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Darryl Wilson
Captain

Darryl Wilson

Cairns, Australia
50+ reviews
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.

Charters

Rating

4.6
79 reviews
4.5
Boat & Equipment
4.7
Captain & Crew
4.5
Fishing Experience

What anglers say

80%
Good experience
100%
Friendly captain
90%
Recommend this charter
90%
Appropriate for children
93%
Satisfied with the boat
72%
Caught fish

All reviews (79)

Showing 1 – 5 of 79 reviews
  • Claudia Gan
    Claudia Gan
    sg
    Singapore
    •
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified
    NEW

    First Boat Fishing Trip! 🐟

    Half Day Trip (AM) Share Charter • 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!

  • Snow Hu
    Snow Hu
    au
    Australia
    •
    Member since 2026
    4.7
    Verified

    July fishing trip

    Half Day Trip (AM) Share Charter • 5 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
    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 • 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!

    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

  • Katrina Atkinson
    Katrina Atkinson
    au
    Australia
    •
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified
    NEW

    Caught my first Barra😀

    Half Day Trip (AM) Share Charter • 1 adult

    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.

    Response from Captain

    Thank you Katrina for taking the time to write this review. We loved having you onboard and yes nothing like a little rain, a little wind as well as a little sun for a little barramundi! Congratulations to you! Many thanks Darryl and Raewyn Your Hosts of Fish Tales Charters

  • David Woods
    David Woods
    au
    Australia
    •
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified
    NEW

    Awesome

    Full Day Trip – River (MAX 4) • 4 adults

    Darryl put us on the fish right from the start. Bull sharks were a problem but certainly a great day and I will be doing it again!

    Response from Captain

    Hi David, Thanks for the 5 star review! Loved having you on board! Hope to see you again soon! Cheers Darryl and Raewyn Your Hosts of Fish Tales Charters

Real catches shared by our community

  • Fish Tales Charters – River Rocket
    Fish Tales Charters – River RocketCairns, QL
    Caught my first Barra😀
    Katrina A.
    Katrina A.
  • Fish Tales Charters – River Rocket
    Fish Tales Charters – River RocketCairns, QL
    First Boat Fishing Trip! 🐟
    Claudia G.
    Claudia G.
  • Fish Tales – Don't Know
    Fish Tales – Don't KnowCairns, QL
    Awesome
    David W.
    David W.
  • Fish Tales Charters – River Rocket
    Fish Tales Charters – River RocketCairns, QL
    AMAZING for kids
    Adam J.
    Adam J.
  • Fish Tales Charters – River Rocket
    Fish Tales Charters – River RocketCairns, QL
    March fishing trip
    Sondra K.
    Sondra K.
  • Fish Tales Charters – River Rocket
    Fish Tales Charters – River RocketCairns, QL
    Fishing with Darryl
    Chris C.
    Chris C.
  • Fish Tales Charters – River Rocket
    Fish Tales Charters – River RocketCairns, QL
    Great day on the water
    Craig M.
    Craig M.
  • Fish Tales Charters – River Rocket
    Fish Tales Charters – River RocketCairns, QL
    Half day morning
    Tia W.
    Tia W.
  • Fish Tales – Don't Know
    Fish Tales – Don't KnowCairns, QL
    Fishing with Darryl
    Gary G.
    Gary G.
  • Fish Tales Charters – River Rocket
    Fish Tales Charters – River RocketCairns, QL
    December fishing trip
    Peter L.
    Peter L.

Our Fishing Locations

What's biting with Fish Tales – Don't Know in Cairns

Spring arrives, and with it comes humidity, which will build up until the rainy season arrives in December. Heavy tackle season starts as female Black Marlin come to the reef to spawn. 

Top catches for September

Fishing reports

Friday 5th September 2025

Sep 5, 2025 • Cairns
Congratulations to Jim and his 110cm Barramundi while estuary fishing in Trinity inlet, Cairns! NOTE She was returned to the water safely! One very happy fishing booker customer! Cheers Dazza!
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An angler proudly displaying a Black Bream caught while fishing in a scenic mangrove area.

August Estuary Fishing 2025

Aug 31, 2025 • Cairns
In Tropical North Queensland during the month of August not only do we see a change in the weather ie cooler nights, sunny days but can be very windy! Most of our charters are in the estuary of a morning. For the month of August the collection included Bream, small trevally, Queenfish, Hairtail, Javelinfish, Barramundi, Goldspotted Estuary Cod to name a few. Cheers Dazza
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July 2025 Estuary Fishing in Trinity Inl

Jul 31, 2025 • Cairns
Estuary fishing in Trinity Inlet of Cairns over the cooler month of July was at times surprising. At times our customers were able to see our resident estuarine Saltwater Crocodiles! So cool to see back Long Head Hairtails in the estuary-it`s been too long! (definitely from the dinosaur era)! Common caught fish species included Blue threadfin, Fingermark, Estuary trevally, Gold spotted estuary cod, Dusky Flathead, Mangrove jacks, Pikey Bream, juvenile Queenfish. Loved having the kids onboard over the school holidays!
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Sunday 13th October 2019

Oct 13, 2019 • Cairns
Thanks so much to Laura and Michael for having the best day in Cairns. So good to meet you and to show you around. Target species Trout, Mackerel; caught and kept for dinner included Coral Trout & Spanish Mackerel-two of the best sportsfish with excellent eating qualities.
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Saturday 12th October 2019

Oct 12, 2019 • Cairns
Only takes one Spanish Mackerel for Dave while reef fishing from Cairns. Guess the weight?
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Estuary fishing for Fingermark, Mangrove

Sep 27, 2019 • Cairns
Weekending Friday 27th September 2019 Estuary fishing in Trinity Inlet, Cairns has been producing Fingermark and Mangrove jacks all of good size as well as Queenfish; all caught on live-bait.
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