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Bernd Hess
Captain

Bernd Hess

Cairns, Australia
250+ reviews
Captain Bernd i am a local born and raised in Cairns. Started fishing since i was 8 years old. I have alot of experience with using live bait and try to teach what i know. I have been operating Paradise Sportfishing for 10 years.

Charter

Rating

4.5
327 reviews
4.5
Boat & Equipment
4.7
Captain & Crew
4.3
Fishing Experience

What anglers say

83%
Good experience
98%
Friendly captain
88%
Recommend this charter
94%
Appropriate for children
97%
Satisfied with the boat
65%
Caught fish

All reviews (327)

Showing 1 – 5 of 327 reviews
  • Charity Harrison
    Charity Harrison
    au
    Australia
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified
    NEW

    More than just fishing

    Half Day Trip (AM) – Shared • 1 adult

    Bernd, was very accommodating & made sure there was a seat on the boat. Very welcoming & full of knowledge. Starting out with Bernd catching us live bait then out along the river to try our luck in catching fish. We all managed to getting something, a few catching & keep. Bernd was extremely helpful getting in contact with a mate to get mudcrab, met on the river. Had a great time & will be back again.

    Reported catch:
    Queenfish
    Giant Trevally
  • Hunter English
    Hunter English
    au
    Australia
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified
    NEW

    Comfortable & easy fishing charter

    Half Day Trip (AM) – Shared • 3 adults

    Our captain Bernd took all the hard work out of fishing. He netted live bait in the harbour & estuary, was safety conscious and baited up our hooks all day long. He gave us some local fishing history and made the charter very enjoyable. We caught eight different species of fish and had a great time out on the water. We would recommend this half day fishing charter. The charter price per person was very good value - Hunter

    Reported catch:
    Giant Trevally
    Queenfish
  • Michael Johnston
    Michael Johnston
    au
    Australia
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Fantastic fishing experience

    Half Day Trip (PM) – Shared • 6 adults

    Booked the afternoon session with 6 friends, our captain Byrne ( not sure of spelling) was a great host, funny, helpful, knew the area, had some great stories, and had some feathered friends who knew his vessel which added to the experience, caught a few small fish and some that took out lines that put up a huge fight (must have been huge!!) esky with ice onboard because what’s fishing without beer right!!

  • Gyorgy Greg Nahoczky
    Gyorgy Greg Nahoczky
    au
    Australia
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Great fishing experience

    Half Day Trip (AM) – Shared • 2 adults

    We had an amazing half-day fishing trip in Cairns! Bernd was fantastic, the boat was clean and comfortable, and we caught some great fish including cod, fingermark, and a queenfish. Everything was well-organized from start to finish, and we will definitely book again when we are back in Cairns! Thank you

    Reported catch:
    Queenfish
    Cod
  • Peter Goodman
    Peter Goodman
    au
    Australia
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Fun fishing in Cairns

    Half Day Trip (AM) – Shared • 1 adult

    Great to be fishing in sheltered waters while still having a chance to catch some good fish. The skipper worked hard to ensure everyone had the best chance for a catch. I ended up with a good size Queenfish as well as a GT. A really good day and great value.

