Fishing in Cooktown

Barramundi are Australia's iconic tropical sportfish, targeted with hard-bodied lures cast to mangrove edges, snags and tidal structure in the estuaries and coastal rivers of northern Australia from the Kimberley to Queensland. The wet season and immediately after provides some of the most exciting barramundi fishing as fish move into flooded country.

Black jewfish are a large, nocturnal estuary predator found in the tidal rivers and estuaries of northern Australia from the Kimberley through to central Queensland, prized for both their size and exceptional eating quality. Large live mullet and catfish baits fished in tidal holes and deep channel bends produce the best results during low light periods.

Mangrove jack are one of Australia's most aggressive and frustrating estuary species, ambushing lures from beneath mangrove overhangs, submerged timber and bridge pylon shadows in tidal rivers from the Kimberley to northern NSW. These fish hit hard, turn instantly and use every piece of structure to bust off anglers, demanding heavy leader and immediate pressure after the strike.

Threadfin salmon are one of the most exciting lure fishing targets in tropical Australia, found in the turbid estuaries and creek mouths of Queensland and the NT where they ambush prawns and baitfish on tidal run-outs. These powerful fish respond aggressively to large soft plastic lures and hard-bodied swimbaits worked through the dirty water of tidal outflows.

Saratoga are a prehistoric-looking freshwater predator native to northern Queensland and the NT, highly prized by lure anglers for their aggression on surface lures and hard-bodied stickbaits worked over weed beds and submerged timber in impoundments and slow-moving rivers. Their acrobatic jumps after being hooked make them one of Australia's most exciting freshwater sport fish.

Chasing fast-moving schools of longtail tuna and Spanish mackerel across coastal reefs and headlands with light spinning gear and hard-bodied lures is a thrilling inshore experience available along most of Australia's northern and eastern coastlines. Schools can be located by working headlands and watching for diving birds.