Cape York Fishing - Trips and Prices

This has been our most popular camp for many years now and it's easy to see why. It doesn't get any better than this.

The southeast tradewind, the Sagir, blows offshore on the west coast of the Gulf during the season and our camp is located in a remote uninhabited area beside one of the rivers that empty into the Gulf.

The untouched, ancient landscape is our backdrop and our camp opens out onto one of the wide shallow estuaries, fed by ever-changing swamps, billabongs and soaks. This is our living and fishing environment and the only way to truly experience it is to become part of the ecosystem 24 hours a day. Camping is the only way you can do this.

After a day's fishing, most of us have a hot shower before enjoying our first cold beer and the daily fishing report with the rest of the group. Every hot meal is cooked on the fireplace by the camp cook as the sun sets over the Gulf. The menu includes T-bone steaks , marinated pork spare ribs, camp-oven lamb roast, butter chicken and as much fish & chips as we can handle plus any new ideas the cook comes up with from time to time.

Sitting round the fire after dinner we solve the world's problems to the sounds of the wild .The beasts of the night contribute their own lingo tales; the cacaphony of squabbling  feral pigs; the wing beats and honking of Magpie geese; the lonely distant howl of the outlawed Guardian; the plaintive cry of the.Curlews; the call of Owls, Bitterns and crickets, the symphony of the night.

When you retire for the night, you will sleep in an insect proof dome tent, on an air mattress with pillow, sheets, blanket and towel provided. The Sagir soughing through the casuarinas will whisper you to sleep in a long forgotten language, telling the story of this land to those who lie and listen. Even the worriers sleep well on camp.

Breakfast is versatile. We fit in with you. Some like a hot breakfast, others itch for a fish. Fly fishermen will be totally absorbed by the very headland we camp on. Early morning sightfishing on foot amongst the shallows is a must, staying well clear of any area where the bottom is obscured from sight. Yes this whole area is crocodile country and we make sure that you never ignore or forget this fact.

You might choose to have a quick cup of coffee, some cereal and get out in the boats or maybe you will check on foot the flats around camp before coming back for a hearty cooked breakfast of bacon, beans, fried tomato, eggs and toast with all the trimmings.

We recommend a group size of four persons plus two guides and a camp cook. This gives you more flexibility in group decisions. You have the benefit of two experienced guides plus ample room in the boats to fish with two clients and one guide per boat.

Fish species on offer include Barramundi, Mangrove Jack, Longtail Tuna, Threadfin Salmon, Cobia, Queenfish, Spanish Mackerel, Fingermark, Black Jew, Golden Trevally, Giant Trevally, Triple Tail, Permit, Giant Herring, Saratoga, Scarlet Sea Perch plus many more. We can cater for all styles of fishing and will encourage you to do so as variety is the drawcard to Cape York.

The West Coast Camp is the real thing.

The Escape River is part of the Jacky Jacky system. It is home to over 75% of all Australian species of Mangroves that form a formidable barrier to any who dare try set foot on the banks of its countless tributaries. In places the mangroves form a dense canopy over these feeder creeks. The Jacky Jacky is renowned for its many secrets and entering this system for the first time is a daunting task.

To unlock the secrets of the Jacky Jacky is a hard earned task. The shallow, often muddy waters hold many dangers for the unwary. At the Southern entrance to this huge system lies Turtlehead Island, homebase to Escape River Pearling and its owner Rusty. Rusty the ex ringer was a regular character on Thursday Island. A practical bloke who tried his hand at whatever came along. Rusty and his right-hand man Old Al, an ex Fed policeman, now work to fulfil Rusty's dream of operating a successful pearl farm.

Although it's a Pearl Farm, I like to call this place Rusty's River Ranch. The accommodation here is basic and practical - country style- no airs and graces, just kickback, relax and look out over the old blue spread. Watch the crocodiles go about their business or walk down onto the rickety, wooden jetty and be mesmerised by the life beneath. We've had clients not wanting to leave the Jetty because of the action underneath. Big Barra start stacking up here in September and to fish this with surface lures after dark (under lights) burns an unforgettable memory in all.

The reason we've chosen to run trips from here is simple. We're in the middle of the action. There are unlimited options inside estuaries, unbelievable inshore pelagic action (I've had clients cast and catch Spaniards whilst standing on a sandbar here at the mouth of river!) and if Mother Nature holds you in her favour and the winds are favourable, the Great Barrier Reef is within easy reach. There is a huge array of species on offer including all the tropical superstars.

Imagine a trip where you don't even know where you're going until you meet us at the Airport; where fishing is our whole world - fishing the right tides in the most favourable conditions for as long as we want each day and night.

With the purchase of our new Dropdoor Landing Barge we can now offer what no other charter business here on the Cape can - a compact, fully mobile camp, or as I like to put it, a lean, mean hunting machine.

Aimed at the dedicated angler, this is a no frills, deadly serious, military like fish scouting mission. We eat and sleep on the move to the next fishing ground in order to effectively use all of our valuable time. Imagine having the opportunity to choose between fishing and sleeping! The choice becomes harder when you've hardly slept for the last two nights and there's the opportunity to fight a Big Black Jew or a 10 kilo Fingermark or dare I say a 1 metre plus Barra up in the shallows under a full moon on a windless night.

Plenty of piscatorial opportunities but heed this; there will be no fairy floss on this trip - definitely not for the fainthearted....