Annan River

The Annan River lies south of Cooktown and is crossed twice when driving the inland road to Cooktown. The 'Little Annan' causeway about 30 km from Cooktown crosses close to the Annan Gorge where it's worth stopping for a look and a swim. Next you cross the 'Big Annan' about 6 km out of town. A new, high, 2 lane concrete bridge has replaced the old wooden bridge which is still a popular fishing spot. Swimming is definitely out of the question here as some large crocs call this home. Walker Bay offers access to the mouth of the Annan and windsurfers are often seen in the bay.

Fish the clear cool waters of Wallaby Creek and the Annan River amongst the 'babbling brooks' and beautiful glides with a 5 weight fly outfit or light spinning rig. You will find some good sized jungle perch, flagtail, tarpon and 'very angry' sooty grunter in water so clear that the water's inhabitants seem to be suspended in mid-air. Alternatively, walk down the river with a light trotting combination, landing net and a bait apron full of maggots/worms. You'll be surprised at the tenacity of these fish on the relevant tackle. Once you get downstream of the Little Annan gorge variety and size start to change. Lots of deep, slow, rocky glides interspersed with wide, shallow, gravelly/sandy runs that eventually reach the upper limit of the salt. The great confluence, the meeting of two very different habitats. Things generally get bigger, faster and have a lot more teeth (except the Barramundi which has no teeth). The motto here seems to be 'eat and grow big, fast and wise or be eaten'.

Now is about the time you may want to put the little toys away and get out the bigger ones! 8-9 weight, a good Avon rod or a baitcaster outfit in the 6-8kg range, even then you could be blown away at anytime.

Fly or lurecast from 'Gadget' whilst underway on a silent electric motor in and around the mouth of the Annan and Esk or out into Walker Bay where Dawson and Collishaw reefs lie 3 nautical miles away. Fish the southern end of Walker Bay amongst the mangroves, mud flats, rocky headlands, coral bommies, sand bars and casurina beaches all within 2 km of the river mouth. Not bad eh! There is a huge list of species that could be encountered in this area alone.

This fishing adventure is not just about catching large volumes of fish, it's about taking in what's going on around you, where you are in the world and going away with a better understanding of this unique area of Far North Queensland.