GBR Cairns Edge fishing forecast
GBR Cairns Edge is a saltwater fishing spot in Coral Sea, Australia. Anglers here target Black Marlin, Indo-Pacific Sailfish, Giant Trevally. The most productive months are typically September, October, November, December.
Today’s verdict
Ranks #424 of 437 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today
In line with this spot’s 7-day average
Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals
The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.
Current conditions
| Sea surface temp | 25.0 °C |
|---|---|
| Wind | 26 km/h from SE |
| Wave height | 1.3 m at 6 s |
| Current | 0.45 m/s toward SSE |
| Pressure | 1015 hPa |
| Depth | 1500 m |
| Cloud cover | 20% |
| Chlorophyll | 0.08 mg/m³ |
| Salinity | 35.0 PSU |
| Mixed-layer depth | 26 m |
| UV index | 8 |
| Wind sea | 0.4 m at 3 s |
| Ground swell | 1.2 m at 6 s from E |
| Current shear (surface vs 50 m) | 0.45 → 0.35 m/s |
The water here is 0.6 °C warmer than the September average of 24.4 °C. Warmer-than-normal water pushes cool-water species deeper and brings warm-water species in earlier than the calendar suggests. The water is mixed to about 32.7 m, with the thermocline below that.
Updated 1 h ago.
What the score means at GBR Cairns Edge
GBR Cairns Edge currently scores 46 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 25.0 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.
- Water temperature +25.0
- how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
- Current +18.0
- moving water concentrates bait
- Waves +9.0
- swell energy stirring the water column
- Chlorophyll +4.9
- plankton density — the base of the food chain
- Eddy energy +4.9
- mesoscale eddies trap nutrients and bait
- Wind +4.1
- surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
What’s biting now
The model expects today: black-marlin, sailfish, wahoo, giant-trevally, spotted-mackerel, redthroat-emperor, grass-emperor, school-mackerel
Bite windows
Best months for GBR Cairns Edge:
Score history at this spot
30 days tracked at this exact location
Best recent day: 2026-08-11, 61/100
About this spot
Open coastal saltwater — conditions and safety depend heavily on the live wind, wave, and tide forecast, so check them before you head out.
Approximate bottom depth: 1500 m
Access & shore
Best reached by boat · offshore-only
What you can catch
-
Istiompax indica
-
Istiophorus platypterus
-
Caranx ignobilis
Best months by species at GBR Cairns Edge
| Black MarlinIstiompax indica | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indo-Pacific SailfishIstiophorus platypterus | ||||||||||||
| Giant TrevallyCaranx ignobilis |
Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.
Local regulations
| Species | Bag limit | Min size | Open season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black MarlinOfficial source | 1/day | — | — |
| CORRECTED 2026-08-06. NSW allows one black marlin per angler per day (the limit is one of EACH of striped, black and blue marlin) with no minimum length; for marlin the NSW possession limit equals the bag limit. Queensland publishes no marlin-specific size or possession limit in its tidal limits table. Tag-and-release is the overwhelming norm in Australian game fishing and most tournaments require it, but it is a convention, not the law in NSW. Other states were not verified in this round. | |||
Licensing:
- saltwater-recreational — residents Licensing is state-level, not federal. NSW: the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee covers salt and fresh water. VIC: Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence. QLD: no general recreational licence for most saltwater fishing. WA, SA, TAS, NT: state-specific licences and permits. Bag, size and possession limits always come from the state you are fishing in., non-residents The same state rules apply to visitors, and a short-term licence can normally be bought online from the state authority before you fish.
- freshwater-recreational — residents Inland fishing usually needs a state recreational licence (NSW, VIC) or an angler permit (NT, parts of QLD). Freshwater closed seasons are separate from tidal ones — Queensland, for example, closes barramundi in fresh water and in tidal water on the same dates but publishes them on different pages., non-residents Visiting anglers must hold the relevant state licence or permit.
FishRadar regulations are summaries for informational purposes only. Australian fishing rules are set by each state and vary by zone, and this national pack shows the strictest figure we have verified rather than your state's own. Always verify with the relevant state authority (NSW DPIRD, QLD DPI, VFA, WA DPIRD, SA PIRSA, NRE Tasmania, NT Fisheries) before fishing.
Check GBR Cairns Edge before you go
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Nearby spots
Explore 10 more fishing spots within 1665 km of GBR Cairns Edge.
-
Cairns Great Barrier Reef
Lizard Island
Townsville Reef Access
Weipa Gulf of Carpentaria
Broken River Eungella QLD
Fraser Island
Noosa Queensland
Gold Coast Seaway
Adelaide River NT
Daly River NT
Frequently asked questions
What fish can you catch at GBR Cairns Edge?
Anglers at GBR Cairns Edge target Black Marlin, Indo-Pacific Sailfish and Giant Trevally.
When is the best time to fish GBR Cairns Edge?
The most productive months at GBR Cairns Edge are typically September, October, November, December.
What is the fishing forecast for GBR Cairns Edge right now?
GBR Cairns Edge currently scores 46 out of 100, based on live ocean and weather conditions — see the full breakdown on this page.
Can you fish GBR Cairns Edge from shore?
GBR Cairns Edge is best reached by boat; the scored water sits off a offshore-only.
Is the thermocline set up at GBR Cairns Edge right now?
Not strongly right now — the water column is fairly mixed, so fish are less depth-locked.
How deep is the water at GBR Cairns Edge?
The scored point sits over roughly 1500 m of water. Depth shapes which species hold here and how the thermocline forms.
Fishing guides for this spot
- How to Read Tides for FishingHow to Read a Fishing ForecastBest Moon Phase for Fishing
Forecasts, not guarantees — check local rules before you fish.