Fish Tales Charters Cairns River Fishing Share Charter

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A full day fishing the quiet Mulgrave and Russell Rivers and Mutchero Inlet, about 40 km south of Cairns, under the rainforest slopes of Queensland's two highest mountains. No more than 4 people share the boat, and pick-up from Cairns, lunch and all gear are included.

Days

Full day, about 10 hours

Group size

Up to 4 on a shared boat

Start / finish

Cairns / Mulgrave and Russell Rivers / Cairns
Cairns, around 4:30pm

Return

Cairns, around 4:30pm

Transport

Road transfer with the boat on a trailer, then a fishing boat

Meals

Lunch included

Route

Map of Fish Tales Charters Cairns River Fishing Share Charter

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Included experiences

Mulgrave and Russell Rivers — lure and bait fishing below Queensland's highest peaks
Mutchero Inlet — sheltered river mouth where reef fish come in
Popper fishing — surface lures for giant trevally and queenfish
Russell River National Park — rainforest-backed mangrove creeks

Fish Tales Charters Cairns River Fishing Share Charter

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

MORNING: CAIRNS TO THE RIVERS

Your guide picks you up in Cairns at about 6:30am, with the boat on a trailer behind, and drives about 40 km south on the Bruce Highway. The day starts in the shadow of Mt Bartle Frere, at 1,622 metres the highest mountain in Queensland, and Mt Bellenden Ker, whose top holds Australia's record for the most rain in a year, more than 12 metres in 2000. No more than four people share the boat, so there's room to cast and plenty of the guide's time. Your pick-up point is confirmed the evening before.

ON THE MULGRAVE AND RUSSELL RIVERS

The Mulgrave River, called Bana Baddi by the Dulabed Malanbarra Yidinji people, and the Russell River run through the rainforest of Russell River National Park, turning from fresh to salt water as they near the sea. Upstream the banks are a maze of mangroves backed by rainforest, and it's far quieter than the waters around Cairns. The day is shaped around the fish you want, the tide and the weather. It might be lures cast under the mangroves for mangrove jack, live bait for fingermark or dead bait for barramundi, which is protected from 1 November to 31 January while it breeds.

MUTCHERO INLET

The two rivers meet the sea at Mutchero Inlet, sheltered by Constantine, Palmer and Flirt Points, and reef fish often swim in on the tide. This is the place for surface poppers, the guide's speciality: you throw a big lure that splashes across the top, and giant trevally or giant queenfish smash it. From May to August the rivers fish especially well for these two, as well as jacks, fingermark and barra. Lunch is provided on the river, with an esky of ice on board for your catch and a few cans.

LATE AFTERNOON: BACK TO CAIRNS

With the boat back on the trailer, it's the drive north past cane fields to Cairns, where you're dropped off at about 4:30pm.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Pick-up in Cairns at about 6:30am; the exact point is confirmed the evening before.
Finishes: Back in Cairns at about 4:30pm.
Suits: Beginners to keen anglers, and anyone after sportfish such as giant trevally, queenfish and mangrove jack. Up to 4 people share the boat.
Please note: Barramundi is closed from 1 November to 31 January and can't be targeted then, even for catch and release. Lost rods, reels, lures and poppers have to be replaced.

What to bring

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

What is included

Pick-up and drop-off in Cairns
Top quality rods and PENN Slammer reels
All bait, live and dead, and tackle
Lures and poppers (replace any you lose)
Lunch
Cold bottled water
Esky with ice on board
An experienced local fishing guide for the day

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 1 review

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)

An awesome day on the Russell River with Darryl and two others. It was quiet in the morning after weeks of heavy rain, but he went above and beyond to find fish, and in the afternoon we got some trevally. The highlight was seeing a huge GT strike a fellow passenger's catch.

anne hadley Verified· Travelled 9th May 2021

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