Everything you need to know about giant black marlin fishing in Cairns!

CAIRNS GIANT BLACK MARLIN SEASON
Everything you need to know!
Every year, between late September and December, the waters off Cairns, North Queensland, come alive with one of the most exciting billfish on the planet — the giant black marlin. Known as the Black Marlin Capital of the World, Cairns offers anglers the rare opportunity to target these incredible fish in numbers and size found nowhere else and has become a bucket list destination for anglers from all over the world!
Got questions? Let’s go!
When to book?
The season runs typically from late September to late November/early December each year with the annual congregation of black marlin along the Ribbon Reefs section of the Great Barrier Reef between Cairns and Lizard Island.

 

The fish show up in September – the very first grander black marlin was caught on 25 September 1966 – and generally start to leave the reef once the water warms up as we approach the Australian summer! This means we have a short but productive season of around 8 weeks.

 

For this reason, you need to book early! Plan your trip a year-out and book accordingly. Experienced and professional operations will book out early.

 

We offer world-class boats and tackle operated by passionate and experienced crew who have a deep respect for these fish and the reef ecosystem!
Why live-aboard

The fish congregate on the seaward side of the Ribbon Reefs between Cairns and Lizard Island. This stretch of reef is more than 100 miles and the fish move along the reef according to many factors including water quality and current. This means that as a live aboard (or mothershipping) fleet, staying at sea gives us more flexibility to move with the fish in order to offer our valued clients the very best fishing.

Everything you need is supplied on board – just bring yourselves and your personal items and toiletries (also typically BYO alcohol). Modern day gameboats are very comfortable and the comradery you build with your crew on the live-abord trip is an experience in itself.

Why choose mothershipping?

Mothershipping takes your experience to the next level and is very much like your private floating luxury villa on the reef complete with chef and a full compliment of crew ready to cater to your every whim. Many anglers are choosing the comfort, space, and style of a mothership-supported marlin adventure so let us know if this is of interest to you!

What Is a typical day?

Living aboard your runs to and from the fishing grounds are limited to the start and end of your trip. On the days in between you get to enjoy everything the reef has to offer in addition to the giant black marlin!

 

The marlin typically keep gentlemen’s hours and Cairns is known for its ‘late bite’. For this reason in the mornings we can swim and snorkel on the reef, bait and sport fish behind the reef before heading out to target the big fish typically between 10:30 and 11am.

 

Cairns is typically a bait fishery and we usually troll dead baits. But big marlin lures also have their place in the spread and many granders have fallen victim to them as well.

 

The ‘commute’ to the anchorage at the end of the day can be as little as 5-10 minutes. We are typically fishing until around 6pm on the outside of the reef and will run inside the lee which provides a comfortable anchorage.

 

At night we enjoy food and drinks on board and review the day’s footage while talking ‘shop’ (ie. marlin fishing adventures and stories!).

Where Does the action happen?

Every year is different as the fish will move according to the currents, water temp and water quality (even the weather can play its part!). But a typical year might see the fish along the Ribbon Reefs during most of October. Number 10 Ribbon Reef is often a hot spot during this time!

During this time Cooktown is our best departure point as its location mid way along the Ribbons allows us to fish north, east and south in an easy run.

Later in the season, and the timing of this depends on all of the above, the fish will generally move south as the water warms closer to Cairns.

That’s not to say the legendary fishing grounds off Cairns, namely Linden Bank and Opal Ridge, do not hold fish even in October. There is generally fish on ‘The Bank’ no matter what time of the season!

Do you have any more questions?
Get in Touch!
We’re always happy to walk you through and answer any questions. Send us an email today!