Cairns Black Marlin Grounds

Cairns, QLD, Australia · Saltwater · Advanced

The waters off Cairns are the world's premier heavy-tackle black marlin fishery, with giants over 1,000lb taken each season along the reef edge. Inside the reef, coral trout and mackerel offer outstanding sport fishing.

Getting there & access

  • Fish from: boat
  • Boat ramp: Yorkeys Knob is the major public facility — a six-lane ramp with three floating walkways, breakwaters, a dredged basin and queuing beaches
  • Parking: 135 car-trailer bays and 63 single car parks at Yorkeys Knob
  • Facilities: Six-lane boat ramp, Floating walkways, Amenities block, Queuing beaches

The heavy-tackle marlin grounds are well offshore on the outer reef, so this is a boat fishery — most anglers go by charter from Cairns rather than trailering. Yorkeys Knob was rebuilt in a

2.4m joint project completed in September 2023. Under the standard Queensland arrangement, Maritime Safety Queensland owns the in-water infrastructure and Cairns Regional Council manages the facility.

Access information source

Species

Best times to fish

Recommended gear

Essential

Optional

Regulations and requirements

Rules change regularly — always confirm with the relevant fisheries authority before you fish.

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