Bush 'n Beach Fishing Magazine Location reports & tips for fishing, boating, camping, kayaking, 4WDing in Queensland and Northern NSW
The Whitsundays are synonymous with great fishing, famous beaches and sunshine, and while Mother Nature takes care of the latter two, the dynamic team at Topnotch Fishing Charters are the experts on fishing in the Whitsundays.
Fishing isn’t a hobby here, it’s a way of life, and the Topnotch team deliver a fishing trip like no other.
In the Whitsundays, two primary categories of fishing reign supreme – reef and pelagic.
And if you’re wondering what these areas hold, the answer is simple… a smorgasbord of incredible fish that will make your angler’s heart sing.
Reef fishing
Many keen anglers have booked a trip to the Whitsundays for the sole purpose of a reef fishing expedition, which is no surprise to anyone who has fished the Great Barrier Reef.
The Whitsundays are home to a dazzling array of reef species, from delicious coral trout to prized red emperor.
Alongside these, you’ll find grass emperor, cobia, Indonesian snapper, fingermark, black jewfish, moses perch, grass sweetlip, a variety of different cod and many more.
But if there’s one that wears the crown in this category it’s the large-mouth nannygai, the true hero of the Whitsundays’ reef-fishing experience.
Pelagic fishing
Get the adrenaline pumping and challenge your fellow fishos on a pelagic fishing trip.
Targeting fast-moving open ocean species, this method will separate the well-fished from the novices, as the fight exhausts the latter.
Pelagic fishing in the Whitsundays can reel in black marlin, sailfish, spanish mackerel, spotted mackerel, giant trevally, cobia, longtail tuna, yellowfin tuna, mahi-mahi and barracuda.
But the Whitsundays’ most popular pelagic catch is undoubtedly spanish mackerel.
It’s an experience that puts your angling skills to the test – when you feel that tug on your line, you know you’re in for a thrilling fight.
Seasonal highlights
While the Whitsundays are a year-round fishing paradise, there are some seasonal highlights to look forward to also.
From August to December, it’s billfish season – perfect for those wanting to try their hand at the ultimate in big-game fishing.
Tuna season runs from May to August, a great time for targeting these fast and powerful fish.
And during the cooler months, you can expect bigger spanish mackerel weighing 30kg and more.
Memorable days on the water
The Topnotch team has had its share of unforgettable days on the water and one charter in particular stands out.
With Sydney guests aboard The Pirate, a full-day sports and reef-fishing charter turned into an angler’s dream.
From the first drift, quality big reds – including red emperor and nannygai – graced their lines.
It was one of those days when everything seemed to align perfectly.
Double hook-ups on spanish mackerel, a four-way hook-up on longtail tuna and more quality reef fish, including a dinosaur-sized coral trout and a magnificent giant trevally.
So, if you’re ready for a fishing adventure like no other, the Whitsundays are waiting.
Hook, line and sunshine – that’s the promise these waters hold, and they deliver it in abundance.
