Cairns - land based options

[SgtBundy]

I have a family holiday coming up in Cairns and I already (probably over eagerly) got a 6-10kg travel rod and new reel ready to go, and will figure out a cut down tackle selection to bring with me. I have booked a fishing charter to go hit the reefs and rivers, but I will have plenty of free days up there and where possible I would like to go try the area land based.

For the most part we will be using the resorts shuttle bus to get into the city, but for the later half of the time there we might hire a car to explore further.

Checking out google earth I can see a few marinas and the like around the main part of the city - are they accessible for fishing?

Are there any other accessible areas that are worth a go?

Whats the go with large lizards in the area?

Any info appreciated.

[Mr Squidy]

Hey Bundy,

I had a week up there earlier this year for a work conference for the Girlfriend and spent a few mornings/afternoons fishing land based. Within Central Cairns there are two main options being the ocean side of the main marina break wall and a dedicated fishing jetty on the river front near the Casino (see numbers 1 and 2 on the below map).

Off the break wall I spent an hour or two working plastics without landing anything. I got two follows from small GT's whilst working the plastic across the surface in a quick walk the dog action but missed the only strike. Heaps of people here were fishing bait and didn't see any action for them during any of the times i was in the area so I'd stick to working lures and definitely a spot to target at high tide as most of it gets quite shallow at lower tides. Reckon you may be a shot at queenies, mackerel etc here with a bit of luck. This wall is closed to fishing from 9pm to i think 7am?

The jetty on the river front is set up with rod holders in inconvenient spots, a cleaning table who's tap is missing and some poorly set up spotlights that I think are supposed to help attract fish but really seem to do nothing. I fished plastics and blades and only managed a couple of grinners. There is a little structure around to cast at but really doesn't look a great spot with the level of tide movement. Probably worth targeting the change of tides here. Saw no one else fishing here at all whilst I was there. I found one report on line of a guy who fished it a year or two back and got a few very small queenies around sunrise.

Unfortunately all the marina area is off limits to fishing. It is however worth spending a bit of time in the evening at point 3 on the map watching Barra boof bait off the surface along the edge of the marina's jetty shadow where it comes out into the light. Quite crazy on a number of nights when I was there with at least a dozen good sized fish just smashing anything unfortunate enough to swim past. Someone while I was there may have tried a sneaky cast with a popper at about 10.30pm on a rainy Tuesday night and was quickly seen off by a torch wielding security guard so I wouldn't recommend that Definitely very cool to watch though.

Last point, there is a guy who has a blog about land based fishing in cairns who seems to kill it. Took me a while but i finally figured he is fishing in restricted port/navy areas so I'm guessing he has some sort of clearance to be there so dont get to excited if you see that.

If you have a hire car there will obviously be a lot more opportunities. There are pleanty of small mangrove lined waterways that the roads cross in and out of Cairns where you might be able to flick lures from the bank. Obviously stay a long way back as there are no shortage of Crocs!!!

I was lucky when I was up there that the Fishraider Lizardboy was in town too with his family and was nice enough to offer to take me on a morning session chasing Jungle Perch (Thanks again mate!!). Being a total newb at this sort of fishing I missed our only strike of the morning on the very first cast but very cool type of fishing wading up a small rainforest creek at dawn flicking small poppers and minnows. Not exactly sure of the location we fished but another interesting option if you have a car.

I also did a charter on the Mulgrave river whilst there (wind off shore was to much to head outside on a smaller trailer boat charter) which was ok but the barra wouldn't play ball. Caught heaps of bream, some small GTs, and a stonker fingermark around the 3-4kg.

Let me know if you've got any queries on the above at all, hope you get into a few up there.

Cheers,

Rich

Edited September 9, 2015 by Mr Squidy

[Blood Knot]

That's an awesome reply Rich goodonya

Cheers Blood Knot

[SgtBundy]

Thanks Rich - that is some good info. I have a collection of lures to take up with me and plan to mostly do that, but will see what works. Not long after I posted this I found a site listing the fishing on the beaches up there too.

Looking forward to it - kids are excited and I just hope to have a few different sessions to what I normally do here.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[batfishing]

By the sounds of it, I will be in apt Douglas around the same time. Last week of September.

I have booked a half day charter for a group of us, and will also be doing some land based and maybe another charter of hire boat....so we can swap notes

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[SgtBundy]

I am up there 25th until Oct 4th. Most of the week I have booked trips but have the odd day and the weekends to explore.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[batfishing]

Yep, 26-3rd

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk