Fish Tales Charters – River Rocket 

4.5
(66 reviews)
 Pier Point Road, Cairns, QL 4870, Australia–

Fish Tales Charters – River Rocket 

Cairns, QL, Australia
–
20 ft
6
4.5
(66 reviews)

Fish Tales Charters offers exciting estuary fishing adventures in the beautiful Trinity Inlet in Cairns, Australia. Skipper Darryl Wilson has been fishing the local waters for over 20 years, so he'll help you make the most of your day in these prolific waters!

You will fish aboard Vessel River Rocket – a 20' boat locally designed for the estuaries and river systems in Cairns. Powered by a 115 HP Mercury Outboard, it's fast and reliable when getting to the desired fishing areas. Fitted with the latest electronics, it will easily reveal what lies beneath the waterline.
The area is famous for the open waters, creeks, and the deep channel of the Cairns Estuary System. These waterways are an important part of the breeding cycle of juvenile fish and offer exceptional fishing for adult species.

Your targeted species will include, but not limited to, Javelinfish, Blue & King Threadfin, Queenfish, Trevally species including Golden and Giant, Mangrove Jack, Estuary Cod including Gold spotted & Black spotted, Bream, Flathead, Hairtail, Tarpon, and the prized catch Barramundi, to name a few!

Fishing Guide Darryl will supply all bait – live and dead, as well as tackle, top-quality rods, and Penn reels. On board are bottles of water, and the skipper will happily give advice on how to catch your target fish. Please bring along sunnies, a hat, a camera, and a few beers if you're up for it.

Terms & Conditions Apply. See our website for details. Check your email when completed.

Join Fish Tales Charters and explore these beautiful waters on the River Rocket, making some unforgettable memories!
And lastly, just come along and have fun! Your hosts, Darryl & Raewyn

Fish Tales Charters offers exciting estuary fishing adventures in the beautiful Trinity Inlet in Cairns, Australia. Skipper Darryl Wilson has been fishing the local waters for over 20 years, so he'll help you make the most of your day in these prolific waters!

You will fish aboard Vessel River Rocket – a 20' boat locally designed for the estuaries and river systems in Cairns. Powered by a 115 HP Mercury Outboard, it's fast and reliable when getting to the desired fishing areas. Fitted with the latest electronics, it will easily reveal what lies beneath the waterline.
The area is famous for the open waters, creeks, and the deep channel of the Cairns Estuary System. These waterways are an important part of the breeding cycle of juvenile fish and offer exceptional fishing for adult species.

Your targeted species will include, but not limited to, Javelinfish, Blue & King Threadfin, Queenfish, Trevally species including Golden and Giant, Mangrove Jack, Estuary Cod including Gold spotted & Black spotted, Bream, Flathead, Hairtail, Tarpon, and the prized catch Barramundi, to name a few!

Fishing Guide Darryl will supply all bait – live and dead, as well as tackle, top-quality rods, and Penn reels. On board are bottles of water, and the skipper will happily give advice on how to catch your target fish. Please bring along sunnies, a hat, a camera, and a few beers if you're up for it.

Terms & Conditions Apply. See our website for details. Check your email when completed.

Join Fish Tales Charters and explore these beautiful waters on the River Rocket, making some unforgettable memories!
And lastly, just come along and have fun! Your hosts, Darryl & Raewyn

Darryl Wilson
Captain
Darryl Wilson
26 years of experience
ID & credentials verified

