Port Douglas Fishing

[MrGenius]

I have to go to Port Douglas for a wedding in August this year and we are all keen to go for a fish while there.

Never stopped at Port douglas before so have no idea where to fish so if anyone can give some info on popular places to throw in a line and if you know of any good charters in the area please PM me the details of them.

Cheers,

Nathan

[jamesds]

I was there last week. I mostly fished off the small pier next to the church. The most exciting thing I caught was a reef shark (which went back in) which gave me a tough battle.

If you don't take your own gear, you can rent rods from the chandlery about 2 minutes walk from the pier, for 12 bucks/day.

The locals say you can get mangrove jack and barramundi off the pier. You need to cast out pretty far to the left where the water is deeper. All the locals say pillie is the best bought bait for the area.

I hired a boat with my dad and took it up the inlet for the arvo for two small bream. While the scenery was beautiful, I don't think it's worth paying for a boat unless you have a guide or you have experience fishing among mangroves (I don't so it was totally down to pot luck for me).

I didn't try a charter there, so can't give you any advice in that department.

- James.

[MrGenius]

Thanks James thats some good info hopefully some other raiders have some more

[olitay]

Hey there, i went out with a charter last time I was up there, we fished the daintree for some small gt's. the weather was crap so we didnt catch as much as i expected but hey, its a great place to visit,

[kalw]

Thanks James thats some good info hopefully some other raiders have some more

I have fished there a bit. On an incoming tide the best place to be is on the northern side of the channel about 10 metres off the mangroves right opposite the marina. I got barra, gts, queenies, bream, barracooda, salmon. On an outgoing tide you have to be further up the inlet getting the fish as they head back out to sea. Fresh bait is the key - live prawns, mullet or anything else caught with a cast net right up the furthest reaches of the inlet.

[jamesds]

Hi Kalw,

I'm not sure what you mean by the northern side of the channel. The inlet runs north-south so surely you mean the west side? Is that only workable from a boat?

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?sourceid=ch...ved=0CBMQ8gEwAA

Cheers,

James.

I have fished there a bit. On an incoming tide the best place to be is on the northern side of the channel about 10 metres off the mangroves right opposite the marina. I got barra, gts, queenies, bream, barracooda, salmon. On an outgoing tide you have to be further up the inlet getting the fish as they head back out to sea. Fresh bait is the key - live prawns, mullet or anything else caught with a cast net right up the furthest reaches of the inlet.

[kalw]

Hi Kalw,

I'm not sure what you mean by the northern side of the channel. The inlet runs north-south so surely you mean the west side? Is that only workable from a boat?

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?sourceid=ch...ved=0CBMQ8gEwAA

Cheers,

James.

The side closest to Cooktown

[kingfishercam]

do yourself a favour and book james beitzel , you can have him as your personal guide for the day on and out of the daintree.for the cost of around 400 for half a day it is extremely worthwhile.

[MrGenius]

Cool, cheers

[eagle ray]

Fishing the rivers like Daintree etc can be a waste of time in August, water is cold and the fish are not on the chew. I would head offshore on a charter for trout and reds, or see if there are any light tackle / mackerel trips going.