Fish a huge tidal-estuary that stretches 85-kilometres with many creeks, drains, wrecks and snags home to barramundi, golden snapper, grunter, salmon and mud crabs. The Cairns Inlet is accessed by two boat-ramps, Smiths Creek Ramp, next to the sugar terminal, and the ramp at Tingira Street-Smith Creek a few kilometres down the road which is preferred for larger boats. When the weather makes conditions closer to the mouth undesirable, fish the mid-to-upper reaches of the Inlet. Launch your boat around the top of the tide and head up the Inlet and move around the island where you have the option of fishing Chinamen, Four Mile, Garrison or Skeleton Creek. If lure fishing, the tide will slowly push you down the creek giving you ample opportunity to flick snags for barramundi and mangrove jacks. Once the tide is low, fish the deeper holes at the creek mouth and junctions. In good weather, head for Hospital Flats as they hold lots of bait after heavy rain, especially prawns which attract fish. They’re best fished on the last two-hours of the incoming tide and the bigger the tide, the better. This area can be good at night for salmon, grunter and barramundi on.