Real catches shared by our community

  • Paradise Sportfishing Adventures
    Paradise Sportfishing AdventuresCairns, QL
    Adult angler holding a freshly caught fish aboard a small fishing boat on a calm lake surrounded by wooded hills.
    Fish 1
    Blacktip Shark
    Charity H.
    Charity H.
    Bernd, was very accommodating & made sure there was a seat on the boat. Very welcoming & full of knowledge. Starting out with Bernd catching us live bait then out along the river to try our luck in catching fish. We all managed to getting something, a few catching & keep. Bernd was extremely helpful getting in contact with a mate to get mudcrab, met on the river. Had a great time & will be back again.
  • Paradise Sportfishing Adventures
    Paradise Sportfishing AdventuresCairns, QL
    Angler proudly holding a freshly caught fish aboard a covered fishing boat, with a companion and mountainous coastal shoreline in the background.
    Fish 1
    Hammerhead Shark
    Jeremy E.
    Jeremy E.
  • Paradise Sportfishing Adventures
    Paradise Sportfishing AdventuresCairns, QL
    Angler holding a spotted grouper aboard a covered fishing boat with a rod, calm coastal water, and mountainous shoreline in the background.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +2
    Brown-marbled Grouper
    Hunter E.
    Hunter E.
    Our captain Bernd took all the hard work out of fishing. He netted live bait in the harbour & estuary, was safety conscious and baited up our hooks all day long. He gave us some local fishing history and made the charter very enjoyable. We caught eight different species of fish and had a great time out on the water. We would recommend this half day fishing charter. The charter price per person was very good value - Hunter
  • Paradise Sportfishing Adventures
    Paradise Sportfishing AdventuresCairns, QL
    Fun
    Rosie F.
    Rosie F.
    Captain kept us entertained and we had lots of Fun! Thank you
  • Paradise Sportfishing Adventures
    Paradise Sportfishing AdventuresCairns, QL
    An angler proudly displaying a large fish while fishing on a boat, surrounded by fellow fishermen in a scenic waterway.
    Emily N.
    Emily N.
    We loved the experience of going out to the estuary with an experienced guide. Kids learnt so much and got to use live bait. We caught a couple of large tarpons, other people caught cod and mangrove jack.
  • Paradise Sportfishing Adventures
    Paradise Sportfishing AdventuresCairns, QL
    A proud angler displaying a large Snapper while fishing on a charter boat, with a scenic backdrop.
    Fish 1
    Mangrove Snapper
    Paul T.
    Paul T.
  • Paradise Sportfishing Adventures
    Paradise Sportfishing AdventuresCairns, QL
    A group of anglers on a boat enjoying a fishing trip, with one person holding a freshly caught fish while others observe the catch.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Red Snapper
    Andrew D.
    Andrew D.
    Had a great day, skipper catching bait, having great banter with him and the rest of the group. Beautiful weather . Fingermark snapper caught a few times.I wouldhighly recommend this down to earth, chilled fishing trip. take a few beers and relax.
  • Paradise Sportfishing Adventures
    Paradise Sportfishing AdventuresCairns, QL
    Relaxed inshore fishing boat interior with mounted rods, bench seating, and a canned beverage visible onboard.
    Sharon F.
    Sharon F.
    even though we didnt catch fish personally, it was still a great arvo on the water. the group on the boat witb my partner and myself were a.good bunch and the captain was friendly and joined in the banter
  • Paradise Sportfishing Adventures
    Paradise Sportfishing AdventuresCairns, QL
    Angler proudly displays a silvery jack-family fish aboard a covered fishing boat, with fellow group members and coastal mangroves in the background.
    Fish 1
    Bigeye Trevally
    Peter G.
    Peter G.
    Great to be fishing in sheltered waters while still having a chance to catch some good fish. The skipper worked hard to ensure everyone had the best chance for a catch. I ended up with a good size Queenfish as well as a GT. A really good day and great value.
  • Paradise Sportfishing Adventures
    Paradise Sportfishing AdventuresCairns, QL
    A smiling angler proudly displaying her catch, a Silver Snapper, while fishing from a boat in a scenic coastal environment.
    Wayne C.
    Wayne C.
    A fun trip with enough fish caught for a decent feed.

What's biting with Paradise Sportfishing Adventures 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

Fishing reports

A young angler proudly displaying a large fish while fishing with friends on a boat in a scenic river setting.

Big blue salmon

Jul 3, 2026 • Cairns
Such a great day out fishing this morning with some big salmon around and fingermark in the trinity inlet.
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Two anglers proudly displaying a large Barramundi while enjoying a fishing trip in a mangrove setting.

QUALITY FISHING AROUND THE NEW MOON

Feb 20, 2020 • Cairns
The fishing heated up around the recent new moon in Cairns' Trinity Inlet. Although the live bait was challenging to find,the extra effort with the cast net was well worth it. The morning incoming tide was the most productive. Fishing on pressure points,some solid Barras were unable to resist the live baits. Queenfish and Blue Salmon also made an appearance. As the tides are getting smaller,we will be able to target the deeper holes again. The Full moon is soon approaching and the Big Tides are sure to produce some hot action again. Cheers Paradise Sportfishing Cairns
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Group of adult anglers proudly holding a large silver sport fish aboard a boat in a scenic coastal setting.

