Some Interesting Fishing Locations in Queensland (Australia)
Queensland Fishing Locations – For all you sportfishing enthusiasts who feel like fishing somewhere in Queensland, here are a few locations.
Pioneer River (Queensland Fishing Locations)
The Pioneer River: A Blue Gem in the Mackay Region
The Pioneer River is a beautiful blue-water river that flows through the heart of the Mackay Region in Queensland, Australia. It is one of the few blue-water rivers in Queensland, and its main tributary, Cattle Creek, provides even more opportunities for recreation and exploration.
River Access and Activities
Access to the Pioneer River is restricted by freehold ownership, but there are a few public access points where visitors can enjoy the river’s many recreational activities. One popular access point is Edward Lloyd Park, where there is a maintained access path just 50 meters from Melba House. Other access points include Pleystowe (boat ramp), Mirani (Platypus Beach), Mia Mia, Pinevale, Gargett, and Neem Hall.
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Popular activities on the Pioneer River include canoeing, kayaking, platypus spotting, and swimming. The river is also home to a variety of fish species, including sooty grunter and barramundi, which are both renowned for their fighting ability.
Wildlife
The Pioneer River is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including platypus, ducks, swans, pelicans, cormorants, and freshwater turtles. Platypus are frequently seen near their burrows on the northern bank behind Melba House.
A Mackay Gem
The Pioneer River is one of Mackay’s greatest attractions. It is a beautiful and diverse river that offers visitors a variety of recreational opportunities and a chance to experience the unique wildlife of the Mackay Region.
Poona (Queensland Fishing Locations)
Poona: A Fishing Paradise
Poona, Queensland, Australia is a fishing paradise with a variety of options for anglers of all skill levels. However, a kayak or boat is almost a necessity to really open up your options. Professional fishermen also work in the area, so the fishing can be hit or miss.
Boat Fishing
The main target fish around Poona is flathead, which is good all year round and best in winter. Summer whiting is also a staple, and there is plenty of bream and little trevally to be found. Keen anglers can head up the creeks and cast lures for mangrove jack, cod, and tarpon. Reports of barramundi in the area are also common, but they require dedication to catch.
Land-Based Fishing
For land-based fishing, the best bet is an incoming tide. As the tide rises, flathead, bream, and whiting start moving up on the yabby beds to feed.
Fishing the Creeks (Queensland Fishing Locations)
Poona Creek, Black Swan Creek, and Big Tuan Creek are all popular fishing spots. These creeks are best fished on an incoming tide and the start of the runout. Be careful of shallow sand bars, which can see boaters stuck if they’re not careful.
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The small feeder creeks that flow back into the main creeks are also worth fishing, especially during a run-out tide for flathead. Three-inch soft plastics work well in these creeks. Small drains running back into Sand Strait usually hold the best flathead.
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Upstream deeper bends and holes have snags that hold bream, cod, and the odd small mangrove jack.
Port Douglas (Queensland Fishing Locations)
Port Douglas: A Fishing Paradise
Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia is a fishing paradise, offering anglers of all skill levels a variety of options to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a calm water estuary fishing experience or the thrill of big game fishing on the outer barrier reef, Port Douglas has you covered.
Fishing Environments
Port Douglas boasts a variety of fishing environments, from calm water estuaries to the outer barrier reef. In the estuaries, barramundi and mangrove jack are the most popular targets. On the outer barrier reef, marlin is the prize catch.
Fishing Options (Queensland Fishing Locations)
Whether you want to tinker with a handline on the beach or take a guided sport fishing tour, there are plenty of options available in Port Douglas. There are also several charter companies that operate seasonally to hunt for black marlin and sailfish on the outer barrier reef.
Popular Fish Species
In addition to marlin, other popular fish species in the Port Douglas area include mangrove jack, coral trout, flathead, sooty grunter, barracuda, snapper, red emperor, sweetlip, Spanish mackerel, jungle perch, and queenfish.
Port of Brisbane (Queensland Fishing Locations)
Port of Brisbane: A Gateway to Queensland
The Port of Brisbane is the third busiest port in Australia and the nation’s fastest-growing container port. It is located in the lower reaches of the Brisbane River on Fisherman Islands, an artificial island reclaimed from the smaller Fisherman Islands group at the mouth of the river, adjacent to Brisbane Airport.
Location and Access
The Port of Brisbane is the endpoint of the main shipping channel across Moreton Bay, which extends 90 kilometers north to Mooloolaba and is dredged to maintain a depth of 14 meters at the lowest tide.
Cargo (Queensland Fishing Locations)
The Port of Brisbane handles a wide range of cargo, including containers, bulk liquids, and dry bulk. Containers are the dominant cargo type, accounting for over 50% of the port’s throughput. Other important cargo types include coal, petroleum products, grain, and fertilizers.
Economic Importance
The Port of Brisbane is a major economic asset for the state of Queensland. It supports over 30,000 jobs and contributes over $20 billion to the state’s economy each year.
