Cape York in the far north of the state of Queensland is one of the premium fishing adventures that Australia has to offer. A wild, remote and exotic land the cape is sparely populated and surrounded by a huge diversity of fishing opportunities. Estuary, river, flats, reef, blue water and pelagic fishing opportunities abound.
Make sure you fish Cape York at least once in a lifetime and take this guide along with you.
As Cape York has such a huge variety of fishing environments fishing all over Cape York is awesome all year. South easterly trade winds blow from June to November peaking in July, August. and September. In places, particularly exposed areas on the east coast of the cape, they can be quite blustery making fishing very difficult.
Many places on the west coast, boarding the Gulf of Carpentaria offer some level of protection from these winds.
Fishing hotspots
Far to many to mention all but here are a few of the more productive places.
Tip of Cape- Reef fishing- Best in later half of year
Seisa- Reef, estuary and blue water- March to December
Jacky Jacky Sytem- Estuary fishing- April to November
West Coast rivers- Estuary fishing- April to November
Weipa- Estuary and bluewater fishing- April to November
Princess Charlotte Bay- Estuary and Reef fishing- Best April to November
Lakefield National Park- River, estuary and billabong fishing- Apr- to Nov
| Cape York Popular Target Species |
|
| |
|
|
| Species |
Awesome months |
Good Months |
| Barramundi |
Feb- March, Oct-Dec |
Sep |
| Bream |
|
April to October |
| Barracuda |
|
April to December |
| Cobia |
June to Dec |
April, May |
| Cod |
July to Dec |
April to June |
| Golden Trevally |
June to Oct |
Nov, Dec, Feb, Mar |
| Mackerel |
Sep to Dec |
Jan, July, Aug |
| Mangrove Jack |
|
Jan to Dec |
| Permit |
Sep, Oct |
May to Aug |
| Queenfish |
Feb- June |
July, Aug, Jan |
| Reef Species |
Jan, April, May, Nov, Dec |
Oct |
| Saratoga |
May to Dec |
Jan |
| Salmon |
Oct, Nov |
Feb, Mar,Sep, Dec |
| Trevally |
|
Jan to Dec |
| Tarpon |
Jan to Sep |
Oct to Jan |
| |
|
|
| * Over 40 species regularly causght on Cape York |
|
All things considered the west coast of Cape York is a unique fishing destination and a wild, remote and exotic place. It is a proven fishing ground with a large variety of fishing environments.
Check out the video below.
Download a brochure on our awesome Cape York fishing adventure. Wild, remote, exotic.
1. Species
When fishing Broome and the surrounding region the angler has quite a plethora of fishing experiences to enjoy. Barramundi, Threadfin, fingermark and jewfish are the more popular species targeted in the creeks and estuaries contributing to the vast expanse of Roebuck Bay.
Broome is also known for the black jewfish that haunt areas of Roebuck bay and of course the delicious mud crabs of the bay.
Coral Trout, mackerel, red emperor, blue bone are amongst the popular reef species but of course there are many more available.
Sailfish, blue and black marlin, spanish mackerel, wahoo and dolphin fish are the most common blue water species.
2. Seasons
The billfish season in waters around 20 klm north west of Broome starts around April and runs through to October, give or take a month. Sailfish are present in large numbers from roughly June to October.
3. Tides
The quality of Fishing in Broome is very much tide dependent as the tidal movement in this part of the world can be huge at a up to 10 meters.
Sailfish, for example are best fished a few days after neap tides as the water becomes too murky after king tides.
4. Climate
The best fishing in Broome is usually in the period of late August through to November for most species. Estuary species such as barramundi are also feeding hungrily after the wet season finished around the end of March, give or take a month.
5. Access & Accommodation
Virgin Australia and Qantas both have daily flights to Broome with connections from most capital cities in Australia. There is a vast range of accommodation from caravan parks to luxury beach front resorts and self contained holiday apartments both in Broome town and also out at Cable Beach. The town generally fills up with general tourism during the peak of the dry season from June to August. The Shinju Matsuri or the “Festival of the Pearl” is usually held in early September. After this accommodation becomes easier to obtain at shorter notice which is good as September to October are usually excellent fishing months.