Summer Fishing Reprt

Feb 26, 2017 • Cairns
It has been super HOT,WET and HUMID,but the fish have been biting. We've had plenty of rain in recent weeks and Trinity Inlet has had a solid,much needed flush of fresh water. While the live bait has been elusive at times,it's been worthwhile putting in the extra effort to get Sardines,Mullet and Prawns. The Black Moon is upon us once again with big incoming tides pushing hard in the mornings. Fingermark,Jacks and Barras have been hooked the past couple of charters. The pressure points right up close to the mangroves will continue to produce some solid predators during the next few mornings. Then, in a few days time when the tides get smaller ,we can get back to fishing the deeper runs and wrecks. The goal on every charter,is for you to end up at the Salt House Restaurant at The Pier getting your catch prepared for lunch or dinner. It's not a 100% success rate,but we put in a consistently strong effort on each outing. In the past couple weeks,Queenfish over a meter,Fingermark up to 70cm and Barras up to 80 cm have been landed. Cheers, John H Paradise Sportfishing Cairns
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Young angler and adult proudly display a large snook aboard a covered fishing boat in a mangrove-lined waterway.

SUMMER CONDITIONS HEAT UP THE ACTION!!

Sep 21, 2016 • Cairns
The recent northerly winds are a sign of the return to Summer Conditions. The water temperature in Trinity Inlet has been on a steady rise for the last couple weeks! The BARRAMUNDI are definitely becoming active and there have been a number of hookups on recent charters. The start of the peak Barra season is still another month away,but already we are getting consistent action. Taking the time to chase Mullet with the cast net has become worthwhile again! The other species,Queenfish,Mangrove Jacks,GT'S Fingermark etc have all become much more active. One of the recent highlights was Local Junior Angler Ruben from Edmonton landing hid first Barra. It was a 67cm very respectable Whopper!! Check out the smile in the photo. Tight Lines,hope to fish with you soon, John H Paradise Sportfishing Cairns
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Two adult anglers proudly display a large silver, striped fish aboard a covered boat on a calm tropical waterway.

Seasons Are Changing

Aug 26, 2016 • Cairns
It came without warning! All of a sudden the last few days the temperature has been on the rise and the winter conditions are leaving us! I always look forward to the arrival of September as the fish in the inlet begin to switch on from the rising water temperatures. Sure enough the last few charters have produced some quality fish. Our friends Taylor and Chlorise from Canada and France caught a mid sized Barracuda.While not a table fish it did put up a great fight. Ted and Jill caught a nice Queenie that jumped several times.As they were caravanning it was just the right size for the evening meal. The best fish of the last couple days was Chad and Rachael's 80 cm Jew Fish! It put up a terrific fight and was cooked up tropical style wrapped in a banana leaf!! The live bait continues to be abundant and along with the usual sardines a few prawns have been collected as well. Once again the black moon and the incoming morning tides are but a few days away. Big baits on the pressure points in close to the mangroves should start to produce some early Barras! Cheers John H Paradise Sportfishing Cairns
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Young angler proudly holding a large stingray on the bow of a boat in a calm mangrove-lined waterway.

Tropical Winter Fishing in Cairns

Aug 10, 2016 • Cairns
We are in the middle of Winter here in Cairns and the conditions have been tough! Along with the low water temperatures we have had unseasonal rain thrown in to the equation. Quite a few mornings we have had the rain coats on during the entire charter. The good news is that the live bait has been abundant,and except for the elusive Barramundi the other species have been on the bite. Some solid Queenfish,Giant Trevelly,Fingermark and the occasional Threadfin Salmon have been landed. I have had to go to lighter leaders and smaller hooks as the predators are just a little more weary this time of year. Rather then the large live baits that work well during summer,the smaller herring and the occasional fillet bait have been producing. The Salthouse Restaurant at The Pier has done a fantastic job of cooking up the fresh catches for our anglers. Don't let the wet conditions discourage you as it is still in the high twenties and the fish are still active. The full moon is upon us tomorrow and the big incoming tides in the mornings will surely produce good action for the next 4 to five days. Cheers, See you soon. John H Paradise Sportfishing
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