Fish Tales Charters Cairns Estuary Fishing Share Charter Full Day

Map View Full Details Reviews

A full day on Trinity Inlet, the mangrove-lined harbour of Cairns, with a morning and an afternoon session of four and a half hours each and an hour ashore for lunch in between. The boat takes up to 6 people, and all gear and bait are supplied.

Days

Full day, about 9.5 hours

Group size

Up to 6 on a shared boat

Start / finish

Cairns Marlin Marina / Trinity Inlet / Cairns Marlin Marina
Cairns Marlin Marina, around 4pm

Return

Cairns Marlin Marina, around 4pm

Transport

5.8 metre estuary fishing boat

Meals

No meals are listed as included

Route

Map of Fish Tales Charters Cairns Estuary Fishing Share Charter Full Day

View map

Included experiences

Trinity Inlet — two sessions of bait fishing in creeks and the deep channel
Cast net — watch the guide catch live bait each session
Cairns Esplanade — an hour ashore for lunch or a swim in the lagoon
Target fish — fingermark, mangrove jack, threadfin and trevally

Fish Tales Charters Cairns Estuary Fishing Share Charter Full Day

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

EARLY MORNING: BAIT AND THE INLET

Meet the boat at 6:30am at Finger D, berth 2 in the Cairns Marlin Marina, the harbour that made Cairns famous in the 1960s as the base for giant black marlin fishing. The estuary boat is River Rocket, a 5.8 metre flat-bottomed punt built in Cairns for calm water, with a canopy for shade and carpet underfoot. Each session starts with the guide throwing a cast net for live bait, then it's up Trinity Inlet, named after the bay Captain Cook sailed into on Trinity Sunday in 1770. The inlet is a marine park with more than 100 km of mangrove creeks, mudflats, snags and deep holes, and up to six people share the boat.

MORNING SESSION: MANGROVES AND SNAGS

The guide chooses the spots to suit the tide and the weather, and the full day gives you two different tides to work with. Most fishing is with live or dead bait on PENN Slammer reels. Fingermark, mangrove jack, estuary cod, grunter, threadfin, queenfish and trevally all live here, and barramundi is the prize, though it is protected from 1 November to 31 January while it breeds. Between bites, watch the mangrove banks for herons, kingfishers and, now and then, a saltwater crocodile. The guide also tells the story of Cairns and the inlet.

MIDDAY: AN HOUR ASHORE

At about 11am the boat comes back to the marina for an hour. Lunch isn't supplied, but the Pier and the Cairns Esplanade are right beside the berth, with takeaways and restaurants. If you'd rather cool off, the Esplanade Lagoon is a free saltwater swimming pool on the foreshore, opened in 2003 because the city's mudflats make the sea itself a poor place to swim.

AFTERNOON SESSION AND HOME

At 11:30am you head back up the inlet for another four and a half hours, often to different water as the tide turns. Fish the snags you missed, or go back for the mangrove jack that bit you off in the morning. The boat returns to the same berth at about 4pm.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Cairns Marlin Marina, Finger D, berth 2, next to the Pier Shopping Centre. Parking is under the Pier Shopping Centre.
Departure time: 6:30am, with the afternoon session from 11:30am.
Finishes: Back at the same berth at about 4pm.
Suits: Keen anglers and anyone who wants the most time on the water. It is a share charter, so you may fish alongside other guests, up to 6 in all.
Please note: Your booking is reconfirmed the evening before. Rods, reels and tackle lost overboard have to be replaced.

What to bring

Long-sleeved cotton shirt and wide-brim hat
Sunglasses and sunscreen
Insect repellent
Camera
A few cans of beer if you like (cans only, in moderation)
Your own rod and reel if you prefer them

What is included

Top quality rods and PENN Slammer reels (460 reels on 8 to 10 kg rods)
All bait, live and dead, and tackle
Cold bottled water
An experienced local fishing guide

Not included

Transfers to the marina (a fee may apply; arranged when you book)
Lunch (bought ashore during the one-hour break)

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

Do I need travel insurance?

Insurance is important in protecting visitors from loss or damange of goods, medical problems, cancelation by passengers or other casualties. Its highly recommended. Some tours on this website require you to have travel insurance. If you are Australian then it is not necessary.

Where can I get more information about this trip?

If you find that this tour page doesn't answer all your questions, then please get in contact with us! Our passionate team are always available to answer any queries you may have.

What immunisations do I need?

For the latest information on immunisations, we strongly recommend you or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre (www.traveldoctor.com.au) to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you about appropriate inoculations.

