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Michaelmas Cay
Reef·Queensland·Australia·
Field notes
Outer reef coral cay north-east of Cairns. The cay itself is a no-anchor seabird sanctuary, but surrounding open zones hold red emperor, coral trout and large-mouth nannygai. Pelagic trolling for spanish mackerel and wahoo on the edges.
Current conditions
Wind
10.3 kt S
Gusts 13.2 kt
Waves
0.5 m
Period 6.2 s
Swell
0.4 m
Period 5.1 s
Sea temp
25.5°C
Air 25.1°C
Next 12 hours
13:00
10.3 S
0.5m
14:00
10.2 SSE
0.5m
15:00
10.2 SSE
0.5m
16:00
9.8 SE
0.6m
17:00
10.3 SE
0.6m
18:00
10.6 ESE
0.6m
19:00
9.8 ESE
0.6m
20:00
9 SE
0.6m
21:00
8.9 SE
0.6m
22:00
8.5 SE
0.6m
23:00
9 SE
0.6m
00:00
10.4 SSE
0.6m
Tides
Nearest BOM tide station: Michaelmas Cay ↗ (7.1 km · secondary)
We don't predict tides on-site — BOM's published tables are authoritative.
BOM · Cairns CoastIssued at 9:00 pm EST on Tuesday 19 May 2026
Situation. A firm ridge will extend across northern Queensland from Wednesday and persist for the next few days, as a new high [1027 hPa] moves east across southern Australia.
Tuesday 19 May until midnight. Winds: Southeasterly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 20 knots offshore east of Cape York. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1.5 metres outside the reef. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.
Wednesday 20 May. Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny.
Thursday 21 May. Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 25 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre during the morning, then increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres around midday. Swell: Southeast to southwesterly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.
Friday 22 May. Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 25 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres outside the reef. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. Peninsula Coast: Sharp Point to Cape Melville
Source: Open-Meteo Marine + ECMWF (15-min cache) · BOM (1-hr cache). Not for navigation.
Sun & moon
Today
Sun↑ 06:34↓ 17:52
Moon↑ 09:54↓ 20:10
PhaseWaxing crescent 10%
Best windows
- Dawn06:11 – 07:34
- Dusk16:52 – 18:15
Tomorrow
Sun↑ 06:34↓ 17:52
Moon↑ —↓ 21:16
PhaseWaxing crescent 19%
Best windows
- Dawn06:11 – 07:34
- Dusk16:52 – 18:15
Best windows combine civil twilight with the hour either side of sun transit — the universal low-light feeding window most species respond to. Moon phase influence is folkloric; full and new moons coincide with the strongest tide swings.
What's biting
Recent reports from the community. Sign in to log your own catches.
Access & logistics
Spot type
Reef
Region
Queensland, Australia
Fishing style
offshore and bluewater fishing
Structure
Typically holds bommies and drop-offs — work the structure for holding fish.
Licence
Recreational fishing licence may apply — check the Queensland fisheries regulator before fishing.
Closures
Always confirm current marine park / closure status and seasonal bag limits.
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