Catch billfish, improve your skills, and meet new friends: our seven-day itinerary is all about creating a fun, immersive experience.
Anglers arrive in Port Douglas for check-in. A welcome reception and dinner give participants the opportunity to get to know each other before heading out on the water.
Breakfast at 7:15 a.m. Board game boats for the day. The morning is spent bait fishing and the remainder of the day black marlin and big-game fishing. Return to the mothership by 6.00-6.30 p.m. Dinner at 7 p.m.
Board game boats for the day. The morning is spent bait fishing and the remainder of the day black marlin and big-game fishing. Dinner and awards ceremony at 6 p.m.
Arrive in Port Douglas by 7 a.m. Departure times vary, but we ensure there’s ample time for the return to Cairns for flights back home.
Since 1966, the Great Barrier Reef—from Lizard Island to Cairns—has hosted thousands of anglers looking for their grander black.
Before the early 1960s, no one really knew about it—few local fishermen ever ventured out past the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. They fished mostly the inside grounds, which are made up of scattered reefs and coral heads where juvenile black marlin, sailfish, and all kinds of mackerel and bottom species were abundant. It wasn’t until two marine biologists, studying the Japanese longline statistics in the Pacific, brought to light the staggering catch rates of large black marlin in the Coral Sea. Their information showed that the catch rates and size ranges of black marlin caught were astonishing. Then in 1966, an epic black marlin fight went viral in the sport-fishing world: an incredible 1,064-pound giant that set a new IGFA world record, a fish so big it had to be towed all the way back to Cairns. The record-breaking fish inspired anglers to test the fishery for themselves – and they never stopped. Today, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef hold 12 of the 22 IGFA line class world records for black marlin.
The section of the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns north to just past Lizard Island holds more 800-plus-pound fish than any spot in the world. If you are serious about catching a marlin of significant size then you can’t beat the action on the GBR.
Learn more about fishing the Great Barrier Reef:
The sport-fishing vessels in this fleet are the finest in the region and are completely devoted to marlin fishing season.
Our mothership is the MV Argo, a luxury 88-foot (27 m) expedition yacht with all the modern amenities that also gives us the flexibility to move up and down the reef to chase the bite. Our overnight anchorage is protected by the outer reef, and the well-appointed guest cabins will provide a comfortable night’s rest while catching up on the day’s action. Relax in the palatial salon, enjoy satellite TV, play board games, and serve yourself refreshments from the bar.
Check out the memento video from our 2022 Costa Rica expedition. As part of your package, you will receive a custom video documenting your trip.
Marlin Expeditions are priced as all-inclusive packages with all meals, charter boats and tips, accommodations, and airport transfers. Airfare is not included.
A fifty percent (50%) deposit must accompany each registration. The full payment must be paid 30 days in advance of your scheduled expedition.
Repeat anglers, active duty military and veterans qualify for special discounts. Please contact us for more information.
Payments made on your trip are refundable for cancellations received, in writing, at least ninety-one (91) days prior to the class date, less a $1,000 per person cancellation fee. If you cancel your trip, for whatever reason, 0-90 days prior to the class date, all payments will be nonrefundable.
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