Shore Thing Charters is proud to announce our sponsorship of the 60th Anniversary Cairns Black Marlin Tournament, hosted by the Cairns Professional Game Fishing Association (CPGFA), taking place 21–26 September 2026.
This is a genuinely special milestone. Sixty years ago, the first grander black marlin ever caught off Cairns put this stretch of water on the map for game fishing worldwide. Every season since, anglers have made the trip north chasing the same legendary fish that built Cairns’ reputation as one of the great marlin fishing destinations on earth.
Why Far North Queensland is unlike anywhere else
There’s a reason anglers fly in from every corner of the globe for this stretch of water. The Ribbon Reefs, running along the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef north of Cairns, sit in a category of their own. This is one of the only places on the planet where black marlin gather in genuine numbers, drawn by the reef drop-offs and the seasonal spawning aggregations of giant trevally and other baitfish along the continental shelf.
It’s not just the volume of fish — it’s the size. Far North Queensland is grander territory. Fish over 1,000 pounds are caught here with a regularity found almost nowhere else on earth, and that reputation has held for six decades, since the very first grander was landed off Cairns.
The Ribbon Reefs themselves are spectacular in a way that’s hard to describe until you’re standing on the deck looking at it — sheer coral walls dropping into deep blue water, the outer reef stretching as far as you can see, with nothing but open ocean beyond it. Add in the heavy tackle tradition this region is famous for, and you’ve got a genuine bucket-list fishing destination, not just a good day on the water.
This is why anglers return year after year, and why the Cairns Black Marlin Tournament has run for sixty years straight — because nowhere else brings together this combination of scale, size, and sheer spectacle.
Tournament Schedule:
- 21 September — Briefing
- 22–25 September — Fishing
- 26 September — Presentation
Fishing the Ribbon Reefs, the Shore Thing way
Getting to the Ribbon Reefs and staying out long enough to fish them properly is half the challenge — it’s remote water, well beyond a standard day trip. That’s where our mothership operation comes in.
Shore Thing 58 handles the fishing — purpose-built for serious offshore game fishing, with the deck, the tackle, and the crew experience to back it. Shore Thing 115 runs alongside as mothership, providing the range, comfort, and support to stay out on the reef for days at a time rather than racing back to port each night.
It’s this combination — a dedicated sportfisher backed by a full mothership — that lets us fish the Ribbon Reefs the way they’re meant to be fished: properly, patiently, and without compromise.
WANT IN ON THE ACTION?
We’re excited to be part of this milestone anniversary, supporting an event that’s shaped the game fishing community in Far North Queensland for six decades. Whether you’re a competitor, a local, or just love the sport, this is a tournament worth watching.
Whether you’re chasing your own grander, want a front-row seat to the fishing, or just want to be part of the atmosphere in Cairns for this milestone anniversary, we can put together a charter to suit.
Shore Thing is already booked out for tournament week this year, but we’re now taking charter requests for 2027 and 2028 — get in early if you want to be there for the next one.
Get in touch to book Shore Thing 58
For tournament information or to register, visit www.cpgfa.asn.au/60th.
We’ll see you out there.