Sports Fishing Adventures has a unique fishing holidays to wild, remote ans exotic destinations around Broome and the Kimberley. Please see the links below.
Kimberley Coast Fishing Cruise Kimberley Rivers Barra
The Tiwi Islands are around 80 klms north of Darwin or 30 mins in a light plane. Melville and Bathurst islands are the two islands in the group and both are relatively flat with loads of mangrove swamps around the shoreline.
The Tiwi Indigenous people have lived here since well before European settlement and there are over 2500 Tiwi living on the islands today scattered across a number of small settlements but mostly in Nguiu.
The islands are also known as the “islands of smiles” due to the friendly nature of the Tiwi people.
Fishing on the Tiwi Islands is quite simply excellent with a wide variety of fishing environments including estuary, reef, beach and blue water. Lure, bait and fly fishermen are well catered for and there are over 50 species regularly caught on the islands. These include barramundi, threadfin, bluefin, trevally, snapper, jewfish, mangrove jack ,mackerel and the list goes on!
The best time to fish the Tiwi Islands is after the wet season from late March through to the end of the build up in late November. Within this time frame some environments fish better at different times. For example, barramundi fishing is best in April and May during the “run off” period after the rainy season has finished and also September to November during the “build up” season when the water and air temperatures and the humidity levels are building up. Reef fishing is superb all year and pelagic species fishing for the likes of mackerel and tuna is best from August to November. Having said that, a good guide who knows his area well can get you on most species most of the year.
A permit is required to visit the Tiwi Islands and there is a fishing lodge on the Islands offering packages all inclusive of flights, permits, accommodation and meals, guided fishing and all equipment.
See the link below for more information.
Tiwi Islands Fishing
Fishing in WA is incredibly diverse and rich with hundreds of opportunities over the 20 000 klm of coastline. Not to mention the multitude of rivers and streams. What follows is a list of some of the more popular and productive fishing hotspots in Western Australia.
Ord River
Running for 650 klm the Ord River drains a massive area of the Eastern Kimberley into Cambridge Gulf at Wyndham on the coast. This river is known for Barramundi fishing from Lake Argyle to the sea and large crocodiles in the lower reaches. The huge Lake Argyle now straddles the catchment providing water for the Kununurra irrigation area and there is now a constant flow down the Ord all year. The best of Kimberley rivers barra fishing is below the diversion dam wall at Kununurra all the way to Wyndham. The best time of year for barra fishing here is March to May and September to December and also June through August in the lower reaches.
Fitzroy River
Flowing in a westerly direction for over 700 klm, the Kimberley’s Fitzroy River suffers massive flooding every wet season from Christmas to March or April. Barramundi Fishing after this flood is excellent until the river stops flowing around July or August, depending on the severity of the floods. Barramundi can still be caught in isolated pools and billabongs until the next flood.
Kimberley Coast Fishing
The isolated and remote coastline north and east of Derby is absolutely spectacular, to say the least. It holds a myriad of untouched fishing opportunities from rivers, gorges and creeks to estuaries, beaches, reefs and deep water. You will need a boat as the Kimberley Coast is very inaccessible. There are a number of live aboard vessels cruising the coast from May to November.
Derby
Derby sits on King Sound on the Kimberley’s west coast. The sound is known for its huge tides of up to 12 meters, large barramundi and massive crocodiles.
The large sound is surrounded by creeks and estuaries, boarded by mangrove swamps and full of mud flats. This makes it excellent for barra fishing and mudcrabs but difficult to navigate. A large well equipped boat is required here or you can fish of the wharf in Derby at high tide.
Broome Fishing
The picturesque tourist town of Broome sits on a peninsula between the idyllic Cable Beach and the shallow flats of Roebuck Bay. Great fishing for barramundi, mud crabs and other estuary species is found in the bay and excellent reef systems off shore present great opportunity for reef species such as coral trout, emperor and many others. Broome has a well established game fishery with sailfish, mackerel, wahoo, marlin and others offshore between April to October or November.
Fishing in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands is simply world class. There are unlimited opportunities for awesome fishing adventures in wild, remote and exotic locations.
Australia is basically split into two climatic zones with the tropical north and the temperate south presenting a whole host of exciting opportunities at varying times of year.