Select date to see availability

Trip date:
Group Size:
October 2026
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
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Group Size
2 adults • 0 children
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Almost there...
Half Day Trip (AM) Share Charter
In high demand Last booked: 1 day ago
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
4 hour trip starts at 6:30 AM
Trevally (Giant)
Queenfish
Trevally (Golden)
Trevally (Silver)
+5
US $211
Shared tour: 2 people
Half Day Trip (PM) Share Charter
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
4 hour trip starts at 11:30 AM
Trevally (Giant)
Barramundi
Queenfish
Trevally (Golden)
+7
US $211
Shared tour: 2 people
Full Day Estuary Trip Share Charter
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
9 hour trip starts at 6:30 AM
Trevally (Giant)
Barramundi
Queenfish
Trevally (Golden)
+7
US $422
Shared tour: 2 people
Half Day Trip (AM) – Private
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
4 hour trip starts at 6:30 AM
Barramundi
Queenfish
Catfish
Flathead
+4
US $633
Entire boat: up to 6 people
Half Day Trip (PM) – Private
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
4 hour trip starts at 11:30 AM
Trevally (Giant)
Barramundi
Queenfish
Trevally (Golden)
+5
US $633
Entire boat: up to 6 people
Full Day Estuary Private Charter
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
8 hour trip starts at 6:30 AM
Barramundi
Queenfish
Catfish
Flathead
+7
US $1,267
Entire boat: up to 6 people
There are 8 people looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

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Rating

4.5
66 reviews
4.5
Boat & equipment
4.6
Captain & crew
4.5
Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (44)

What anglers say

78%
Great experience
94%
Family friendly
100%
Friendly captain
95%
Good boat
86%
Recommended
67%
Caught fish

All reviews (66)

Frequently mentioned
Showing 1 – 5 of 66 reviews
Snow Hu
Snow Hu
au
Australia
Member since 2026
4.7
Verified
July fishing trip
Half Day Trip (AM) Share Charter on July 2, 2026 • 2 adults • 3 children

Great experience, fantastic communication with captain as soon as we made the booking. Very knowledgeable and explained along the whole trip and very friendly to kids and funny. We caught 5 fish including 3 keepers. Fishing experience was good, unfortunately we had to move out the good spot because a cargo ship came in, but it was not something the captain could control. Otherwise we could have caught more for sure. Still, we highly recommend this trip!

Reported catch:
Fingermark Bream
Darryl Wilson
Response from Captain

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review! Very much appreciated. We loved having you on board! You guys were fantastic. Cheers Dazza and Raewyn at Fish Tales Charters

Danielle Grundy
Danielle Grundy
au
Australia
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Great day!
Half Day Trip (AM) Share Charter on July 23, 2026 • 2 adults

Even though the fish weren’t biting, Darryl made our experience a memorable one. We had a great day and would definitely recommend booking a trip, I would however go a full day rather than the half day as the location sounds much more appealing for the big fish to play chicken with your bait. Thanks again for a brilliant day!

Darryl Wilson
Response from Captain

Hi Danielle, thank you for taking the time to write this review, it's very much appreciated. Great to met you and have you on board..until next time! Cheers Dazza and Raewyn Your hosts Fish Tales Charters

Manjula Ezra
Manjula Ezra
au
Australia
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
New
Great Charter!
Half Day Trip (AM) Share Charter on October 10, 2026 • 4 adults

Highly recommend Daryl. He was friendly and knowledgeable. Did his best and he made sure we caught some fish.

Darryl Wilson
Response from Captain

Hi Manjula, Thank you for your review! We loved meeting you and your family and having you onboard. We do hope to see you again soon! Many thanks Darryl and Raewyn Your Hosts of Fish Tales Charters

Claudia Gan
Claudia Gan
sg
Singapore
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
First Boat Fishing Trip! 🐟
Half Day Trip (AM) Share Charter on September 5, 2026 • 3 adults

It was the first fishing trip for the 3 of us and we loved it, even though we only caught a few fishes between the 3 of us. Captain Darryl is very experienced and funny 👍👍 Will come back again when we are back in Cairns!

Darryl Wilson
Response from Captain

Hi Claudia, Thank you for taking the time to write this review. We are so glad you had a great time; look forward to your return...until next time! Cheers Darryl and Raewyn Your Hosts of Fish Tales Charters

Emily Bolsom
Emily Bolsom
au
Australia
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
March fishing trip
Half Day Trip (AM) Share Charter on March 11, 2026 • 5 adults

Had an awesome morning in the estuary with Darryl. He knows his stuff and is fun and easygoing, and as a group of mostly novices, it made the experience even better. Wasn’t the best fishing conditions but Darryl showed us how well he knows the area and everyone in the group scored a fish or two. If you’re in Carins and after a fishing charter, I highly recommend Fish Tales.

