GREAT BARRIER REEF
Experience epic black marlin fishing off the coast of northeastern Australia
NOV 4 - NOV 11, 2023
Overview
- Experience a black marlin fishery with more 800-plus-pound fish than anywhere in the world
- Five days of big-game fishing action on the Great Barrier Reef
- Learn from our experienced team of instructors and industry experts
- Stay on the MV Argo, an 82-foot expedition yacht
- Package includes all meals, charter boats and tips, mothership accommodations, and ground transfers
Itinerary
Catch billfish, improve your skills, and meet new friends: our seven-day itinerary is all about creating a fun, immersive experience.
Anglers arrive in Port Douglas for check-in. A welcome reception and dinner give participants the opportunity to get to know each other before heading out on the water.
Breakfast at 7:15 a.m. Board game boats for the day. The morning is spent bait fishing and the remainder of the day black marlin and big-game fishing. Return to the mothership by 6.00-6.30 p.m. Dinner at 7 p.m.
Board game boats for the day. The morning is spent bait fishing and the remainder of the day black marlin and big-game fishing. Dinner and awards ceremony at 6 p.m.
Arrive in Port Douglas by 7 a.m. Departure times vary, but we ensure there’s ample time for the return to Cairns for flights back home.
Fishing OvervieW
Since 1966, the Great Barrier Reef—from Lizard Island to Cairns—has hosted thousands of anglers looking for their grander black.
Before the early 1960s, no one really knew about it—few local fishermen ever ventured out past the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. They fished mostly the inside grounds, which are made up of scattered reefs and coral heads where juvenile black marlin, sailfish, and all kinds of mackerel and bottom species were abundant. It wasn’t until two marine biologists, studying the Japanese longline statistics in the Pacific, brought to light the staggering catch rates of large black marlin in the Coral Sea. Their information showed that the catch rates and size ranges of black marlin caught were astonishing. Then in 1966, an epic black marlin fight went viral in the sport-fishing world: an incredible 1,064-pound giant that set a new IGFA world record, a fish so big it had to be towed all the way back to Cairns. The record-breaking fish inspired anglers to test the fishery for themselves – and they never stopped. Today, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef hold 12 of the 22 IGFA line class world records for black marlin.
The section of the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns north to just past Lizard Island holds more 800-plus-pound fish than any spot in the world. If you are serious about catching a marlin of significant size then you can’t beat the action on the GBR.
Learn more about fishing the Great Barrier Reef:
The Fleet
The sport-fishing vessels in this fleet are the finest in the region and are completely devoted to marlin fishing season.
Accommodations
Our mothership is the MV Argo, a luxury 88-foot (27 m) expedition yacht with all the modern amenities that also gives us the flexibility to move up and down the reef to chase the bite. Our overnight anchorage is protected by the outer reef, and the well-appointed guest cabins will provide a comfortable night’s rest while catching up on the day’s action. Relax in the palatial salon, enjoy satellite TV, play board games, and serve yourself refreshments from the bar.
Prices & Dates
Nov 4 - Nov 11, 2023
Limited to 10 anglers-
7 DAYS
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EXPERT INSTRUCTORS
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ALL INCLUSIVE
What's Included
- Five nights accommodation on the mothership Argo
- Five days fishing on the Great Barrier Reef
- Charter boats, captain and crew tips, bait, and all fishing equipment
- Welcome cocktails and dinner
- Chef-prepared meals on the mothership and sport-fishing boats
- Snorkeling equipment
- Ground transfer from Cairns to Port Douglas, and Port Douglas back to Cairns
What's NOT Included
- Airfare to Cairns
- Hotel accommodations in Port Douglas
- Alcoholic beverages on the mothership. If you wish to pre-purchase alcohol prior to travel, we can arrange pick-up and store it on the vessel.
- Mothership gratuities
Check out the memento video from our 2022 Costa Rica expedition. As part of your package, you will receive a custom video documenting your trip.
Marlin Expeditions are priced as all-inclusive packages with all meals, charter boats and tips, accommodations, and airport transfers. Airfare is not included.
A fifty percent (50%) deposit must accompany each registration. The full payment must be paid 30 days in advance of your scheduled expedition.
Repeat anglers, active duty military and veterans qualify for special discounts. Please contact us for more information.
Payments made on your trip are refundable for cancellations received, in writing, at least ninety-one (91) days prior to the class date, less a $1,000 per person cancellation fee. If you cancel your trip, for whatever reason, 0-90 days prior to the class date, all payments will be nonrefundable.