Fishing In New Zealand is varied with some of the best freshwater trout fishing the world has to offer between October and April and excellent winter trout fishing in some areas.
Fishing in Australia is not just about saltwater fishing. There is also fantastic fly-fishing for trout between October to April in southern Australia, primarily Tasmania.
Australian fishing is perhaps dominated by the excellent Barramundi Fishing found in the north of Australia with the primary seasons being the ‘run off” months of April, May and maybe June after the wet season has finished.
September to November is also excellent for Barra fishing and most other species in the north as the water and air temperatures and humidity levels rise.
Bonefishing on Christmas Island in the Pacific island country of Kiribati attracts anglers from all over the world as it offers excellent saltwater fly-fishing in idyllic surrounds. One of the world’s largest lagoons on a coral atoll with great numbers of Bonefish and other species.
Queensland Fishing is quite varied and is perhaps dominated by the awesome reef fishing along the 3000 Kim of the Great Barrier Reef. With thousands of reefs and over 1500 species of fish there is something for everyone.
The Coral Sea off the Great Barrier Reef is also renowned for its amazing big game fishing for Marlin and the like.
So there is no reason to sit at home and grumble about not being able to go fishing, as there is just so much out there. In an effort to help you plan your next fishing adventure, Sports Fishing Adventures has prepared a calendar of fishing adventures that will keep you fishing for 12 months of the year.
Download the Free fishing calendar now. 
Many anglers will have heard of the incredible Bone fishing that is available at Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean nation of Kiribati.
Fishing enthusiasts from as far away as Australia, Europe and North America travel to the island yearly to wade the pristine waters in search of Bone fish. Very often it is a return visit.
Bone fish are not huge fish but they certainly can put up a fight. Most Bone fish landed are less than 6lb but they feel like 15b whoppers when they take your fly and then take off like a rocket. Many fisherman has been ripped down to the last of his backing before at last turning the fish and starting the long wind in, only to have the fish take off again at the last moment.
Christmas Island is a coral island that has a warm shallow lagoon that is very accessible by locally made outrigger style shallow draft boats. The guides and boatman, local polynesian people, know their waters well and delight in ensuring visiting fisherman land as many fish as possible.
If you would like to vary your fishing you can also chase the many large Giant Trevally (GT) that inhabit the lagoon.
Outside the lagoon are countless Marlin, Wahoo, Sailfish, Yellowfin and others just waiting for their chance to challenge the fisherman.
Christmas Island is almost on the equator so the weather does not change much year round and it does not play a major role in dictating when you visit.
For more information and a special offer that could save you $299 if you are considering a Christmas Island Fishing Adventure, download our FREE Fishing Travel Guide. It is full of relevant fishing and travel information to help plan your fishing holiday.
GT Fishing is one of the most exciting forms of Sports Fishing available. Throwing poppers over the edge of an underwater reef or bommie and being hit by what feels like an aquatic freight train is guaranteed to get any anglers heart pumping.
These are ambush fish that prefer to hide under a ledge and make a short, sharp attack on passing fish. Once they have the lure they will beat a hasty retreat back to cover and if they get there before you can turn them they will try and break you off. GT fishing is hard on fishing equipment with plenty of "bust offs" and a guarenteed broken rod if you go in too light.
Giant Trevally can be found in tropical and sub tropical waters around the coast of Australia and into the Pacific and Indian oceans.
It is always best to try and catch Giant Trevally from a boat but it is very possible to cast from rocky headlines and be successful. In some areas GT fishing is productive casting across sand flats whilst the fish are hunting for small crustaceans.
If you have never tried GT fishing give it a go. I guarantee that if you catch the fish you will be back for more.
Watch the GT fishing video below then download the free GT species guide.
Part two of two part series
Fishing licences
You don't require a recreational fishing licence when fishing in Darwin or the Northern Territory. Neverthelessrecreational fishers now need a temporary licence for recreational fishing on and overaboriginal granted land and adjoining waters. Enquiries should be directed to the Northern Land Council (NLC) on 1800 645 299. For recreational fishing access to the Tiwi Islands enquiries should be directed to Tiwi Enterprises on 08-8941 1162.
