9 incredible game fish to catch on your next Great Barrier Reef fishing trip

Boasting strength, speed, and endurance, Giant Trevally, or ‘GTs’, are formidable foes for even the most experienced game fishers—and a huge draw card for ‘big game’ fishers. These beautiful, silvery-hued giants can weigh in up to a whopping 80 kg and are known for powerful runs (read: be ready to put up a long fight to catch one). 

Where to find this iconic Great Barrier Reef fish: If you’re keen to hook up at GT, then you’ll need to lock in an experienced deep-sea charter and head out past the Great Barrier Reef to designated drop-off zones.  
 
Recommended operators: East Coast Angling and Northern Conquest Charters. Check out our local’s guide to fishing on the Great Barrier Reef with East Coast Angling operator, Nick Milford. 

2. Blue or Black Marlin

Touted as the ‘Marlin Mecca’ of the southern hemisphere, the Great Barrier Reef is the ultimate location for marlin chasing. These magnificent creatures are fast and have the endurance of an Olympian, with both black and blue marlins known to patrol the deepest regions of the open ocean. Seasoned pros say that catching a marlin requires brain as well as brawn, and it’s no surprise why when these beauties can weigh in at over 1000lbs. 

Where to find this iconic Great Barrier Reef fish: A deep-sea game fishing charter is your best bet at hooking this iconic Great Barrier Reef fish; their playground is way offshore, often near seamounts, drop-offs and canyons around the Ribbon Reefs and the waters around Lizard Island.

3. Tuna

Think you’ve got what it takes to land a tuna fish? Renowned for its endurance, speed, and power, tuna is a trophy catch for serious anglers. The Great Barrier Reef is home to many species of tuna; dogtooth, skipjack, and dogtooth, as well as the unofficial ‘kings of the ocean’—the mighty yellowfin and bluefin. 

Where to find this iconic Great Barrier Reef fish: Tuna has a penchant for the deep waters beyond the outer reef systems. The iconic Ribbon Reefs and regions near the continental shelf drop-offs are prime spots for chasing dogtooth, but if it's yellowfin or bluefin you want to battle, then you’ll need to head out deep into open water and current lines.

4. Coral Trout

Prized for its vibrant colours and delicious taste, Coral Trout are easily one of the most sought-after fish for anglers. They also put up a great fight, showing off their grit and stubbornness in the water. 

Where to find this iconic Great Barrier Reef fish: July to November is peak Coral Trout season on the Great Barrier Reef and are usually found hunting near large coral bommies and along reef edges. 

Note: Coral Trout are also a slow-growing species, meaning it takes longer to replenish its numbers if overfished, so responsible fishing practices are advised when angling for this incredible species. 

Recommended operators: Cairns Reef Fishing, Northern Conquest Charters and Top Notch Game Fishing

5. Barramundi

Arguably Australia’s most iconic fish, ‘barra’ is an icon of the fishing world. Famed for their enthusiastic acrobatics, even seasoned anglers love the thrill of catching one—a sturdy line and a good drag system is an absolute must. While certainly not the largest fish on the bucket list, barramundi in the Great Barrier Reef far exceed the average species weight (between 5-10kgs), often coming in at over 20kgs. 

Where to find this iconic Great Barrier Reef fish: The warmer months are for prime barra fishing, with Tropical North Queensland’s wet season (November-March) considered the peak barramundi season. Found in both salt and freshwater, these beauties particularly enjoy mangrove-lined estuaries and creeks, freshwater lagoons and river mouths. 

Recommended operators: Tropical Sportfisher, Far North Sports Fishing and Northern Conquest Charters

6. Wahoo

Lovers of warm, clear waters, it’s no wonder that Wahoo loves the Great Barrier Reef as their personal playground. One of the fastest fish in the ocean, the wahoo is a favourite gamefish, as well as a prized tablefish.

Where to find this iconic Great Barrier Reef fish: While Wahoo are largely found on the very outer edges of the reef, preferring to hunt the depths of soaring seamounts, pinnacles, plateaus and major reef complexes, they are one of the only pelagic gamefish that spend a lot of time at the surface.

7. Mahi Mahi

Mahi Mahi love the warm, nutrient-rich waters of the northern Great Barrier Reef. Their other-worldly looks, and bright green-blue hue are one of its most famous attributes, and it’s notoriously unpredictable on the chase, making it a very worthwhile fishing challenge for any angler.

Where to find this iconic Great Barrier Reef fish: Mahi Mahi are more plentiful between October-April, preferring the maze of the outer reef, and often coming to the water’s surface to quell their insatiable appetite.

8. Spanish Mackerel

Blistering speeds, majestic leaps, big runs… it’s no surprise, then, why anglers of all abilities dream of an encounter with Spanish Mackerel. They can grow to a massive 60kg and up to two metres in length along the eastern coast of Australia. 

Where to find this iconic Great Barrier Reef fish: June through October is the best time of year to see Spanish Mackerel on the Reef around Mackay and the Whitsunday Islands offshore reefs, particularly around headlands and shoals.

Note: If you’re planning to eat what you catch, there are specific size limits for Spanish Mackerel on the Reef, which, if using a sustainable fishing charter, the crew will be knowledgeable on what can be kept and what must be released. 
 
Recommended operators: Cairns Reef Fishing and Far North Sports Fishing

9. Cobia

Also known as the Black Kingfish, Cobia are sleek and powerful hunters who love the surface waters as much as they do the seabed. A challenging but thrilling chase is a given with a Cobia, making it a favourite game catch among all levels of anglers.

Where to find this iconic Great Barrier Reef fish: Huge fans of the tropical, clear waters of The Whitsundays and northern Great Barrier Reef, shore reefs and boat wreckages are great locations to spot and catch these elegant fish. In the warmer months, they’ve even been spotted in bays and estuaries, capable of migrating vast distances up and down the eastern coastline.

How to practice sustainable fishing on the Great Barrier Reef

Fishing anywhere in this vast UNESCO Heritage site is one of life’s true privileges, highlighting not only the incredible array of marine life but also the endlessly diverse vistas of the region. To ensure the ongoing protection of the Reef and its delicate ecosystem, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park enforces strict zoning rules for all fishing practices—be it a commercial trawler or tinny boat with a single line on the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

By choosing sustainable operators when visiting the Reef, you’re able to enjoy this unique natural wonder while supporting the social, economic, and cultural well-being of the region, while ensuring its safeguarding for generations to come.

Want to plan the perfect fishing getaway with friends? Tackle this four-day fishing and adventure in Cairns.