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Gavin Mcgahan
Captain

Gavin Mcgahan

Cairns, Australia
100+ reviews
I have grown up around boating and fishing, am very passionate about fishing, and love to show people of all levels and experiences in fishing and boating an absolutely awesome adventure.

Charters

Rating

4.8
143 reviews
4.8
Boat & Equipment
4.9
Captain & Crew
4.7
Fishing Experience

What anglers say

89%
Good experience
100%
Friendly captain
94%
Recommend this charter
95%
Appropriate for children
98%
Satisfied with the boat
85%
Caught fish

All reviews (143)

Showing 1 – 5 of 143 reviews
  • Jordannah Galea
    Jordannah Galea
    au
    Australia
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified
    NEW

    Tricky Fish but a Great Time

    Half Day Trip – Estuary (AM) • 2 adults

    We had a great time with Gavin! Unfortunately, the fish were few, but nonetheless we had a wonderful morning. We had great fun catching a few smaller fish, until a large croc decided to scare them all off by coming for a close up look! While we wanted fish, that was a pretty spectacular moment we very much enjoyed. Gavin is a great guide and host, with a very comfortable boat! The privacy of Gavs charters was also great, allowing us to have a great yap about everything and anything! We will be giving Gavin a call when we come back!

    Response from Captain

    hey jordy thank you for the kind review yes the fish sometimes can be difficult at least we managed a few rods to bend we gave gave us some fun . we will get them next time . it was a pleasure to have you guys on board enjoy the rest of your holidays here in port we will catch you next time cheers Gavin portdouglas sportfishing

  • John Dimitropoulos
    John Dimitropoulos
    au
    Australia
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified
    NEW

    captain is a legend …Great day

    Full Day Trip – Outer Reef • 2 adults

    went out with me and my wife, gavin is a fantastic captain. aboslute gentlemen, got us on the fish was really helpful with guiding us on what to do with all the different species . verry accomodating to our requests. all round fantastic day 10/10

    Response from Captain

    hey john thank you heaps for the kind review. was a pleasure to have you guys on board i had a great time too .enjiy the rest of your stay here in port and we will catch you next time in the new boat thanks again gavin portdouglas sportfishing

  • Chris Budgen
    Chris Budgen
    au
    Australia
    Member since 2023
    5.0
    Verified

    Excellent

    Half Day Trip – Estuary (AM) • 1 adult

    Great trip. Fishing was a bit tough due to water temp and winds outside, but Gavin’s a great bloke with tons of knowledge about the systems in the area and goes the extra mile to get you onto fish. Great kit and boat. Caught Fingermark, Cod and even a small Jewfish up in the estuary on livies. Would thoroughly recommend. Looking forward to getting back later in the year to have another crack at it.

    Reported catch:
    Fingermark Bream
    Response from Captain

    Hey Chris thank you for the kind review it was a pleasure to have you on board and i most certainly look forward to having you back on board enjoy the rest of your holiday here in port catch you next time cheers Gavin portdouglas sportfishing

  • Jeff Hamilton
    Jeff Hamilton
    Repeat angler
    us
    Indiana, US
    Member since 2024
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified
    NEW

    Great experience

    Half Day Trip – Inshore Reef (AM) • 2 adults

    Captain Gavin was very knowledgeable and friendly he made sure we were always on fish and always tried to find different species. Would would definitely book another trip with him if we get the opportunity  

    Response from Captain

    hi jeff thankyou for the kind review it was a pleasure to have you guys on board and look forward to having you guys back on board next time your in port douglas enjoy the rest of your holiday here cheers Gavin portdouglas sportfishing

  • Gavin Chau
    Gavin Chau
    au
    Australia
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Tough conditions but great trip!

    Half Day Trip – Inshore Reef (PM) • 4 adults • 2 children

    Water temps dropped and fishing conditions were tough but captain Gavin did everything he could to get us onto some quality fish. In the end we managed a nice jack and a gold spot cod. Learned a lot about fishing in FNQ and at the end of the day the captain kindly gave us the left over livies and gave us some pointers on where and when to fish them landbased.

