Cape York Australia: Trip Report

Fly fishing Cape York Australia is one of those must fish locations. The variety of species on offer means that even in the slow weeks you are still catching lots of fish. We have just had a group aboard the liveaboard Seafaris and while they hit a poor patch of weather they still managed some great fish. I received this from Mark following his trip. For our 2009 trip please email me for details.

Dear Mat,

Just wanted to let you know how I got on up in the Northern Teritories. We were picked up at Bamaga Airport by Greg Bethune the owner of Seafaris lunchtime, then a short drive through the aboriginal encampments to Sesia, where we boarded the "Tropic Paradise" our mother ship for the week ahead. I had been looking for ward to this trip for years, even before I started Fly Fishing, having watched Bushy and Steve Starling catch loads of different species on the much loved Rex Hunt shown here on Sky TV in the UK, so I was like a Rat with a gold tooth anticipating what I might catch in the week ahead. After a very rough crossing to the MacDonald River mouth ( the normal trade winds had blown to onshore rather than offshore ) we had a few beers and settled down to a talk with Greg, and the rest of the guides, just so we new the rules of the ship and what to expect , and also, and most importantely, our own personnel safety whilst aboard, and the bit about Sharks and Crocs!



Morning came, and after a good breakfast we were out on the water. Because of the onshore wind the flats fishing was almost shut down, we had instant action with small GT's and Queenfish, casting around structure in the estuary mouth, these small fish around 2kgs pull like a train, and are great fun. Back to the mothership for a huge lunch ( its very relaxed, no need to rush of out in the afternoon if you want forty winks ! ) and off to the ledgendarry Queenie hole, what a fish, these things are nearly a meter long and jump like a Tarpon, we caught them on crease flies, clousers, and polar fiber minnows. We also lost a lot of fish due to thier hard mouths. On the way down to this spot is a vast expanse of mangroves , with fish busting here and there , we caught several oxeye herring ( Pacific Tarpon) of around 2 to 4 kgs , they are just like thier Atlantic cousin's.



The week continued to get better weather wise and the flats started to clear, so we popped out front to look for Indo Pacific Permit ( Australian Snub Nosed Dart ). Still to cloudy for that as they sit in the channels off the flats, but we spotted a small school of Golden Trevally feeding. After several shots at these fussy feeders, I managed to hook one of 6kgs on a small merkin type crab, it tore off about 200 meters, I fell back into the boat as my glasses had steamed up in all the excitment ( at this stage I was convinced it was a Permit ! ). After a long hard fight she came to the net. What a great sportfish these are.
The week started to take shape, first thing in the mornings we would head out in the skiff about half a mile offhsore to find the huge shoals of Longtail Tuna , Spanish Mackerel and Mac Tuna, because of the coloured water comming out of the River mouths, these were fairly elusive as were pushed further offshore by the sediment pouring into the sea, allthough we did find a few fish every time out. I hooked several Longgies the first day , good fish of around 12kgs, these lock your 10 or 9wt rod up and fight dirty. You cast a white clouser or small white surf candy into the shoal of busting fish and crashing birds and strip like a crazy man! All of mine were eaten by sharks. I got bitten off a few times by good Spanish Mackerel too.
The Queenie hole always provided very good sport everyday. I had a good Tealeaf trevally on a Toad and also a nice Estuary Cod from the same spot.



All in all a great weeks fishing, every species pulls your arm out of its socket, whatever size they are. The food was nothing short of awesome, with fresh fish, and the famous and much anticipated Mud Crab night, we had fresh Sashimi and sushi as we stepped off the skiffs, cold beers and great evening meals, I have definatley put a few pounds on!



It was a long way to go from the UK , but it was totaly worth it, and as I had another weeks fishing in New Caledonia for the giant Bonefish, this broke up the flights and travel well. I will go back for sure. Shame the wind stirred the flats up. The potential is huge.



Thanks for organising the trip again Matt, as ever it ran like clockwork , thanks again.

See you soon.

Mark