The Location

Sandy white beaches, hammocks overlooking pristine waters, local seafood… and some of the best coastal fly fishing on the East & West coast of Australia. This is why you want to fly fish the waters surrounding Albany Island (A few words from Peter Morse fly Fishing Albany Island)

Please contact Doug to get the price. doug@fishingearth.com

The Location Species

GT (Giant Trevally), Golden Trevally, Coral Trout, Permit, Spanish Mackeral, Barracuda, Milkfish, Fingermark, Queenfish, Northern Bluefin Tuna, Barramundi, Saratoga, Mangrove Jack and of course Blue Bastards.

Not every moment is a classic shot like this. But the area is one of those locations the harder you work the luckier you will get.

The Lodge

Albany Island is not trying to be one of those swanky, shiny places with polished marble and overcomplicated service. There is plenty of that on this earth. Albany Island does things differently, with minimal fuss, genuine hospitality, and the sort of authentic Cape York experience that is becoming harder to find.

This is a place that feels properly away from the rest of the world, surrounded by wild country, clear water, history, wildlife, and some of the most exciting fishing country in Australia. The accommodation is simple, comfortable, clean, and practical, with enough creature comforts to keep the bugs away and make sure you sleep well at night.

The old saying fits Albany Island perfectly; they make sure your belly is full and your head is comfortable when you get into bed. It is not about luxury for the sake of luxury. It is about being safe, well-fed, comfortable, and right in the middle of something real.

The Fishing

Albany Island, in conjunction with Cape York Fly Fishing and FishingEarth, offers one of Australia’s most exciting remote fly fishing adventures.

Sitting at the very northern edge of Australia’s east coast, Albany Island feels like the end of the line in the best possible way. For the flat Earthers among us, the next stop is the edge. For everyone else, the next stop is Papua New Guinea, although you would need to navigate your way past some of the most beautiful tropical islands, reef systems and fishing water imaginable to get there.

This is a place made for sight casting.

Albany Island is surrounded by the kind of water fly fishers dream about. Shallow flats, rocky points, reef edges, creeks, current lines, bait schools and endless blue water options all come together in one extraordinary location. Permit, blue bastards, milkfish, queenfish, GTs, tuna and a long list of other tropical sportfish are all part of what makes this area so special.

When someone can catch their first blue bastard halfway through a phone call to a business associate in Canada, you know you have found something incredible.

I am sure you have already Google Earthed the heck out of Albany Island and the surrounding area. Once you start looking closely, the fishing opportunities are obvious. To the east sits the widest section of the Great Barrier Reef, one of the healthiest and most diverse marine environments on Earth. To the south you have rocky outcrops, Jackey Jackey Creek and the Escape River. In every direction, there are flats, reefs, blue water and remote coastal systems that offer genuine fly fishing potential.

This is not a fish farm.

It is the Coral Sea, and you have to work for your fish. That is part of what makes it so rewarding. This is a wild fishery with very little fishing pressure, especially from anglers casting a fly. For those who enjoy stalking fish, reading water and studying conditions, Albany Island could be one of the great new playgrounds for Australian fly fishing.

The fish here may never have seen a fly before. That does not mean they are easy. A crab pattern with the wrong coloured legs might have you casting all day with very little success. But if you take the time to look at the environment, watch what the fish are feeding on, and fish with patience, this fishery can reward you in a way that few places can.

We strongly encourage catch and release. This is a special place, and the value of the fishery is in keeping it wild, healthy and productive for the future.

Albany Island itself is also part of the magic.

It gives you the feeling of being properly remote, while still being close enough to reach in a day from most major locations in Australia. In the morning, when you are sitting with a freshly brewed coffee, looking back across the water toward mainland Australia, you will understand exactly what makes this location so special.

Northern Australia is not famous for wadding but we have incredible Reef and sand flats that provide insane visibility and safe fishing

22 seconds looking at some of the country that you’ll be fishing.

Casting to the left of me, casting to the right of me… Where are you?

Grab a coffee or a cup of tea, maybe even a cheeky glass of scotch and have a look at some of the flats that could be your Fishing Nirvana. It’s not a fish farm, but if you take a moment to take it all in, enjoy the surroundings and focus on your objectives. This place can genuinely be your Fishing Nirvana.

We were only in the water for a minute or two.

Barramundi and blue bastards for miles and miles and miles and miles. As we keep saying it’s not a fish farm but you may notice that there’s no other boats anywhere.

A day has to start and finish somewhere

Not sure if you’ve seen a bright yellow praying mantis before but just one of those things that when you immerse yourself into the environment you get to see more than you’ve ever seen before. Think about how that may apply to your Fly Fishing.