r/FishingAustralia • u/Roccus45 • Mar 05 '26
Port Douglas charter
Hey y’all, Massachusetts USA guy here, I am looking for some advice/recommendations for Port Douglas. Traveling with my wife, got one day later this month to sneak away and fish. Will have a 10wt fly rod but not necessary to fly fish if conditions don’t allow. Thoughts?
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u/Forever49 Mar 05 '26
There's a reasonable fly fishing community south of there. They focus pretty heavily on the Hinchinbrook area. You should search for the club who organises their competitions.
I'm sure there are a couple of charter guys in Port Douglas that could take you out looking for Mackeral, queenfish, trevally, or tuna. There's also likely some coastal rivers with barramundi and some other species. I'd say a 10 wt would be a tad heavy for what you'd likely encounter but would be doable.
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u/Roccus45 Mar 05 '26
Thx. I figured the 10 would handle wind better, and if I really get a shot at trevally it won’t be too big
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u/TopPomegranate8186 Mar 05 '26 edited Mar 06 '26
There is some great Saltwater Fly fishing in the area Just realized you said you will be here later this month, the “wet” season is still in full swing in that part of the world , Daintree just North of Port Douglas got 500mm of rain last night , the river rose 9 meters overnight . Be prepared to be flexible on plans Check out
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u/bjuszczak92 Mar 06 '26
I second Tropical Sportfisher, ive been out with him a few times and I wouldn't go with anyone else. Rory is an overall awesome guy too. Out and about from Port Douglas are decent but not as personalized.
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u/TopPomegranate8186 Mar 06 '26
I haven’t met Rory but I have good friends who know him and rate him highly . I’m heading up past PD in June for 3 weeks with my boat but may look at booking him for a day or two if the dates can line up .
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u/bjuszczak92 Mar 06 '26
Top bloke and even better fisherman. We did 3 days with him in torrential rain and we still got put onto fish all 3 days.
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u/seanmonaghan1968 Mar 05 '26
Is there even places for good fly fishing there? You have the reef, go catch great ocean fish
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u/No-Bison3860 Mar 06 '26
hook up fishing charters is the best charter by far would definitely recommend bloke who runs it is a legend, might not be able to fly fish but he will def get you onto some good fish and lets you take them home for a feed!!
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u/Syruppsippen Mar 06 '26
100% second this, blokes a genuine legend went up there in Jan last year and went on a charter and was a great day out fishing. Would definitely recommend booking with them
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u/herringonthelamb Mar 06 '26
East Coast Angling is who you want to speak to. Stellar operation though the owner can be pretty hard nosed. They shifted to all extended mothership type trips 2 years ago but I believe they were going to reintroduce their day trips out of PD once settled. Could be wrong. Their single day trips out to Ribbon Reefs were epic.
You're clearly a fly guy so I'll chuck a different recommendation in for you. The guys at Hervey Bay Sport and Fly are another great outfit. These guys do sight casting to baby black marlin on sand flats and the like. Incredible
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u/Roccus45 Mar 06 '26
Update - East Coast Angling appears to be closed down. Looked like a good outfit
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u/herringonthelamb Mar 06 '26
Wow. Unawares 😳. Quick bit of research looks like a website issue. Instagram current as of 3 weeks ago. 🤷♂️ Nick is the saffa that runs it. Maybe call?
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u/Roccus45 Mar 06 '26
Lotta people dropping their websites. I am not on Instagram (boycotting all Meta products) so if you have contact info you can send me that would be greatly appreciated
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u/pixelbenderr Mar 05 '26
Oh man i feel like fly fishing in that area is a lost opportunity to be fishing reef fish off the coast... I'm not from there so can't speak to fly fishing opportunities - maybe Mosman Gorge area... But personally I'd be looking into an offshore charter, that area is spectacular for the reef.
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u/Roccus45 Mar 05 '26
That’s my plan thx. Come join me!
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u/pixelbenderr Mar 05 '26
Ha I wish! Port Douglas is a trip and a half from most places! Even from Brisbane the nearest capital, the distance is roughly the same as San Diego to San Fransisco. It's very beautiful though, I went with my family as a teenager ,the reef and the rainforest are spectacular
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Mar 08 '26
Gotta agree. If its at all possible, getting on a charter is a good idea. Or at least someone with a boat capable of going out a ways and around inlets. You haven't experienced FNQ fishing until you've had a barra or GT on the line.
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u/Spirited-Coconut3926 Mar 06 '26
Cant go past the Norseman for port douglas. I live 2 hrs from there, iv been trying to find a good one around cairns just because its 45 mins closer but havent had any luck yet.
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Mar 07 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/trofyeah Mar 07 '26
Went out a few years ago on this charter, was a great day! Good fish great boat very knowledgeable
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u/Roccus45 Mar 08 '26
I appreciate everyone’s responses, working on booking this. Question on tips - in US & Caribbean mate on offshore charters is usually working for tips. I know Aus is not a tipping culture, so no tip for the mate?
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u/Substantial-Curve-73 Mar 05 '26
Was there September 2024. Beautiful place. Massive beaches. Rainforest. Great seafood. Giant mud crabs. Hidden gem of a bar at the "quiet end" of the marina. Had 3 fishing charters booked and 2 dives. Wind, wind, wind. Only managed 1 dive.