Reported catch:
Queenfish
Fingermark Bream
Black Jewfish
Threadfin Salmon
Darryl Wilson
Response from Captain

Thank you Emily! Loved meeting you and your family as well as having you onboard! Many thanks Darryl and Raewyn your hosts of Fish Tales Charters

FAQs about Fish Tales Charters – River Rocket

Fish Tales Charters – River Rocket offers the following trips to customers:
  • AU $150 per person - Half Day Trip (AM) Share Charter (4 hours)
  • AU $150 per person - Half Day Trip (PM) Share Charter (4 hours)
  • AU $300 per person - Full Day Estuary Trip Share Charter (9 hours)
  • AU $900 per group - Half Day Trip (AM) – Private (4 hours)
  • AU $900 per group - Half Day Trip (PM) – Private (4 hours)
  • AU $1,800 per group - Full Day Estuary Private Charter (8 hours)
When you book a trip with Fish Tales Charters – River Rocket, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Live bait well
  • Ice box
Trips booked with Fish Tales Charters – River Rocket include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live bait (On all our fishing charters live bait is included. NOTE caught on the day of the charter.)
  • Drinks (Bottles Of Water)
Fish Tales Charters – River Rocket offers the following types of fishing:
  • River fishing (Trinity Inlet, Cairns is a saltwater estuary. Mulgrave & Russell Rivers and Mutchero Inlet are river systems-starts as freshwater before turning to saltwater before the mouth.)
  • Backcountry fishing (The Estuary Of Trinity Inlet)
Fish Tales Charters – River Rocket offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light tackle
  • Handline
Top targeted fish species with Fish Tales Charters – River Rocket include:
  • Barramundi
  • Black Jewfish
  • Bream (Fingermark)
  • Flathead
  • Queenfish
  • Snapper (Mangrove Red)
  • Threadfin Salmon
  • Trevally (Giant)
  • Trevally (Golden)
  • Trevally (Silver)

Your captain

Darryl Wilson
Darryl Wilson
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
13 Fishing Reports
ID & license verified
84 Customer reviews
Typical response within 4 hours
Member since June 2014
Captain Darryl grew up in Adelaide fishing with his brother from a very young age. 20 years later, he arrived in Cairns, and every possible moment became all about fishing and exploring. Captain Darryl became the owner-operator of Fish Tales Charters over 20 years ago, and after a decade of successful guiding decided to build the Don't Know to offer a variety of fishing charters due to the high number of repeat customers.
Darryl Wilson
Darryl Wilson
Fully verified
13
reports
84
reviews
2014
member since
~5h
response
Captain Darryl grew up in Adelaide fishing with his brother from a very young age. 20 years later, he arrived in Cairns, and every possible moment became all about fishing and exploring. Captain Darryl became the owner-operator of Fish Tales Charters over 20 years ago, and after a decade of successful guiding decided to build the Don't Know to offer a variety of fishing charters due to the high number of repeat customers.

The fish you can target

Barramundi
Barramundi
Black Jewfish
Black Jewfish
Fingermark Bream
Fingermark Bream
Flathead
Flathead
Queenfish
Queenfish
Mangrove Red Snapper
Mangrove Red Snapper
Threadfin Salmon
Threadfin Salmon
Giant Trevally
Giant Trevally
Golden Trevally
Golden Trevally
Silver Trevally
Silver Trevally
Barramundi
Barramundi
Black Jewfish
Black Jewfish
Fingermark Bream
Fingermark Bream
Flathead
Flathead
Queenfish
Queenfish

