Mackay Fishing spots

[shincism1]

Hey guys, ive been in Mackay since April and for some reason havent decided to get back with the rod and reel in my hand up until the last month. using my old setup from back home until i can afford something a little larger for your larger species that seem to breed here.

Few questiosn though as i'm not 100% sure on technique for one, while using hard plastics, shallow divers, poppers, anything really, only played with soft plastics back home. and 2, where can i get a good spot that I can just drive and walk to? I had a play under the bridge that the Bruce goes over (near the Izusu dealership) on low tide at around 7am and hit onto something which had plenty of go but snapped my leader straight up. :(.

So, i suppose the main questions are:
Where the bloody hell can i get some good eating fish?
What are the better type of hard plastics to use?
low or high tide is best?


Im currently using a Shimano Symetre 1000 (8lb flurocarbon with 9.6lb leader) and a 6'10" 2-4kg berkley dropshot 1pc, which is now a little longer due to me snapping it in half :(

Was going to uprade to something in the 20lb capability in the near future, the local tackleworld here seems to know what they are talking about.

Cheers for any assistance

Tobey

[wags on the water]

http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/showthread.php?187422-Mackay-land-based-access
http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/showthread.php?185960-mackay-whats-with-all-the-wind-where-to-fish-when-the-winds-up-in-mackay
http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/showthread.php?185446-A-newbie-in-Mackay
http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/showthread.php?183189-Seaforth

That should do for a while....better get yourself a drink....

[shincism1]

legend, cheers mate!!!

[gezzza]

try the harbour wall ,there are some big brutes that cruise up in close.

[shincism1]

Went and talked to the guys at compleat angler and tackle world today. Both helped me out with some techniques and a number of hard body lures.... Lol...

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[shincism1]

Ended up catching my first jack the other day, fair bit of fun! http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/15/u2a2e6yq.jpg

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[FishHunter]

I suggest at least a 5 to 8kg rod and 20lb braid with 20 to 40 lb leader depending on what you are after. I have had good luck with Rapala Bmags, Classic lures,Halco Scorpions and Tilsan hard bodies, soft plastics I use Squidgie wrigglers when targeting Flathead and Squidgie Shads and slick rigs in assorted sizes. Poppers I find the small Squidgies and River to sea ones to work quite well.

The pic in my avatar was taken on the Pioneer river just below the weir at Dumbleton and there is reasonable foot access there

[shincism1]

Thanks mate! Got my eyes on a shimano Sent stradic 5000 with a rod that is exclusive to tackle world. But I can't remember the name. Just don't have a spare 500 to go buy new toys atm. Lol

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[shincism1]

I've gone fishing up there a bit. Never much luck. Only about a k further down near the camping ground area is where I caught the jack the other day. Was going to go to reliance Creek entrance today but the weather looks a bit shabby.

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[FishHunter]

You dont need $500, Daiwa Exceller ($100) or Shimano Raider ($140) rod with a Shimano Sienna 4000 reel ($60)will handle pretty much everything you will encounter in the rivers and close in. I landed a 14kg GT on my Excellor and Sienna.
Oh also make sure you look online for what you want and show them the website when you go to Tackleworld they will match the price :) My smartphone has saved me heaps of money :)

[MangroveZac]

If your after a feed and don't mind chewing on a few flathead then try the Dunrock boatramp on Bakers creek. Fish the bottom and first run in, lures will work fine if thats your thing but i've found drifting unweighted half pillies to be much more productive here. The fish are quite often right at your feet while standing on the exposed rock bar at low tide.

[shincism1]

I almost thought about selling my current setup but it's a great little flick rod. And be good to have 2 decent setups in my arsenal.

I'm owed some money by brother and when he repays it that should fund a new setup :-D keen to chase some bigger things without worrying about snapping a line. 8lb line leaves me worrying about getting onto something big and losing it. Doesn't stop me going and throwing big lures around tho haha.

[shincism1]

Btw, thank god my gf doesn't have an account her. Saying silly things like, you don't need a $500 setup :-P haha

[shincism1]

If your after a feed and don't mind chewing on a few flathead then try the Dunrock boatramp on Bakers creek. Fish the bottom and first run in, lures will work fine if thats your thing but i've found drifting unweighted half pillies to be much more productive here. The fish are quite often right at your feet while standing on the exposed rock bar at low tide.

I love flatties! Definitely give it a shot

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[FishHunter]

The sand flats near the mouth of the pioneer and the ones just above the Forgan Smith bridge on a outgoing tide are almost guaranteed Flattie territory. Squidgie wrigglers or yabbies will do the job.

[MangroveZac]

I love flatties! Definitely give it a shot

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Let us know how you go, good luck!

[shincism1]

Gave it a shot, no luck tho with softies, will give it another go, with a can of bushmans tho, ive been destroyed by sandflies....

[MangroveZac]

Gave it a shot, no luck tho with softies, will give it another go, with a can of bushmans tho, ive been destroyed by sandflies....

Go the pillies Tobey, good old fashioned bait fishing seems to be getting overlooked in the estuaries these days.

[shincism1]

Go the pillies Tobey, good old fashioned bait fishing seems to be getting overlooked in the estuaries these days.

Hey mate. Heading sown there tomorrow morning early if keen. Got a bag of wa pillies. Haha. See how I go this time!

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[MangroveZac]

86749

86748

Still fish at dunrock, how did the pillies go for you Tobey?

[shincism1]

Hey mate. Got a 30cm bream yesterday. Big catfish at mcewans. And a huge flatty day before. But spat hook when I was trying to land it! Devo. Looks like a good ad catch mate! Pillies got everything I caught haha.

Something big took about 50m of my line before snapping yesterday as well as a guy next to me. Who had 50lb line and it snapped assuming shark or something. Lol

[MangroveZac]

:D Good job!! :D