Distance
Everything in the NT is large. It is a giant land with a little population and accordingly travel over massive distances is a fact of life up here. Travel into remote regions should only bedone in well-equipped 4WD vehicles with lots of supplies on board. Roads in remote areas are generally dirt and often in poor repair. Many areas are restricted access Indigenous lands where permits are required. All kinds of cars can be hired in Darwin but usually only 4WD can be taken off paved roads.
Safety
In a word crocodiles.. And plenty of them!
The whole northern coast of Australia is crocodile habitat and they have been protected since the 1970's so their numbers are increasing. Estuarine or Saltwater crocodiles can be aggressive especially in the mating season from October onwards so great care should be taken and local guiding and knowledge should be obtained.Barramundi fishing in particular exposes anglers to crocodile habitat. Box Jellyfish are prevalent from October to May and off course there are snakes on land.
Heat stress can be a problem for residents and visitors alike.
Lodges, Guides and Charters
There are a great number of pro fishing lodges, guides and charter operations available in and around Darwin. And unfortunately some unprofessional ones too. Visiting anglers shouldchoose operations with well established reputations. The blue water day charters out of Darwin will book out well in advance during the main visitor seasons of June to Sep. The lodges will probably book out early for the top fishing months of April and May and also October and November.
Most remote area lodges will need fly in on smaller charter aircraft from Darwin. This isnormally included in the tariff. Most will also include all of the required fishing gear.
Other attractions.
Wildlife, nature and native culture are the most important reasons that general tourists come to the Top End. National parks, camping out and festivals are popular. The Darwin Cup horse racing carnival runs over 2 weeks starting late July and the Darwin Festival features all sortsof music, performance and art during August.
Part one of two part series
Fishing in Darwin is a world class fishing experience. Darwin today is a sophisticated city of about 100 000 people that still keeps some of its pioneering spirit and irreverence of yesteryear. It sits on a promontory hemmed in by the huge and still un-spoilt Darwin Harbor and the wide expanses of the Arafura Sea. The area certainlyis a fishermens paradise.
Getting there
Darwin has a 24-hour international airport with daily connections from around the world through Singapore. It has also got multiple daily connections from all Australian capital cities via Jetstar and Virgin.
Accommodation
A major industry in the Northern Territory (NT) is tourism and accordingly Darwin has a multitude of accommodation from five star resorts to caravan parks. Accommodation can be difficult to obtain in the main visitor season of June toSeptember so bookings should be made some way ahead.
Climate
The Darwin Region, also known as the Top End of Australia has two seasons only.The wet season and the dry.
May to September is dry and stable with low humidity and median daily maximums in the low 30's. The months of October to December feature rising humidity and temperatures with infrequent storms. The regular rains arrive with the monsoon from Christmas to March (give or take a month) with massive flooding typicallyoccurring.
Fishing Seasons
Barramundi fishing is best when the wet season has finished and the flood pains are draining into the estuaries, rivers and creeks. This is sometimes known as the run off. Pelagic fishing for Spanish Mackerel, Tuna and others heats up from August onwards and with the rising humidity, air and water temperatures from mid Septemberonwards, all species are feeding well.
Fishing environments
The Darwin area has several pristine fishing environments. These include harbours and estuaries, rivers and creeks, flood plains and billabongs well known for the barramundi fishing. But please don't make the error of targeting just barramundi as the region also has countless natural and man-made reef systems, and very productive bluewater, pelagic and game fishing.
This pristine and remote wilderness in the northwest corner of Australia is a fishermen's paradise with a wide variety of fishing opportunities. These include un-spoilt beaches, primebarramundi fishing rivers; fish rich reef systems and blue water fishing at its best all surrounded by spectacular scenery
March to November are the best months for Kimberley fishing with Barramundi fishing at its best after the wet season has finished from March onwards.
The Kimberley coast is a spectacular and remote wilderness accessible in the most part only by boat. There are a number of charter vessels that cruise this remote coastline from March to November each year offering both specialist fishing cruises and also general interest cruises that include nature and aboriginal culture activities as well as fishing. The later are great options for the fishermen with the non-fishing partner.
The cost of getting to and travelling around the Kimberley is quite high and consequently most fishermen will probably only visit once in a lifetime. It is advisable that visitors should maximize their experience by using the many excellent Kimberley fishing charters, guides, lodges, camps and live aboard vessels that are available.
