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Capricorn Islands Fishing
We visit the Capricorn Islands and the associated areas of Shoalwater Bay as part of our Coral Sea Lagoon Explorer packages each year. This area and the surrounding offshore isalnds, beaches and reefs is one of the most remote, spectacular and diverse fishing environments that we visit. From the rocky headlands of the bays, to the beautiful reef fringed offshore islands, and the crystal clear water lapping onto the white sand of the islands, this area provides a huge range of different environments from which to catch a huge range of species. This is one of our guides favourite locations to fish, and as such we have a week each year around these islands where the guides fish with our guests. If you asked the guides why this is one of their favourite places, many would struggle to explain it, but there is just some sort of 'X' factor about this place that makes it very special.

If you want to cast poppers and stickbaits for lots of BIG GTs in one of the most picturesque locations imaginable then this is the place. If you also want to do some of the best light tackle variety sportfishing available, then a trip to to the Capricorn Islands will also satisfy you. We visit this area with our 80ft mothership, 25ft Centre Console and 3 x 18ft sportfishers each year. This area is located on the Central Queensland coast of Australia, however the name of the Capricorn Islands covers a huge range of environments from offshore islands to the headlands and bays of Shoalwater Bay. Just click on the map at right for a closer look.

A Seriously Isolated Location - The area is extremely remote and for most of the year it is a restricted access military training ground. It is only in February/March each year that we can reliably gain access to the area. The coastline for about 100 miles north and south of the area is government military land, meaning there is nothing there, except when the army does its excercises there. Most vessels simply avoid this entire area due to the military and the strong currents, and in fact many cruising guidebooks reccomend to simply avoid the entire area due to dangerous navigation and strong currents.

The area we fish around the Capricorn Islands and Shoalwater Bay consists of isolated offshore islands fringed with reef, river mouths and fast flowing channels littered with rock bars. The current flows around this area are enormous, with 9 metre tidal differences experienced around the king tides. It is one of the most isolated parts of the Queensland coast because accessing the area by land is not possible due to the year round closure on the land side of the military training area.

The fishing around the Capricorn Islands - is all about BIG GTs and a huge variety of light tackle sportfishing options. There's a lot of 50-60kg GTs getting around this area, and they are very hard to stop in the nasty currents. As well as big nasty GTs there's a huge population of spanish mackerel, queenfish, tuna, golden trevally, barramundi, threadfin salmon, coral trout and fingermark, just to mention a few. While the heavy spin fishing for GT's is amazing, there are so many other exciting fishing options on offer that you'll be spoilt for choice.
There are plenty of protected areas to fish for GTs, but if the wind blows a bit you can head up one of the many isolated creeks and catch a huge variety of species. The light tackle fishing with small lures, fly or soft plastics is truly spectacular, so when you manage to drag yourself away from chasing the hordes of GTs there's some less strenuous fishing to be had, but certainly no less exciting.

The area of the Capricorn Islands and Shoalwater Bay extends over nearly 150 nautical miles from north to south, and it consists of around 40 isolated rocky islands. We've so far only explored about 10 of these islands, so the fishing potential is huge.

2009 Capricorn Islands Dates
31st Jan - 6th Feb
6th-12th February
12th-18th February
18th-24th February


Please contact us for more information on these trips, or download the PDF file below.

All material copyright Nomad Sportfishing Adventures 2007