The land down under, Australia, is a place I never really had at the top of my travel bucket list. I was so overwhelmed by its sheer size, dangerous wildlife, and lack of information that I just didn’t know where to start. Besides that, I had plenty of places to explore much closer to home before enduring that long flight across the Pacific. But as any angler knows, when your travel plans revolve around fly fishing rather than leisure, your bucket list shifts dramatically. That shift happened for me when my husband, Tanner, and I met Josh Hutchins (@aussieflyfisher) at the Denver Fly Fishing Show last February. As he talked about what fly fishing Australia has to offer and the unique species to target, all reluctance to travel there evaporated immediately.
After our conversation, it didn’t take much convincing for us to book the last couple of spots Josh had available at his lodge in Weipa, QLD, this fall (spring in Australia). The anticipation for this trip could not have been greater. In the months leading up to the trip, we were constantly seeing photos of anglers landing golden Anak Permit, queenfish, this strange blue fish called the Blue Bastard, Giant Trevally, and tons of other species that we’d never even heard of. The potential felt almost overwhelming.
Trip Preparation
Any overseas fishing trip requires diligent packing, especially given the scale of the trip we were embarking on. Flying across the Pacific Ocean and fishing in remote Australia meant the gear we brought was the gear we had. As Tanner does with every fishing trip, he spent hours researching everything he could about the fishing in Weipa. It turns out that there’s not much information about it, which makes it all the more exciting for us. We prepared for this trip exclusively with the lodge itinerary, anecdotes from friends and acquaintances who’ve been, and by zooming in on fish pictures to see what fly they ate—almost always a yellow-legged, tan-bodied alphlexo crab.
Gear
We packed as light as possible for this trip, knowing we had four flights with strict weight restrictions on bags. We really limited our personal items, so we had all the room we could for gear. We also opted to make our own rod tubes out of thick PVC pipe that could fit in our bags so we didn’t have to check a proper rod carrier. In terms of rods and equipment, we had:
- 2 Douglas Sky G 9wts with SA Sonar Grand Slam Clear intermediate tip
- 2 Douglas Sky G 10wts with SA Sonar Grand Slam Clear intermediate tip ● 1 Douglas Sky G 11wt with SA Sonar Titan GT
- 1 Douglas Sky 12wt (discontinued) with SA Amplitude Smooth Titan GT
We brought a range of fluoro tippets and leaders (16lb, 20lb, 25lb, 40lb, and 60lb), as well as a mix of Galvan Grip, Galvan Torque, and Hatch Iconic reels that we love and pair with these rods. We’ve found all of this gear to be super reliable and up for the challenge when it comes to fighting saltwater species.
In terms of flies, the yellow-legged, tan-bodied alphlexo crab in a variety of sizes (2-5g, size 2 and 1/0) was definitely the go-to fly. But we also used different shrimp patterns (1/0-2), Pink Things, Barra Bunnies, Barra Toads, clousers, poppers/NYAPs, and all kinds of large brush flies in tan/white, chartreuse/white, or black for Queenfish, GTs, Coral Trout, and other predatory species.
Guide to Fly Fishing Australia
Traveling to Australia, making our way to Weipa, and getting to the flats is an adventure. We learned a lot along the way, and this guide to fly fishing Australia is meant to give other anglers the tools we didn’t have going into our trip. Our hope is to take the guesswork out of fly fishing in Weipa.
Travel to Weipa
Fast forward past Tanner’s countless hours on the vise, several trips to Denver for supplies, lots of outreach to brands for equipment (thank you to our friends at Douglas Outdoors, Galvan Fly Reels, and Scientific Anglers for your support!), and one last minute, high anxiety game of packing Tetris to fit everything into two checked bags, and we were on our way to Australia. The long-haul flight was much easier than I’d assumed all these years. Throw on some comfy pants and compression socks, have a glass of wine with your in-flight dinner, put on a movie (or six), take a nap (or six), and you’re there.
We decided to break up the travel a bit by spending some time in Sydney and Cairns (pronounced “Cans”), two cities we had layovers in on the way north to Weipa. I’d highly recommend this approach. Sydney is a stunning city with lots to experience and boasts the best Thai food in the world outside of Thailand itself. And Cairns is a tropical paradise flanked by the Great Barrier Reef and a jungle full of hiking and waterfalls. Besides this being a great opportunity to explore different parts of Australia, it also gives you some time to adjust to a 17-hour time difference from the States before the big fishing days ahead.
Weipa & The Lodge
When we arrived at the tiny local airport in Weipa, we were welcomed by the friendliest shuttle driver, Ma. I admired how the Cape Lodge prioritizes local community support by hiring local service providers, sourcing supplies nearby, and using local contractors whenever possible. This approach has a significant positive impact on such a small, rural community.
After dropping off a few mine workers along the way (Weipa is a mining town with an extensive Bauxite extraction operation), Tanner and I arrived at the lodge, where we immediately felt at home. The newly renovated, cozy rooms have suites and plenty of AC to combat the dry heat. There’s space to practice casting, tie flies, rig up, and a small shop stocked with any forgotten gear. The comfortable living area is perfect for relaxing and sharing fish stories after a long day on the water.
Lastly, the food here deserves a special mention. Yara, who keeps the lodge in tip-top shape, ensures you never go hungry with her delicious treats and meals. Don’t miss her daily banana bread—it’s truly the best! And after a long day of fishing, you’ll be treated to impressive charcuterie boards, which are always artfully crafted and nutritiously balanced.
