Cairns to Cooktown

[split-shot]

I will be travelling to Cooktown next month and would like to try a little land based fishing on the way and at Cooktown. Any suggestions on areas to try would be appreciated. I will be using hard bodies and poppers.

[kingkev]

Are you driving the coast road or inland ?

[kingkev]

I will try give you some idea. I went in April and stayed for 4 nights in Cooktown. We fished from the rock walls which is to the right of the jetty. Small undersized grunter. I caught a large shark at the moth of the Annan. Take a cast net with you but watch for crocs..........I hit a croc on the head with a sinker with a cast off the rock wall.

It blows like hell up there but if you get a good day then you should head to Archers point. Great place and looks very fishy. Trevally were caught off the old jetty. Rocks a bit slippy there so take care.

Other than that the best success we had was off the beach at the moth of the Bloomfield river. Great spot.....very alive with bait as well...............again watch out for crocs and when the sun goes dowm the bities are vicious

good luck

[odes20]

The Cooktown Jetty is the hottest land based spot in the whole region you described. Give it a go talk to the locals though as they have the drum on the seasonal issues
Cheers
john

[split-shot]

I intend to travel up via the inland road. Conditions permitting, because I only have a 4X2 Triton ute, I will try and return via the coast road if the reports suggest that it is dafe to do so. Sounds like I need to live bait, rather than using lures. Thanks for the tips and I most definetly will not being trying to catch a croc for live bai or intend to be a live bait for a croc.

[flatzie]

I agree with Odes20 re the COOKTOWN JETTY. Its an amazing place to fish, ive caught spotted mackeral there even! on alure I used fro Sooty Grunter LOL
Cheers
Flatzie

[The-easyrider]

If you travel up the Cook hiway to the Daintree then double back to the Rex range you will land on the cooktown development road. Good fishing to be had off the palm cove jetty just north of Cairns. Also there are some good rocky headlands along the cook hiway as well as being a realy nice drive. Plus there is the Daintree river.

[split-shot]

Thanks all for your input, I will only be in cooktown for 48 hours, but hope to wet a line. The jettty sounds like the place to patronise. Will also try palm cove and the headlands, if the track is passable.

Thanks again, will let you all know the results of the trip.

[kingkev]

The problem I had with the warf was that there was a big boat moored their for about 2 days as well as prawn trawlers waiting to take its place. The locals did say that the wharf was a very good spot.

Good luck

[The-easyrider]

Thanks all for your input, I will only be in cooktown for 48 hours, but hope to wet a line. The jettty sounds like the place to patronise. Will also try palm cove and the headlands, if the track is passable.

Thanks again, will let you all know the results of the trip.

Hi mate, it is not a track it is paved all the way to the Daintree and beyond

[odes20]

The Palm Cove Jetty is a very hit and miss jetty compared to Cooktown
John

[split-shot]

I have decided to charter a local guide to try and increase the chances of the missus & of course myself, of hooking onto something decent.

Thanks again for all the input.