Real catches by this captain

  • Adult angler holding a large silver fish aboard a boat, with scenic tropical mountains and calm coastal water in the background.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Threadfin Salmon
    Manjula E.
    Manjula E.
    Highly recommend Daryl. He was friendly and knowledgeable. Did his best and he made sure we caught some fish.
  • Adult angler proudly holding a large snook aboard a covered fishing boat in calm coastal waters.
    Katrina A.
    Katrina A.
    Rain, wind, sun and a Barra. Couldn’t have wished for a better morning. Darryl was entertaining, knowledgeable, helpful and I would highly recommend this trip.
  • Angler holding a large silver trevally or jack over coastal waters, with a fishing rod and shoreline visible in the background.
    Fish 1
    Giant Trevally
    Claudia G.
    Claudia G.
    It was the first fishing trip for the 3 of us and we loved it, even though we only caught a few fishes between the 3 of us. Captain Darryl is very experienced and funny 👍👍 Will come back again when we are back in Cairns!
  • A young angler proudly displaying a Yellowtail Snapper while fishing on a boat, showcasing a vibrant fishing shirt and a joyful smile.
    Fish 1
    Golden Trevally
    Adam J.
    Adam J.
    So apreciate the Captains time and energy wrangling 4, 10 year old boys and making it thebest birthday party our 10 yr old will be bragging about forever.
  • Young angler proudly displaying a large fish while fishing in Cairns, showcasing a successful day on the water.
    Fish 1
    Mangrove Snapper
    Sondra K.
    Sondra K.
  • Adult angler holding a large inshore fish aboard a covered fishing boat, with calm coastal water in the background.
    Chris C.
    Chris C.
  • Angler proudly displaying a large Snapper while fishing on a boat, showcasing the excitement of a successful catch.
    Craig M.
    Craig M.
    Had a fantastic day out on the water with Darryl. Caught some delicious Fingermark Snapper. Would recommend Fish Tales Charters. Had a great day.
  • An angler proudly displaying a large fish while on a boat, enjoying a day of fishing in a scenic location.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Giant Trevally
    Tia W.
    Tia W.
    My partner and I did a half day morning trip with Darryl and it was a GREAT! morning. We pulled in a few good fish and had an awesoke time chatting with Darryl, would definitely recommend!
  • A young angler and an adult proudly display a large Snook while fishing on a boat, showcasing a successful day on the water.
    Peter L.
    Peter L.
  • A young angler excitedly holds a small fish while fishing on a boat surrounded by mangroves.
    Fish 1
    Blacktip Shark
    Kerrie P.
    Kerrie P.
    Darryl was an awesome host! Made our trip adventurous, he's a great bloke and recommended other tours and places to eat at that were amazing, will definitely visit Darryl again, my partner said I want to go hang out with Darryl' again because he liked the experience so much. Highly recommend

What is the boat like?

Boat image
Boat category
Other
Capacity
6 persons
Boat length
20 ft
Year built
1985
Restored in
2015
Boat manufacturer
Subsee Flat Bottom Punt
Boat type
Other
Engine model
Mercury
Powered by
1 x 140HP

What kind of fishing will you do?

River Fishing
Backcountry Fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Light Tackle
Handline

Which amenities are available onboard

GPS
Fishfinder
Live bait well
Ice box
What's included in the trip price
Rods, reels & tackle
Live bait
On all our fishing charters live bait is included. NOTE caught on the day of the charter.
Drinks
Bottles Of Water

How cancellations work

Free cancellation up to 3 days prior to trip
You can cancel or modify your booking up to 3 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.
More details

What the listing policies are

Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child friendly
Children are welcome onboard!
Catch and release allowed

How you can pay

Book with 15% deposit, pay rest to captain
When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 15% deposit to guarantee your reservation.
The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:
 Cash
 Visa
 Mastercard
 Bank transfer
When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 1.5% charge will apply.

What’s biting in Cairns right now

BarramundiBarramundi
QueenfishQueenfish
Threadfin SalmonThreadfin Salmon
Trevally (Giant)Trevally (Giant)
Trevally (Golden)Trevally (Golden)

Compare similar fishing charters

Current
Fish Tales Charters – River Rocket
Fish Tales Charters – River Rocket
4.5
(66)
20 ft
Group size 1 - 6
1 - 6
Fish 1
Fish 2
+8
4 hour trip • 6 persons
US $633