2007 Round-Up Report

Mackay is a region that luckily has a broad range of differing environments from which to choose from if fishing is your passion.

For many, fishing is a family outing and there are plenty of safe and protected areas from which to throw a line and help teach the kids the basics of fishing. Big tides favour beach fishing. I have a few favourite locations and on occasions they turn up a few surprises. It’s always a good idea to look for tides that have a bit of movement so anything that’s up over the five metre mark and drops away to a metre or less has me looking for the yabbie pump and the nine foot rods.

With a keen 7 year old stomping my shadow it’s the whiting through the cooler months of the year that become the hunted. They are easy to catch, great to eat and give a good account for themselves on properly rigged gear. Long soft rods, 4lb line, pea sinkers and a number 4 long shank hook along with a slow wind will bring a steady number of inquisitive whiting undone.

If you like to walk out on the sandbars and fish the tide in keep an eye on water levels. I’ve seen plenty of people wading back through waist deep getters because they stayed just a little too long out on the bar while the tide rushed in behind them.

Top spots on the list of keen beach fishos include Seaforth beach, Shoal Point, Bucasia, Far Beach and Armstrongs. There are plenty of smaller beaches that also provide good protection from trade winds and a variety of species from their shores.

Whiting aren’t the only species that fall for well presented yabbies. Fathead are a good target especially if you time the tides right. Last of the run in and first of the run out give a good opportunity to target both scrounging and predatory species.

Deeper sections of creek mouths will also hold salmon and grunter at certain times of the year. A full tide with plenty of water around will provide the best opportunity if you’re chasing these guys.

Trevally and queenfish will also get themselves caught up in the action and are absolutely fantastic fun to catch from the beach environment.

Unfortunately, if you nail one of these speedsters on the 4lb outfit mentioned above you’re going to have one heck of a battle on your hands. Try the northern end of Shoal Point and East Point to start with.

If you want to head up one of the many creeks in the Mackay region avoid low tide in the middle of the day unless you’ve already got some familiarity with the system. Many of the creeks drain out quiet low with a number of sections throughout the various systems unable to be navigated on big low tides. Look for tides with minimum movement between high and low and use this time to explore the waterway.

Bread and butter fishing is extremely popular with flathead, whiting and bream common targets through the cooler months. Salmon can be added along with grunter if there’s a bit of run off. As the weather warms the barra bite starts to increase and fingermark and jack come on the chew.

If you’re a lure junkie there are several locations that will yield such species but the bait soakers have probably got first position. Murray, Constant and Reliance Creek are three popular systems that will provide varying degrees of success on the above species and surprisingly each area has a varying level of access.

From a suitable concrete ramp, to a controversial ramp to no ramp at all, Mackay creeks offer just about everything to the adventurous angler. Other systems worth a mention include the Pioneer River that winds through the middle of town as well as the several small creeks located between Victor Creek at Seaforth and Murray Creek. These are only accessible from the major ramps on suitable tides.

If getting out the front and chasing a few pelaigics or reef fish is your thing then the Seaforth Boat Ramp at Victor Creek and Mackay Harbour Boat Ramp are the two main jump off points for larger vessels. River Street boat ramp on the Pioneer River River is also suitable and allows access to Flat Top and Round Top Island.

Along with Slade Island from the harbour ramp and the Seaforth Islands from the Seaforth ramp these close offshore islands feature dominantly in many small boaties fishing trips. Even on ordinary days you’ll see some hard core boatie belting his way through the whitecaps to a protected lee around one of the many islands mentioned. The whole gamut of desirable reef dwellers is available in and around the crusty island bombies and reefs although seasonal changes dictate the ever present what, when and how.

Chasing mackerel and tuna by high speed spinning, slow trolling baits or a bit of pace with plastic is not only addictive but damn good fun.

Any area that can provide a reefie with a bottom bait can provide a mackerel with a spoon, slug or ganged pillie. The tactics aren’t particularly hard to grasp and the locations are wide and varied. In fact, if you can’t catch a mackerel in the Mackay region.
while ‘they’re on’ then golf sticks may be a better option than fishing sticks. I’m a fan of spinning because it’s fast, clean, highly addictive and highly effective.
You can cover a lot of ground quickly and besides, the missus likes getting into it as well. The Harbour and Slade Island area are a designated hot spot for mackerel and tuna when the northerly winds start to creep in later in the year.

Just one hour of frantic trolling saw the capture of these six
Spanish mackerel averaging 10 – 15 kilos.

The tuna can almost become a nuisance when they are thick and hit anything that touches the water. Getting through them can be a chore. Ho, hum! Northern blues (aka longtail) will often get mixed in while aiming at macks (mack tuna) and along with their dogged fight they are a welcome customer. My young bloke nearly got pulled in by a six kilo mack so to avoid loosing him and the combo in the case of a longtail strike I’ll have to manufacture some sort of lanyard to keep him on the right side of the gunnels.

If you’re turning your nose up at the thought of targeting or actually eating tuna then here’s a thought. Try it raw. The macks are pretty crook so use a longtail for the best result. Get as much unblooded meat from the fillet as you can and throw it in the freezer for a while. Slice it as thin as you can and dip it in a mixture of soy, pepper, lemon juice and Tabasco. Add some horse radish for the brave. I’m a total fan but take note that it’s difficult to eat without a beer to wash it down.

They’re not on every ones menu but with a poor recovery rate longtail can make great sashimi.

Eungella, Kinchant and Teemburra are all stocked with barramundi and sooty grunter and each have their own unique landscapes and fish holding areas.

Teemburra is my favourite for the simple reason that it’s relatively close (about 50kms). It is a very pretty dam and on a number of occasions, even during exceptional weather, I have only run into a small number of other boats. I’m selfish enough to admit that sharing a place with only a handful of others actually adds to the appeal of a particular location.

Teemburra is home to barra that have pushed the magic metre mark but lack the tenacity and cunning of old hands cruising the depths of Faust.(Lake Proserpine) I’ve not landed one at this size but did speak to a bloke who had a friend who’s brother saw a photo……well, I’ll keep trying. Rats (below legal size) right through to 92cm have been dragged into my battle scarred punt with estimates of well over that shaking free in the sticks.

A very happy first time barra fisho – 72cm and taken on the troll.

My last trip was with a friend and we took our young blokes. They got bored after 20 mins but we persevered until the whinging got too much. In three metres of water behind a B52 a broad pair of shoulders nudged clear of the surface and created a bow wave that had me squealing like a six year old. I barely got a nudge as it turned off to the right leaving the water rippling for several metres in it wake and ending with a great vortex from it’s tail. Put Teemburra on the must see list.

That’s a pretty rough and ready round up of the opportunities available for the fisho in the Mackay region and to be honest it doesn’t even scratch the surface. There are a myriad of experiences left to discover. Your only option is to get out there and have a look for yourself.