Pumicestone Passage (Queensland Fishing Locations)
Pumicestone Passage: A Fishing Paradise
The Pumicestone Passage is a beautiful stretch of water that extends from Caloundra in the north to the start of Brisbane in the south. It separates the mainland from Bribie Island and offers anglers a variety of fishing options, from flathead and bream to mangrove jacks and jewfish.
Getting Access
Some of the best fishing spots in the Pumicestone Passage require a small boat or kayak, but there are also plenty of shore-based fishing options. The weekends around Golden Beach and Bongaree can be very busy, so weekday fishing missions are often more productive. There are also several marine reserves within the passage, so be sure to check with fisheries before exploring.
Gear (Queensland Fishing Locations)
Light to medium spin rods with 6-12lb line will be sufficient for most fish in the passage, including bream, whiting, flathead, and smaller trevally and tailor. Pink hard-body lures and soft plastics are a good choice for actively feeding fish and flatheads.
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Anglers targeting mangrove jacks in the feeder creeks should gear up with something a bit heavier, such as a rod with 12lb or more lines. Jackfish fight hard, so it’s important to have a rod that can handle them. Summer is the best time to target mangrove jacks on lures throughout the Pumicestone Passage.
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Big jewfish are sometimes caught in the deeper channels around the navigation markers and in the deep holes. Anglers generally sit on live mullet baits, and spring is the best time to target jewfish. However, chasing jewfish is a game of patience, so be prepared to wait for a bite.
Conclusion
The Pumicestone Passage is a great place to fish for a variety of species. With its easy access, diverse habitat, and plentiful fish stocks, the Pumicestone Passage has something to offer anglers of all skill levels.
Ross River (Queensland Fishing Locations)
Ross River: A Fishing Paradise in Townsville
The Ross River in Townsville, Queensland, Australia is a fishing paradise with easy access for land-based and boating anglers. It is a tidal estuary with around 4 meters of tidal movement, with fresh water upstream blocked by the Aplin Weir.
Fish Species
The Ross River is home to a variety of fish species, including barramundi, Spanish mackerel, cobia, grunter, golden snapper, trevally, queenfish, tripletail, and nannygai. Large barramundi are often caught on the south side of Magnetic Island on the reef flats with crayfish as bait.
Land-Based Fishing (Queensland Fishing Locations)
The Ross River provides access to some great land-based fishing locations. At the mouth of the river, there are several rock walls and jetties where anglers can use live bait for barramundi. It is also possible to walk the length of the rock wall casting lures for all sorts of fish. Several bridges in town are also great places to flick lures or drop some bait down. Further upstream are Black Weir, Gleesons Weir, and Aplin Weir, with the Aplin Weir separating the fresh from the saltwater. When there is enough water to breach the fresh into salt, the fishing can be red hot for land-based fishermen.
Lure Fishing
Lure fishing is a popular way to fish the Ross River. Trawling the rock walls at the mouth for big barramundi is a good chance in the warmer months. Further out, anglers can check for action around the port piers for pelagics, which will readily take a 5-7 inch soft plastic. Be sure to check for warning signs, as fishing is not allowed at some locations.
Conclusion
The Ross River is a great place to fish for a variety of species. With its easy access, diverse habitat, and plentiful fish stocks, the Ross River has something to offer anglers of all skill levels.
Rosslyn Bay (Queensland Fishing Locations)
Rosslyn Bay: A Fishing and Boating Hub
Rosslyn Bay is a man-made harbor in Queensland, Australia, located 7 kilometers south of Yeppoon. It is a popular destination for fishing, boating, and cruises to Great Keppel Island.
Facilities
Rosslyn Bay has a public jetty, boat ramps, a Coast Guard station, and a service station. It also has a couple of up-market restaurants/cafes and accommodation options.
Fishing (Queensland Fishing Locations)
Rosslyn Bay is a great place to fish from the rocks, jetties, or boat harbor breakwaters. Popular fish species include barramundi, mangrove jack, flathead, and whiting.
Prior to Development
Prior to its development in the 1970s, Rosslyn Bay was a low-energy, 500-meter-long beach. The beach has now been replaced by the boat harbor, with breakwaters and boating facilities. All that remains is a 30-meter-long pocket of sand wedged in beside the large boat ramp.
Shore Fishing
Most shore fishers use the Rosslyn Bay boat harbor breakwaters. It is also possible to fish from the several rocky points at high tide.
Conclusion
Rosslyn Bay is a great place to fish, boat, and relax. With its variety of facilities and easy access to Keppel Bay, Rosslyn Bay has something to offer everyone.
Russell River (Queensland Fishing Locations)
The River’s Course
The Russell River rises in the Wooroonooran National Park, sourced from the drainage of the Bellenden Ker Range, below Mount Bartle Frere and Mount Bellenden Ker. In its upper reaches, the course of the river meanders highly as it flows south by east and exits the Wooroonooran National Park.