    Response from Captain

    hey gavin thank you for your kind review was a pleasure to have you guys on board enjoy the rest of your holiday here in port and wewill catch you next time your hete in port cheers gavin portdouglas sportfishing

Real catches shared by our community

  • Cairns Sportfishing
    Cairns SportfishingPortsmith, QL
    Adult angler holding a large red snapper aboard a boat in open ocean waters.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Red Emperor Snapper
    Samantha S.
    Samantha S.
    Was a great trip fishing. Gavin was extremely knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. Would highly recommend booking with these legends
  • Port Douglas Sportfishing
    Port Douglas SportfishingPort Douglas, QL
    Adult angler holding a large red snapper aboard a fishing boat offshore, with a rod and open ocean in the background.
    Fish 1
    Red Emperor Snapper
    John D.
    John D.
    went out with me and my wife, gavin is a fantastic captain. aboslute gentlemen, got us on the fish was really helpful with guiding us on what to do with all the different species . verry accomodating to our requests. all round fantastic day 10/10
  • Port Douglas Sportfishing
    Port Douglas SportfishingPort Douglas, QL
    A young angler proudly displaying a large fish while fishing from a boat in a tropical setting.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Broomtail Grouper
    Gavin C.
    Gavin C.
    Water temps dropped and fishing conditions were tough but captain Gavin did everything he could to get us onto some quality fish. In the end we managed a nice jack and a gold spot cod. Learned a lot about fishing in FNQ and at the end of the day the captain kindly gave us the left over livies and gave us some pointers on where and when to fish them landbased.
  • Cairns Sportfishing
    Cairns SportfishingPortsmith, QL
    Small baitfish stored in a white cooler on the wet deck of a fishing boat.
    Bruno H.
    Bruno H.
    the day before we left we got a message that we should pay extra due to high petrol prices (95dollar) and extra 2,5% for paying with a card. in totan more than 900 dollar for a 4 our trip without catching 1 fish…
  • Port Douglas Sportfishing
    Port Douglas SportfishingPort Douglas, QL
    A young angler proudly displaying a vibrant Snapper while fishing on a sunny day at sea.
    Fish 1
    Red Snapper
    Cameron S.
    Cameron S.
    Kids and I had a great day out on the water with Gavin, lots of fish, fun and great memories.
  • Port Douglas Sportfishing
    Port Douglas SportfishingPort Douglas, QL
    Angler proudly displaying a Snapper while fishing on a sunny day in open waters.
    Fish 1
    Red Snapper
    William M.
    William M.
    We had a tremendous and successful trip under Gavin's tutelage today. He has a great understanding of the waters we fished and made us feel safe, and taught us the right technique to land the 30+ fish we did in 4.5 hrs. I would highly recommend him and we will certainly be giving him another call when we come back.
  • Port Douglas Sportfishing
    Port Douglas SportfishingPort Douglas, QL
    Angler proudly displaying a vibrant Red Snapper while fishing offshore, showcasing a successful day on the water.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Coral Trout
    Jared N.
    Jared N.
    Could not recommend Gavin highly enough! Went above and beyond to make our day fantastic and catch plenty of big fish! Even when we started getting some stolen by sharks he knew where to go to start getting them in the boat again. Will definitely be back to go out with Gavin again.
  • Port Douglas Sportfishing
    Port Douglas SportfishingPort Douglas, QL
    Angler proudly displaying a large fish while fishing in a mangrove area, showcasing a serene water backdrop.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +2
    Dusky Grouper
    Kathy G.
    Kathy G.
    For anyone wanting to do Estuary fishing the skipper of Port Douglas sports fishing was an awesome guy. Very informative took the time to explain everything to is. Unfortunately the weather wasnt on outlr side an we didnt catch any fish we were able to keep. Not through any fault of the skipper just bad timing. Would highly recommend the charter just dont think estuary fishing is for me
  • Port Douglas Sportfishing
    Port Douglas SportfishingPort Douglas, QL
    Young angler holding a large snook aboard a small fishing boat in calm coastal waters at sunset.
    Wang H.
    Wang H.
  • Port Douglas Sportfishing
    Port Douglas SportfishingPort Douglas, QL
    An angler is reeling in a fish while fishing in a mangrove area, showcasing a lively fishing experience.
    Lisa S.
    Lisa S.
    This was a gift for my 11year old son. Though they didn't catch much. They still caught a few each and Gavin was really patient showing how to get live bait, showing them how to put bait on the hook, cast, strike and reel them in. They loved it.

Our Fishing Locations

What's biting with Reelwork Sportfishing Cairns in Cairns

Barramundi season closes until February. Billfishing remains excellent, with Sailfish being added to the mix of catches. The reef comes alive as the coral spawns and swimmers need to watch out for jellyfish.

Top catches for November