Tanner and I wasted no time getting settled, rigging up our gear, and preparing ourselves for the six days of fishing ahead. After a nice dinner and great conversations with some of the other anglers at the lodge, we went to bed with anxious excitement and anticipation for the adventures ahead.
Fishing in Weipa
Fly fishing in Weipa is unlike any saltwater fishing experience I’ve experienced. The flats are much deeper here, so rather than looking for tailing fish or nervous water, you’re usually looking for “moons” or flashing fish feeding underwater. Because the water is deeper, you’re also using intermediate or sinking lines and heavy, 3-5g flies so you can get down to the fish fast.
Due to the very healthy population of saltwater crocodiles and sharks, wading here is not recommended. While we did get a chance to fish from a couple of beaches on foot, we were fishing from a boat the majority of the time.
The boats are much larger than the skiffs you might see in places like Mexico or Belize. Rather than poling from a platform when looking for fish, guides use a trolling motor on the bow, which takes a little getting used to. Josh warned us to be aware of our lines at the front of the boat, as clients have had their leaders sucked into the propeller and broken rods that way.
Not two hours later, his warning had faded to the back of my mind, and while scanning the horizon for fish, I suddenly felt a strong jerk and pull on my line, bending my rod into an arch under the boat, followed by a quick snap. Sure enough, just as Josh had promised, my leader was wrapped around the prop, and my rod tip was decimated into 5 tiny pieces in a matter of seconds. Suffice it to say I learned my lesson and was hyper-aware of my line and the motor for the remainder of the trip.
Species to Target
There are an overwhelming number of species to fish for in Weipa; it’s not uncommon for anglers to catch 10 or more different species in a day. Some of the primary species we targeted included, but certainly weren’t limited to:
- Anak Permit: Nothing gets the heart racing like trying your hand with a massive school of golden, sickle-finned permit. Many people come to this fishery to round out their quest to join “the big 4 club,” as the Anak is endemic to northern Australia. Just like any species of permit, the combination of a well-presented fly, stealthiness, and a pinch of luck are all required to hook one of these spooky jacks.
- Blue Bastard: Yes, that’s really their name! Another species that exclusively calls Australia home and was actually only recently discovered as a species altogether, the Blue Bastard is loads of fun. Although some might not like the comparison, fishing to them felt very similar to carp. You usually cast ahead and past them and slowly drag the fly in front of them as they feed face down on the bottom. Just hold tight on when they take your fly; these guys pull hard and head straight to the reef to try and break you off.
- Queenfish: These guys are super aggressive and will eat just about anything you throw at them: Crabs, shrimp, poppers, clousers. They really don’t seem to care. We typically saw them cruising the flats in pairs or small schools or hanging around bait balls in the deeper water. Once hooked, they’re strong fighters and even put on an acrobatic show like tarpon.
- Barramundi: Similar to a snook, these fish like to hunker down deep under the mangrove, waiting to ambush. We loved going for Barramundi in the creeks when the wind got too intense. Blind or sight-casting a Clouser Minnow up into the mangrove was sure to get inhaled by one of these aggressive fish.
- Tusk Fish: Tuskies are as stunning as they are absolutely WILD. Typically found in rock or reef structures, if you convince a tusky to take your fly, get ready for a total smackdown. You get about one second to try and turn these guys before they take off at lightning speed and break you off on the rocks. We each hooked 4 or 5 tuskies, and while we landed a couple of juveniles, the adults proved to be unstoppable. Even still, this was probably one of the most fun fish to target.
- Giant Trevally (GTs): The gangster of the flats, these monsters would come in hot on small bait on the flats and leave just as quick. Since two anglers can fish at a time on these boats, we usually had the person at the back ready with the 12wt and a baitfish pattern in case one of these guys blasted in unannounced.
- Pelagic fish: There are lots of opportunities to cast into bait balls in deeper water. Jacks, mackerel, tuna, and even black marlin can all be found in these waters. Between the fish jumping everywhere, birds flying overhead, and the fast retrieve needed to get an eat, the chaos of this scene is infatuating. Catch a Longtail, and your lodge mates will thank you for bringing home the most delicious sashimi you can get.
Beyond the fish, you’re likely to see plenty of wildlife while you’re out, too. Saltwater crocs, sharks, dolphins, turtles, kangaroos, and dingos were just a few of the many critters we spotted from the boat during our time in Weipa.
The Trip of a Lifetime
As with any fishing trip, the days went by way too fast in Weipa, and before we knew it, it was time to head home. Our trip to Australia was nothing short of extraordinary. From enjoying the iconic cityscapes of Sydney to the lush jungle of Cairns and getting to experience such a diverse, one-of-a-kind fishery in Weipa, it’s a trip that will be on our minds for a long time and will be very tough to top. Whether you’re looking to target elusive permit, check off new species from your list, or just want to immerse yourself in the wildness of this country, there’s something for every angler of every level to enjoy.
Visit the Aussie Fly Fisher website to learn more about the Cape Lodge, as well as other Aussie Fly Fisher adventures and offerings.
Australian University Study Uncovers Massive Trevally Schools Feeding on Whale Shark Baitfish
Angler Story of the Week: A Trip To Australia To Round Out “The Big Four” Permit Species