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The river flows north by east, joined by the Josephine Creek and it has descended over the Josephine Falls. The river flows east of Babinda and then due north, bounded on both its east and western flanks by the Russell River National Park. The river reaches its confluence with the Mulgrave River in an estuarine state, with the Mulgrave flowing east for a short distance to empty into the Coral Sea via the Mutchero Inlet.
Catchment and Uses (Queensland Fishing Locations)
The Russell River catchment area is estimated to be 669 square kilometers (258 sq mi) of which 68.8 square kilometers (26.6 sq mi) is wetlands. Water from the river is used to grow sugar cane on the coastal plains surrounding the Russell River’s lower reaches.
Recreation and Hazards
The Russell River is a popular location for whitewater rafting. However, it is important to be aware of the dangers of crocodiles and flooding when visiting the river.
Flood History
With the Mulgrave River, the Russell River has a well-recorded flood history with documented evidence of flooding beginning in the late 1930s.
Saltwater Creek (Queensland Fishing Locations)
Creek Overview
Saltwater Creek is a waterway that emerges from the foothills of Mount Whitfield and flows through the suburbs of Whitfield, Edge Hill, Aeroglen, and Cairns North in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. It originates as a freshwater stream but becomes increasingly salty as it winds its way east toward the Coral Sea.
Creek Path
Saltwater Creek passes through Centenary Lakes, merges with Lily Creek crosses Sheridan Street, and then passes just north of the Esplanade before discharging into the Coral Sea.
Creek Habitat and Wildlife (Queensland Fishing Locations)
Despite its urban location, Saltwater Creek Catchment includes open spaces with vegetation and birdlife. It is also a popular prawning spot, and there are generally fish in the area. Indeed, OzFish has recorded 47 fish species in this waterway. Some of the more popular species fished for in waterways around Cairns include barramundi, mangrove jack, and jungle perch.
Recreational Use and Safety
Saltwater Creek is a popular recreational waterway, but users should be aware of the presence of saltwater crocodiles, which are known to frequent the area. It is important to be croc-safe in croc-country.
Seven Mile Creek (Queensland Fishing Locations)
Discovering Seven Mile Creek: An Angler’s Oasis in Queensland
Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Queensland, Australia, Seven Mile Creek is an estuary system that beckons anglers seeking a tranquil fishing getaway. Accessible primarily via Dyckhoffs Road, this waterway boasts remarkable fishing opportunities and harbors some well-kept secrets for those who invest their time and effort.
Navigating the Entry Points
Boating enthusiasts will find Dyckhoff Road to be the ideal entry point. Launching a boat during the mid to high tide provides a promising start. While a 4WD vehicle is recommended, be prepared for occasional boggy conditions at the ramp. Additionally, this boat launch area generously offers ample space for camping, adding a touch of adventure to the angler’s experience. For those looking for alternative access points, Turkey Beach and Wild Cattle/Colosseum are also viable options.
The Dugong Sanctuary: A Unique Encounter (Queensland Fishing Locations)
One of Seven Mile Creek’s distinctive features is its inclusion in a Dugong sanctuary. It’s not uncommon to spot these gentle creatures, especially near the creek’s mouth. Observing the dugongs in their natural habitat adds a unique dimension to the angling experience.
Setting Sail on Seven Mile Creek
For anglers looking to make a memorable catch, launching a boat from Dyckhoffs Road during an incoming tide is the way to go. From this strategic point, anglers can cast their lines at various snags and small rock bars. The bounty in these waters often includes prized species like Cod, Bream, and Mangrove Jack, particularly during the summer months.
Exploring Diverse Fishing Opportunities
As one ventures further into the creek, the landscape transforms. Here, shallow spots and an array of gutters and rubble bottoms become hotspots for Bream and Flathead. These areas offer an exciting change of pace, keeping anglers engaged and on the lookout for their next catch.
A Bounty of Catches Awaits (Queensland Fishing Locations)
Approaching the creek’s mouth, anglers will discover formidable rock bars extending into the main channel. These formations disrupt the tide flow and harbor a diverse range of fish. While Barramundi can occasionally be found here, the primary catches tend to be Cod, Grunter, and Bream. Each angling session in this area promises both adventure and a rewarding haul.
The Enchantment of the Mouth
The pièce de résistance at the mouth of Seven Mile Creek is the expansive sandbar, an exceptional fly fishing location. With patience, fly anglers can test their skills against Golden Trevally and Permit, making it a haven for those who relish the art of fly fishing. This serene spot, surrounded by nature’s beauty, presents the perfect opportunity to connect with the local aquatic ecosystem.
Seven Mile Creek: Nature’s Gift to Anglers
Seven Mile Creek, with its diverse fishing opportunities, accessibility, and natural wonders, offers an angler’s paradise waiting to be explored. Whether casting lines at snags, navigating shallow spots, or seeking unique catches at the creek’s mouth, this hidden gem in Queensland provides a memorable journey for fishing enthusiasts seeking tranquility and adventure in equal measure.