Fishos spoiled for choice in the Far North

This week I’ve taken a bit of a different approach to the fishing column by giving you the rundown of my top spots to wet a line in beautiful Far North Queensland.

These river systems, about 40km south of Cairns, run through picturesque rainforest and are unique in sharing the same mouth to the ocean.

The Russell/Mulgrave River system is renowned for its populations of monster giant trevally and metre-plus queenfish during the winter months when the bait schools move in from the ocean. Both species provide reel screaming and aerobatic surface action on cast poppers and stick baits.

The Golden Mile, a deep section that runs along the northern mouth, has given up many metre-plus barramundi while trolling lures, and on live baits after wet season rains clear.

Boat erosion and floods have slightly changed the channels and mouth of this system.

Barramundi and mangrove jacks are common catches while casting lures in the snags, while the upper freshwater sections fish well on sooty grunter and jungle perch and barramundi during the wet season in the mouths of the draining swamps.

Access is at Deeral for the Mulgrave River and Bellenden Kerr in the Russell River.

Hinchinbrook is a beautiful fishing location, with rainforest-covered mountains of Hinchinbrook Island towering over the channel and numerous sheltered estuary creeks.

Barramundi are the prime target species, casting shallow diving lures in the mouths of the small creeks, mangrove roots, snags, gutters and oyster-covered rocks. Metre-plus barramundi and threadfin salmon are commonly hooked here while casting soft plastic vibes in the deeper water adjacent to Hectate Point, at the northern Cardwell end of the channel. During and immediately following the monsoonal wet season is the prime fishing period for barramundi here.

Bait fisherman can enjoy catches of big grunter on the flats and creek mouths of Missionary Bay, while fingermark are plentiful in the deep holes and can be taken on live baits and soft plastics.

Access the northern end via the marina at Cardwell, while the southern end is at Lucinda. Low-tide access is a problem at times with launching and returning to the ramp, so plan trips on the tide heights. The distance from Cairns is about 180km.

The Daintree River is a mustfish spot for any visiting angler.

The river offers the best of salt and freshwater fishing along with a healthy population of large saltwater crocodiles, who are the star attraction for tourism operators. Winter is the prime time to view crocodiles as they warm themselves in the sun on the mud banks.

The saltwater section fishes well on barramundi and mangrove jacks when casting the mangrove snags, while queenfish and trevally are common catches around the mouth on surface lures. Fingermark are regularly caught in the deep holes on live baits, while grunter and flathead are targeted around the mouth in the sandbar gutters.

Heading upstream into the fresh and dense rainforest and grasslands, you will find weed beds that are best fished with shallow minnow-style lures. Barramundi, jungle perch and mangrove jacks all await to ambush your lures.

Crocodiles inhabit the entire river, so caution needs to be taken, even in the upper freshwater region.

Sandbars and logs make navigation up the river difficult at low tide.

Access is via two concrete boat ramps, one at the ferry crossing to Cape Tribulation, and the other at the township of Daintree in the fresh.

If you’re a freshwater fishing enthusiast looking to target native species, including sooty grunter, jungle perch, mangrove jack, tarpon and barramundi, the upper reaches of the Tully River should be on your must-fish locations. Tully has very high rainfall and the river is best fished in the warmer months before and immediately after the wet season.

With deep pools broken by shallow rapid sections a knowledge of the river is vital. Great fishing can be had in the small feeder creeks and flow-in gutters after the wet, and as the water levels drop in the main river. Small minnow-style lures, poppers and soft plastics will see some exciting action on our tropical native species.

Tully Heads Boat Ramp offers access, while upriver access is through private property which requires permission. Both the North and South Johnstone rivers at Innisfail are also top options, but knowledge of the river geography is essential.

South of Innisfail, Mourilyan Harbour is a popular location to target mangrove jacks in the mangrove-lined creeks and islands. Casting soft plastic paddletails and prawn imitations along with small diving minnows often produces these highly prized red bream.

Barramundi, grunter, fingermark and trevally are all caught in this clean water system.

Many bluewater anglers fish out of this harbour heading to the reef and islands.

If you’re planning a fishing holiday to Cairns and you’re into blue water fishing, it’s an absolute must that you check out what the Great Barrier Reef has to offer.

Whether you want to fish with light tackle, targeting game fish while trolling lures and rigged baits for species like small black marlin and Spanish mackerel inshore or dolphin fish (mahi mahi), wahoo and yellow fin tuna offshore, it can be done out of Cairns.

Bottom fishing for great-eating species like coral trout, large-mouth nannygai and red emperor is also covered with a variety of share or sole charter options available.

Those with their own boats can easily fish inshore options only an hour from the port of Cairns in calm conditions.

Many visiting anglers can enjoy an amazing reef experience, snorkelling the shallow reefs and targeting reef species.

Prime weather conditions are usually from September into the summer months. Light tackle game fishing inshore peaks are during the winter months through to October, and offshore October through to January. Bottom fishing produces all year, though the peak period is from August to November. Check dates of spawning closures on bottom fish during October and November before planning your trip.

Cairns is also the giant black marlin capital of the world if you’re looking for a heavy tackle fishing option from September – early December.

The Cairns Inlet also offers a variety of calm water fishing options in the middle of town. A vast charter boat fleet fishes this system, or you can hire a boat and explore yourself.

Barramundi, fingermark, mangrove jacks, grunter, queenfish and trevally are all common catches on lures and live baits.

Trinity Inlet has many mangrove-lined creeks, snags and gutters to cast lures, and deep holes and creek mouths to live bait, as well as harbour flats options. Mud crabbing is another popular option.

Tinaroo Dam on the Atherton Tablelands offers amazing big barramundi fishing opportunities from the bank or by boat.

Professional charter options are available, or simply cast from the bank for your chance to reel in a metre-plus fish.

Large soft plastic paddletails and shallow minnows cast around the points is often successful, along with trolling lures over the vast locations of the lake.

A stocked impoundment fishing permit is required, which can be purchased online.