Great Barrier Reef

Fishing the Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef billfishing is heavy-tackle fishing at its most extreme. It doesn’t get any better than learning from a pro like Capt. Peter B. Wright, who has fished the Great Barrier Reef for more than 20 years. We use all 130-pound-test gear, unlimited rods and Penn 130 reels fished from the chair. After two days, you will be able to put

up to 70 pounds of drag on a billfish from the fighting chair — comfortably. Don’t be afraid of long, drawn-out battles with giant black marlin. Our crews are experts at putting tremendous pressure on the fish and catching marlin fast. We’ve had several ladies in their early 60s catch 800-pound marlin in less than 20 minutes, so don’t be threatened by the size of the fish or the tackle used. It’s all in the technique, and you have the best to show you how to do it.

This is a heavy-tackle dead-bait or live-bait fishery. If you want to be able to crush large marlin from a fighting chair, this is your venue. We pull only two baits — a large skipping tuna on one side and a swimming scad or mackerel on the other. When the captain spots a fish or can get some small live baits, we will sometimes bridle up a live yellowfin, but the majority of the time is spent trolling the two dead baits.

Trip Information

Students meet in Cairns, Australia, and overnight at the Pacific International Hotel. The following day, the group flies by Reef Watch Air to Cooktown to meet up with the game boats and fish the Great Barrier Reef for the day. After a day on the reef, you’ll meet up with your live-aboard mothership Super Sport, an 85-foot catamaran with private cabins and snorkeling and dive equipment on board. Because the fish tend to bite in the late morning, you’ll have time to snorkel or dive the reef each day. Students fish for five days on the reef and spend the last night at the Pacific International Hotel and then depart the next day for home. The cost includes all accommodations in Cairns and on Super Sport, flights on Reef Watch Air, all meals and airport transfers. The all-inclusive trip makes planning easy!

This once-in-a-lifetime trip only accommodates 12 students, so act now to reserve your spot!