Do I need to take any medical supplies?

It is not necessary to bring any medical supplies other than any personal items you may require. Each tour carries a first aid box, and the tour guides are all certified in First Aid.

Will I be able to use my mobile whilst on tour?

You can use your mobile while touring in Australia or New Zealand, but coverage may be limited in remote areas. For best connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan.

How fit do I need to be?

These tours are designed to be fun, informative and active, and can be enjoyed by anyone with a moderate degree of fitness and agility. Travellers should be comfortable with hiking or walking up to 5km each day.

What should I pack?

Depending on where in Australia or New Zealand you decide to visit, your luggage will vary. For exact information please visit the "What to bring" section of each tour page.

Private tours and families

Is it possible to travel in a private group?

If you are looking for a private tour based on one of these trips, please contact us directly and we may be able to help. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip.

Booking the trip

Do I have to book this tour online?

Definitely not. Our website is designed to make is easy and convenient for you to schedule your tour. However we understand sometimes its nice to talk to someone directly. So by all means give us a call and we can organise your trip over the phone.

If I book more than one tour can I get a discount?

Absolutely! If you are booking multiple tours then we may be able to offer you a discount. Send us an email at info@lostinaustralia.org and let us know what you thinking of doing and we can put together a price for you.Also, be sure to look out for monthly specials on tours. We often have some great bargains.

Does the tour price include flights?

No. Tour prices do not include any travel arrangements other than for the duration of the tour itself. If you need assistance with booking flights or buses our travel team and certainly help - Just ask!

How far in advance do I need to book my tour?

As a rule of thumb, try to book at least 2 weeks prior to departure, this will usually get you a seat on the date you want. That being said, we cannot guarantee that spaces will be available at the time of your booking so, if you can, book as soon as possible. Bookings can still be made right up until the departure date of the tour if seats are available. If you know when you'd like to travel, please contact us and we will let you know if you need to book soon or if you have time.

How do I know when a tour is available?

You can check the departure dates of tours by using our calendar on the top right hand corner of the tour page. This will tell you what days the tour departs. For availability of seats please contact us directly at info@lostinaustralia.org or call us.

If I make a deposit only, when will I need to pay the balance?

Balance on tours need to be paid at least 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so could result is the cancellation of your seat with a fee charged. If you need more time to clear your balance then let us know ASAP and arrangements can be made.

Who travels with us

Is it ok to travel alone on one of these tours?

Plenty of travellers book these tours on their own. Solo travellers are very much welcomed and encouraged. During your outback adventure you'll meet new and interesting people and forge relationships that last a lifetime.Solo travellers will usually share a room with a travelling companion of the same sex, but even if you do get your own room you won't be charged extra. On camping tours there are generally enough tents available that you can have your own if you choose to.For more information please contact us directly.

Cost and Fees

Do I need to tip the guide?

If you had an amazing time on tour and wish to tip your guide, that is completely up to you. Tipping is not customary in Australia and is not at all expected.

Will I need additional money?

Travellers are advised to bring some cash, as ATMs and banks can be few and far between in the remote parts of the trip. It is handy to have some extra cash, as the tour does stop by local shops and cafes.

Are there any hidden fees I need to know about?

Our tour prices are completely transparent. There are no additional fees involved that are not included in the overall tour price shown. If you wish to do optional activities such as helicopter rides or wildlife safaris, then an extra cost may be needed. However, this will always be made clear at the time of your booking.

What does Paid Locally mean?

Some tours require you to pay national park fees directly, in cash, to the tour guide on the morning of departure. Rest assured this will be subtracted from the tour price when reserving your tour.

Whilst on tour

Can I book extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour?

We know our country inside and out and would be happy to give you good recommodations. Please contact us for recommendations.

Where do I meet the tour?

For pick-up times and locations, please check the "Start/Finish" section directly under the itinerary, which lists every pick-up point and its time.There is a lot of information there to help you plan your flights and arrival.Please review it carefully, as pick-ups can vary from tour to tour.

Reviews

5.0

Based on 2 reviews

Verified from

Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.

How we collect and publish reviews

Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.

Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.

Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.

(5/5)

Darryl was a great guide for our day on the estuary. He's knowledgeable, put real effort in and kept the trip sociable and entertaining.

Richard Ovcharovich Verified· Travelled 21st July 2023

Read original ↗

(5/5)

We spent a full day estuary fishing with Darryl and couldn't have asked for better. He knew where the fish were and moved straight on if they weren't biting, and we caught several species through the morning and afternoon.

Heather Murray Verified· Travelled 27th April 2019

Read original ↗