Big Fish Down Under


Looking forward to helping you enjoy some Fantastic Fishing on the Great Barrier Reef"

BIG FISH DOWN UNDER Fishing Charters Cairns, is owned and operated by Daniel McCarthy. Daniel captains the Moana III, 47 ft Luxury Private Charter Boat.
Daniel is a Cairns local with an extreme fishing addiction!
Qualified as a Master Class IV Captain and MED II (engineering), Daniel McCarthy has been fishing since almost before he could walk and skippering sportsfishing and marlin boats since the age of 21, 1st taking the wheel over 18 years ago!
He has extensive knowledge of the fishing waters around Cairns, Coral Sea, Cape York, Gulf of Carpentaria and New Guinea for black marlin fishing, sports fishing, reef and deep sea fishing.
As President Cairns Professional Game Fishing Association, Daniel, his crew and the members of the Association are committed to conservation of a clean ocean environment and continue to lead the world in tag and release Game Fishing.

Share Daniel's expertise, experience and passion for this sensational part of the world.
Come and join Daniel and the crew of Big Fish Down Under aboard Moana III for the ultimate fishing journey in the best private charter boat style.

Big Fish Down Under also specialises in Game Fishing, Private Scuba Diving on the outer edges of the Great Barrier Reef, Snorkelling Charters, Honeymoon Getaways, Luxury Day Cruising, Corporate Functions and Remote Expeditions to areas of Cape York Peninsula, Princess Charlotte Bay, Far Northern Queensland Coast, and the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Black Marlin Fishing Charters - Game Fishing Cairns - Giant Black Marlin Fishing

Giant Black Marlin Fishing with Big Fish Down Under specialise in Heavy Tackle Black Marlin fishing in the deep blue cobalt waters between Cairns, Lizard Island and beyond the continental shelf, which is unquestionably the World's premier location for prestigious game fishing. Large numbers of anglers from Australia and around the globe make their way annually to this region to fish for these magnificient ocean giants.
Giant Black Marlin Fishing peak season traditionally runs from beginning of September through to end December each year. It is the prime time to come and experience the larger numbers of these aggregating fish.
The rapidly rising numbers of Black Marlin in this region each year is due our care of the ocean environment and also our commitment to the health of these beautiful creatures.
The Cairns Marlin Fishing fleet has for many years carried out tag and release fishing. The use of circle hooks by the Cairns Professional Game Fishing Association members has ensured this area remain the most sustainable fishery for the Giant Black Marlin in the world.
These marine giants congregate along 150NM on the seaward edge of the Reef, and along the continental shelf. The reliability of their return each season is what makes our region so desirable.

For Giant Black Marlin Fishing, we use custom built 130lb IGFA class rods and Penn International 2 speed reels and big baits of up to 40 pounds, and Capt Daniel and the team on Moana III catch Black Marlin, 800 to 1000 pounds (granders) on a very regular basis and are still chasing that world record!
The largest Black Marlin caught in Far North Queensland waters weighed 655kg (1446lb)!
There are more 1,000lb+ black marlin caught in these waters in the peak Marlin season than all the other known grounds in the world put together, making it arguably the number one game fishing region on the planet.
But its not just about the Black Marlin Fishing, Other species caught on heavy tackle include Stripe and Blue Marlin, Sail Fish, Dorado, Wahoo and Tuna.

Primarily the best fishing time for Giant Black Marlin is from the early part of the afternoon, so we offer other options to fill in your morning including; light tackle sportsfishing, swimming, snorkelling around the beautiful coral gardens, enjoying the most superb sunrises or just sleeping in!

We then chase these morning activities with some light tackle sportsfishing or other game fishing, to catch some fresh fish for dinner or top up on bait and at the same time make our way out past the edge of the Great Barrier Reef and over the continental shelf, where we put the 130lb outfits in the water and track down those huge creatures of the deep.

Imagine the thrill of that spectacular strike and the fight of your life to pull in that magical 1000 pounder by day, then spend the evening telling the story over a cold beer, while you watch the sun set over the Great Barrier Reef waters!

The best way to experience this incredible Giant Black Marlin Fishing is to book an extended charter of 2-7 days and we are happy to do longer trips if required.

Mother Shipping and Larger Groups
Moana III is a liveaboard private charter boat however, for the extra comfort the option of a mother ship is available for the ultimate in 5 star accommodation and dining experience.
This concept involves Moana III returning each day after chasing Giant Black Marlin to a very comfortable vessel anchored in the calm waters behind the Great Barrier Reef.
The Cairns Fishing fleet of mother ships offers a range in size, comfort and affordability. Evenings on board mother ships are spent enjoying beautifully prepared meals and cocktails followed by mornings of snorkelling, scuba diving, spear fishing, sport fishing or just relaxing.
Larger Groups
For larger groups, we can organise other game fishing boats to join Moana III and / or a mothership should you desire.
A maximum of 4 people applies for extended live on board trips on Moana III.

Lizard Island - Giant Black Marlin Fishing Cairns

For those who wish to indulge in the ultimate in islands, Lizard Island is a superior option. A range of accommodation is available if you prefer to stay on land while Moana III anchors in the bay overnight. In the morning it is only 30 minutes run to the pristine game fishing grounds for Giant Black Marlin Fishing. This is a perfect option for those not wanting to stay onboard overnight. We can take care of these arrangements for you.

2004 - Lizard Island Giant Black Marlin Classic
Skipper Daniel and Crew of Moana III - Winner of the Biggest Marlin Title. Angler Kirill Kulazhko.
2008 - Lizard Island Giant Black Marlin Classic
Skipper Daniel and Crew of Moana III - 6th Place among 35 vessels.

What's Included - Black Marlin Fishing Charters - Giant Black Marlin Fishing Cairns

For Heavy Tackle Giant Black Marlin Charters we include;

Crew - Skipper, Host, Deck Hand

All fishing equipment and bait

Snorkelling gear including sun suits

Towels and Sunscreen

Bed linen (Overnight/Extended trips)

Water and light refreshments

Standard beer & wine (Limited. RSA applies)

Morning Tea (fruit platter)

Lunch - Fresh Local Ocean Prawns, salads, cold meats and dessert

Afternoon Tea - Snacks /cheese platter

Two course dinner menus (Overnight/Extended Trips) including; Lamb Roast and freshly caught fish cooked with
our secret herbs and spices.

Complimentary T-shirt

What to bring on Black Marlin Fishing Cairns Adventure


Comfortable and practical clothing

A warm/weatherproof jacket

Good sun protection clothing

Cameras and accessories to capture the unforgettable moments.



Big Fish Down Under


✆ 0413 054 031
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Specialist: Sportfishing