General News
23 September, 2026
Black marlin put city on map
IN 2026, Cairns celebrates a major milestone in its internationally-renowned game fishing history, with a full fleet of 50 teams and more than 300 competitors taking part in the 60th Cairns Black Marlin Tournament.
Hosted by the Cairns Professional Game Fishing Association, the event features four days of fishing competition, followed by a presentation gala and Cairns Game Fishing Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
The 2026 tournament marks 60 years since Captain George Bransford and Richard Obach landed a 1064lb black marlin off Cairns on 25 September 1966, the first marlin weighing more than 1000lb caught in Australian waters.
The achievement helped establish Cairns as one of the world’s premier black marlin fishing destinations and cemented the region’s reputation on the international game fishing stage.
Today, conservation is at the forefront, with more than 99% of black marlin caught in the fishery released.
The Cairns Professional Game Fishing Association has supported black marlin research and conservation initiatives over many decades and was instrumental in securing protections against the commercial take of black and blue marlin within the Australian fishing zone.
Previous industry estimates have placed the annual contribution of the Cairns marlin fishing tourism industry at more than $60 million, with much of that spending concentrated within the relatively short black marlin season.
