Taking leave to Australia - Recommendations?

[LTMatt1]

A buddy and I are planning on a trip to Australia for our leave from Iraq in October.

I would like to do some fishing while we're there. It is supposed to be some of the best black marlin fishing in the world.

We're probably also going to do some snorkeling/scuba at the Great Barrier Reef.

Any recommendations would be extremely helpful. I use BD primarily and have fished out of the PV area (Mexico) quite a bit in the last year. Unfortunately the Army has seen fit to block BD from our computer access, so I can't ask over there.

Thanks in advance.

Matt

[tetepare]

Gday Matt

I cant speak for the Cairns marlin run. I have only seen photos, but I have bottom fished and fished for big mackies out of cairns and I have always scored.

A few places other places worth checking out in Far North Queensland. Go barramundi fishing in the big impoundments down the coast. The closest one to cairns is Tinnaroo Dam. These barra are stocked and do not breed naturally. They have been caught to about 35 kg and electro fished to over 50 kg I beleive.
The fishing is either surface casting plastics and poppers in very tight areas with 100 's of dead trees and stumps or trolling lures. Another 2 incredible dams for barra fishing are MONDURAN and AWONGA, these are further south in central QLD.
These areas are well worth a visit as well as the coastal town of 1770 / Agnes Water which is a fishing mecca for Aussies with boats. The southernmost tip of the GreatBarrier Reef is 30 mile out and the shelf not far behind that. But you dont need to go that far to find fish. Baby black marlin are caught regularly a few hundered meters off shore. I have caught numerous spanish mackeral between 25 kg and 35 kg trolling around the headlands. There are some good operators out of 1770 most notibly Peter Stevens. Crap boat, incredible fisho. 1770 is a great place because its to far south for Crocodiles so you can swim at the beach. Nearly every where else north of here is infested with them so only ever swim out at the reef or in a hotel pool.

Another place worth checking out would be Townsville and fishing the Cape Bowling Green. Its light tackle trolling for small marlin and sails and should be firing in october.

With out a doubt 2 of the finest sport fishing operations are carpentaria seafaris (with whom i have fished a few times) and nomad sport fishing. A very good friend of mine has done nomad a few times and says its unreel. Google both those operations. The carpentaria seafaris trips are with out a doubt the peak of fishing trips in Australia.

But remember that Australia is a big country, we have some incredible fishing that if you are coming all this way more spots for you to consider for another time.

State by state
Qld - Fraser Island

NSW- Bermagui/ Lord Howe Island/ South West Rocks

NT - Tiwi Island, 7 Spirit Bay, Nhulloby Peninsula, Groote Eyreland to name a few. The whole of coastal NT is undeveloped, unpopulated and unfished.

WA - Exmouth, Coral Bay, Dirk Hartog Island, Steep Point, The Rowley Shoals, Mackeral Islands, THe big rivers North of Broome, Albrholos and Montebello islands

South Oz - Dingo Fence, Ceduna, EYRE peninsula, Port Vincent, Kangaroo Island.

New Zealand. 3 kings, white island, bay of islands, great barier island, east cape, grey mouth, taupo.

Hope this helps in planning a visit down under.
Dan

[tetepare]

Oh and I forgot.

2 other places not in Oz but easily accessed from here are Santo in Vanuatu and Kadavu in Fiji. Both offer incredible fishing and diving.

[Capt Lindsay]

Call or e-mail the International Game Fish Association in Dania Beach, FL. Explain what you need. They have experts there but ask to be put in touch with Capt. Peter B. Wright. There is no one better to tell you all about fishing on the Great Barrier Reef.

The IGFA phone is 954-927-2628 and their website is www.igfa.org. The President is Rob Kramer. Ask to speak to him. I am certain he will bend over backwards to get you pointed in the right direction. The general mailbox at IGFA headquarters is hq@igfa.org.

Jeff Merrill is the New Jersey IGFA Representative and he can be reached at 908-753-6438.

Capt. Lindsay Fuller
June Bug Charters
Beach Haven, NJ
609-685-2839
http://www.Fish-JuneBug.com

[LTMatt1]

Thanks for the recommendation. Looks like I'm going to have to go in August. The friend I intend to go with is being forced by his boss to take leave at the same time his boss is.

Damned generals!

[ancient mariner]

I've been there SUPER FISHING.
FIJI isn't half bad either. Google them and you'll get some great info.
WACKM 'N STACKM
Joseph B...aka...Ancient Mariner
www.ancientmarinertackle.com

[gameover]

good luck, my wife is an aussie and we went over last november. I fished on a private boat but the weather was not very stable that time of year. we had some major spring storms in queensland. Also the viso was very poor most places we tried to spearfish. I found the fishing tough down there, they arent blessed with the large charter fleets like we have here in the US. You will have a great time regardless. I know some folks in the brisbane area if you need some help just let me know.

[reel fool]

If you are going in August, forget the reef fishing for the big blacks. not happening that time of year....but there can be some outstanding juvenile black marlin, light tackle fishing. get in touch with Jim Dalling on the Reel Chase. great guy. gentleman to the core, and a damn good fisherman. You will enjoy a day or two on his boat for sure.

http://www.reelchase.com/

[tetepare]

Rowley Shoals off Broome WA rock in August.

Sails, Swords, Dog Tooth. Plus you get to snorkel on top of the Shoals.

[mozza]

http://www.nomadsportfishing.com.au/

this would have to be worth a look. they seem to run some of the best charters around from what I have heard and seen from friends. expensive but not too bad when converting from USD.

pretty average fishing at that time of year in NZ unless you want to catch big yellowtail... its kind of in between seasons for us at that time of year