The Great Barrier reef located in the Coral Sea is one of the most diverse marine ecosystems on the planet. With more fish species found here than any other tropical reef system, this playground in Far North Queensland offers some outstanding fly fishing and holiday options.
Cairns, Port Douglas and the magnificent Daintree Rainforest lie adjacent to the northern region of Australia’s Great Barrier reef with guided day trips to week-long mothership adventures to some very remote reef and flats systems. With world-class scuba diving, snorkelling, rafting, island stays and outdoor adventure activities, it’s also a great destination for the whole family.
Offshore, this region has one of the premier Billfish fisheries in the world, from Cairns through to Lizard Island in the north with Giant Grander Black Marlin available from September – December each year and Juvenile Black Marlin from June – September on Fly.
The expansive coral reefs are home to huge Giant Trevally, Emperor, and Red Bass while on the flats and inshore regions around the Claremont Isles you can target Blue Bastards, Triggerfish and Permit.
Inland you can target Barramundi in some of the large freshwater impoundments and Jungle Perch in the tropical mountain streams, while Barramundi, Mangrove Jack, Queenfish and Trevally can be found in the estuaries, rivers and mangrove systems dotted along the coastline.
Cairns, Port Douglas and the Daintree World Heritage Rainforest have a diverse selection of refined accommodation, including beach clubs, lodges, villas, resorts and day spas that we can recommend and arrange as a part of your visit to the region.
From tailored eco-lodge stays surrounded by serene jungle streams to luxury yacht charters, we can also arrange charter flights to waiting motherships in the Coral Sea for week-long fly fishing adventures.
Located approximately 60 minutes north of Cairns, Port Douglas is a perfect base for fly fishing day trips and adventures into the Coral Sea and Daintree region with a fantastic variety of non-angling activities available for the whole family.
The local seafood is sublime while the local and unique produce from the region provides some great culinary opportunities to experience.
Including beautiful waterfalls in Mossman Gorge or Scuba Diving from Cape Tribulation, there are also scenic flights, cruises, wildlife encounters, great markets and galleries in the area to explore.
Guided fly fishing day trips are available from Cairns and Port Douglas fishing the local estuarine systems, creeks and flats that line the river mouths chasing Barramundi, Tarpon, Mangrove Jack, Trevally and Queenfish while Grouper and Threadfin Salmon can also be encountered. In the jungle freshwater streams, Sooty Grunter and Jungle Perch can also be targeted.
If you want to chase trophy Barramundi on fly, then there are several freshwater local lake impoundments on the Atherton Tablelands such as Tinaroo that you can be guided on. While on local coastal flats, Barramundi in excess of 80cm have been taken off the beaches between Cairns and Port Douglas since commercial netting was banned in 2015.
Big Threadfin Salmon in returning in good numbers have also added to the appeal of Port Douglas and Cairns as a fly fishing destination.
For week-long trips to the region, fly fishing from a mothership is the best way to experience the most variety.
Flying north to the Lockhart River, the Claremont Isles are the premier Fly fishing destination in the region for the angler who wants maximum variety in a truly remote and spectacular setting. There is simply nowhere else in the world where you could potentially catch a Barramundi, a Permit and Dogtooth Tuna on a fly in one day.
From the anchorages visited on this expedition, you’ll be able to head east and access the outer edge of the barrier reef to catch huge GTs, Coral Trout, Spanish Mackerel, Wahoo, Dogtooth and Yellowfin Tuna. While around the islands and reef flats that you will anchor near you’ll find a series of islands, sand flats and reef flats that are hard to match anywhere in Australia.
Blue Bastards, Permit, Long-Nose Emperor, Cobia, Queenfish, Golden Trevally, Bluefin Trevally, Triggerfish, and every other tropical saltwater species you can think of are available. And if that’s not enough, head west from the anchorage and you’ll hit the tropical coastline with some of the most remote river systems in Australia, just teeming with fish. The Barramundi and Jack fishing is just wonderful and the Queenfish at the mouths of the rivers on fly are incredible fun.
As per all Fly Odyssey bookings, we will provide you with a comprehensive and detailed pre-trip fly fishing guide prior to departure.
There are several direct international flights to Cairns daily via Auckland, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore with domestic flights in Australia throughout the day from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
Travel time by private transfer or hire car to Port Douglas is approximately 60 minutes from Cairns along one of the finest scenic coastal drives in the world.
Port Douglas is also in close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and world heritage Daintree Rainforest.
Let us do the groundwork for you.
Our tailored fly fishing and accommodation itineraries are designed with you in mind to suit your preferences. They are also quoted in your local currency with very favourable exchange rates.
Fly Odyssey has access to the best guiding and lodging rates, suitable tides and updated availability to this destination which can vary throughout the season.
This includes flight bookings, transit accommodation, transfers and a host of non-angling activities and experiences.
We specialise in family, couples and group stays to the region, and our long involvement with our partners on the ground will ensure you are well looked after both on and off the water.
This includes extended stays to Hinchinbrook in the south or to Lizard Island, Cape York and Arnhem Land in the north via Cairns.
Please enquire for the latest rates and availability, including information on any applicable special offers.
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Creating and sharing memorable travel experiences with our clients and friends provides us with genuine satisfaction. All of our trips are bespoke, tailored to your needs, and we always love hearing all about the adventure on your return.
Our knowledge of travel logistics saves you time, and our highly experienced team is here to ensure it’s spent on the water and not at the desk or on a long flight connection that you didn’t require. Since 2006 we have developed a valued client-base that has travelled to all corners of the globe.
We are a fully-accredited travel agency, where all of our flights, accommodation and associated travel bookings are made in-house, which means that you pay less. We have access to a huge range of specials, deals, great volume pricing and excellent currency exchange rates which allows us to pass these benefits directly onto you.
On the fishing front, our extensive expertise and experience around prime seasons, species, moon-phases, tides and personalised customer service is centred around one principal – preparation. This includes detailed gear and equipment lists, the fly patterns, transfer details, up-to-date fishing reports and some of the finer aspects that can often be overlooked.
We travel extensively and understand that your free-time is important. Just as we all understand from experience, that the key to a successful trip is pre-trip preparation.
Our highly experienced team has fly fished the world for the last 25 years, and we understand the considerations and gear needed to turn a good fly fishing trip into a great one.
Fly fishing and travel is our passion. It’s all we do.
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