River Fishing
The Cape has the ultimate tropical river fishing! Cooktown has the magnificent river systems of the Annan and Endeavour. Big barramundi, monster spanish mackerel, queenies and trevally are regularly caught from these rivers. Rinyurru (Lakefield) National Park, Queensland’s second largest Park, is a mecca for anglers chasing big Barramundi. It contains a network of Rivers draining into Princess Charlotte Bay, which include The Normanby, Hann, Kennedy, Morehead, Jack, and Bizant Rivers.
The Western Cape has the Pine, Mission, Hey, Embley and Wenlock rivers all easily accessible, and serviced by experienced guides. You can fish from the bank, your own boat or with a tour operator. Weipa, the hub of the Western Cape, is a renowned sport fishing destination with close to 50 world and national sport fishing records set in its waters.
The Tip has great fishing at the Jardine mouth and Jackey Jackey Creek. Book a morning, afternoon, day or week long fishing charter with one of the operators in Cooktown, Western Cape or The Tip for the ultimate fishing experience. For remote adventures there are countless river fishing opportunities: Escape River (The Tip), Ducie River/Port Musgrave (Western Cape), Jackson, Archer and Mitchell River to name a few.
Land Based Fishing
Cape York has many great beaches where you can fish from the shore: Cape Melville offers such locations, as do Chili and Quintel Beaches near Iron Range, Red and Pennefather Beaches near Weipa, Captain Billy’s, Vrilya Point, Ussher Point, Seisia, and many more! Around Cooktown; Walker Bay, at the mouth of the Annan River, the old Annan bridge, the stone wall at Marton, Finch Bay, Quarantine Bay, Archer Point with nearby coastal reef, and the old Wharf all have good fishing.
Boat Ramps
You can launch a smaller tinnie at many bush river sites and beaches throughout the Cape. Boat ramps suitable for larger boats and trailers:
• Cooktown: Wharf, Marton, Big Annan Bridge
and Bloomfield River.
• Princess Charlotte Bay: Annie River, Byzant
• Western Cape: Rocky Point, Evans landing,
Napranum, Mission River Bridge, Andoom
Creek Bridge, Cullen Point and Batavia Landing
(Cloughs)
• Iron Range: Portland Roads and Quintel Beach
• The Tip: Seisa and Jackey Jackey
Marlin Fishing
The Black Marlin season runs September to December. Smaller marlin and sailfish can be caught for most of the year. The famous ‘Lizard Island Tournament’ is in October, and sailfish are now being regularly caught. The newly discovered grounds off Weipa afford exceptional light tackle opportunities for both Sails and juvenile Black Marlin between August and November.