. Also known as “The Ribbons”, this reef stretches in excess of 100 miles in a ribbon off the coast between Cairns and Lizard Island.

These reefs are hard breaking reefs and form a unique backdrop to some of the best black marlin fishing on the planet. Simply put, nowhere in the world rivals Cairns for the big black marlin.

31 May13:11
31 May13:11
May 2024
May 2024
Spanish mackerel

Cairns Sport fishing mackerel and pelagics

YEAR-ROUND:
Cairns offers great sport and game fishing for pelagic species such as yellowfin tuna and dolphin fish in the warmer months and Spanish mackerel over the cooler months.

Cairns Fishing Charters

Other Resources
Cairns is nestled between lush rain forests and the Great Barrier Reef / Coral Sea. It is one of Australia’s premier tropical destinations and is considered a great winter getaway for visitors from cooler climates being relatively warm all year round!
For angling visitors it is exceedingly high on Cairns fishing charters options most simply because of its location and proximity as gateway to the Great Barrier Reef
Besides world class sport and game fishing, Cairns is a hub for adventure tourism, with high adrenaline options for white-water rafting, bungee jumping, mountain biking, jet skiing, and so much more!
We are always happy to provide information and recommendations on activities to add to your itinerary when planning your Cairns fishing charters with us.

Top attractions include:

  • The Great Barrier Reef – for fishing, snorkeling, diving, or scenic reef cruises. During the warmer NQ winter you can add whale watching to this list!
  • Daintree Rainforest – which is the world’s oldest tropical rainforest, teeming with wildlife. Daintree river cruises.
  • Kuranda Scenic Railway & Skyrail – for panoramic rainforest to reef views
  • Esplanade Lagoon & Markets – perfect for relaxing, swimming, and eating out and enjoying the North Queensland outdoor lifestyle.

Whether you’re here for relaxation, exploration, or action on the water, Cairns offers the perfect blend of nature and excitement in tropical North Queensland.

Cairns fishing charters
Wahoo - Cairns fishing charters
Yellowfin - Cairns fishing charters
Juvenile black marlin - Cairns fishing charters
About
Us

Luke and Kelly are respected long-term Cairns fishing charters operators and collectively bring an unrivaled experience to their guests!

Luke is renowned for his fishing ability as well as his professionalism as captain within the sport & game fishing community. Likewise Kelly’s reputation as a photographer (the photos you see on this website are Kelly’s!) and cook on board as well as the attention to detail she brings behind the scenes to booking your tip of a lifetime, and our social media channels adds that extra dimension!

And both enjoy nothing more than fishing together in their (rare) spare time whether it be little black marlin or barramundi in their little boat! Fishing people who love fishing!

If you’re interested in any of the charter options mentioned above, get in touch today.