If Airlie Beach charter fishing was a photo competition, we bet the jury would have a hard time deciding on the winner. It’s not just the surprisingly high quality of photos that most local charters seem to have a knack for, it’s just that local fisheries are superb. Colorful prize fish, smiling anglers, beautiful bright sky, and the Great Barrier Reef nearby―Airlie Beach fishing spots are any angler’s dream!
Known For
Tourists love Airlie Beach. And for a good reason. Its waters are populated with fish and it’s bustling with entertainment. This place is one of the major stopping points before moving further to fish around the Whitsundays Islands. Backpackers are a common sight, and the city has been blooming in recent years. But, that’s just a side dish.
The main course is water activities. Which brings us to fishing. Abel Point is the main launch pad for numerous day trips from Airlie Beach. Groups of anglers board charter boats every day. Where do they go? The Great Barrier Reef.
The names of the fish are as picturesque as their fins. Here you will find Red Emperor, Black Jew, Coral Trout, Sweet Lip, Giant Trevally, Fingermark Bream, Nannygai, and Mangrove Jack. Other fish may not have shiny names, but are no doubt a big time prize. Spanish Mackerel, Cobia, Grunter, Barramundi, Marlin, and Sailfish. We recommend that you pack your eskies and have them ready for your catch.
Now that we have that sorted out, let’s see your itineraries. Productive Airlie Beach fishing spots aren’t far away from the shore. Most of the time half day trips will give novice fishermen and families with kids enough time to land a catch. A quick boat ride, and there you are. You know how fish love reefs? Well, this is something of a fish mecca. You’re in for reef fishing and bottom bashing.
For more experienced anglers, full day trips will let you charter your boat to the sport fishing territories. This is where you can indulge in bottom fishing or deep sea fishing. The outer Whitsundays Islands will let you chase Marlin, Tuna, GTs, Nannygai, Emperor, and Sailfish. If you have the time, you should go there. Find a charter to take you to the Great Barrier Reef―fishing there will likely get your heart racing!
Rules & Regulations
You don’t need a license to fish recreationally in Queensland. Bag limits do apply, so it’s best to always check the valid regulations before hopping onboard.
Types of Fishing
The question when fishing Airlie Beach is not just what to get, but how. There are many techniques to try, so let’s talk about what to expect.
Basically, there are two main types of fishing here. You can either go around the reefs and drop your lures to entice bottom fish. These are Red Emperor, Coral Trout, Sweetlip Emperor, Snapper, Queensland Grouper―though the last ones can lurk near the surface as well. Here, you can also find Black Jewfish, but mostly during the night.
If you want to go to deeper waters and try get some strong fish to bite, trolling is a productive method. Trolling works excellently with Giant Trevally, Spanish Mackerel, Mahi Mahi, Juvenile Black Marlin, and Sailfish.
Now, onto baits and lures. Live bait is good to use when fishing for Barra. Judging by recent fishing reports, the rock walls of the Port of Airlie are the place to be. Grunter of Queensland readily take strip and prawn bait. Metal lures make Queenfish, Trevally, and Mackerel bite.
Don’t be put off if fishing for the first time. The local charter captains have plenty of knowledge to help you out and give you an Airlie Beach fishing 101. Hire a charter to take you out, and you will have a great intro into fishing. More seasoned anglers, you will also find a charter that can take you further out for some vein popping action.