Don’t wait for the fish to come to you
If you love the idea of eating fish you’ve caught yourself, but get bored of waiting for a fish to jump on to the end of your line, spearfishing in Tropical North Queensland might be just what you need.
One of the oldest forms of angling in the world, spearfishing is a great way to mix ocean swimming with the thrill of the hunt and the challenge of matching wits with creatures of the deep in their own environment. And the bonus is that if you’ve got the right skills – a strong swimmer comfortable with snorkelling and free diving techniques plus a good eye and a steady hand – you’ll end up with a sustainably caught meal of healthy, tasty fish at the end of the day.
Spearfishing in TNQ’s estuaries and creeks isn’t recommended due to the presence of saltwater crocodiles but there are plenty of boat trips and charters that will take you out to fishing grounds where spearfishing is allowed. Good catches include barramundi, coral trout, blue fin tuna, giant trevally and more.