PHP Warning: Use of undefined constant VBA_SCRIPT - assumed 'VBA_SCRIPT' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in ..../includes/functions_navigation.php(802) : eval()'d code on line 1
Inshore Townsville
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 18

Thread: Inshore Townsville

  1. #1

    Inshore Townsville

    Hi all,
    New to the forum and have just purchased a 5m Quinnie. Looking to take the boys out this weekend around maggie or the budekin rocks weather permitting. Has anyone got any advice on where they have been biting, whats been biting and any bait tips would be great. As mentioned, new to the boat scene and looking to have a great weekend any help greatly appreciated.

  2. #2

    Re: Inshore Townsville

    Mate its always worth a troll through middle reef, and then have a stop at west point, I would be trying Rattlesnake island.

  3. #3

    Re: Inshore Townsville

    I have more success around middle reef when the water is a lot cleaner than it is now, but its always worth a shot. The shallow reefs along the western side of maggie are good to, and nice and close.

    To get into some cleaner water, follow Rod's advice and head to rattlesnake, be sure to check the paper and with the RAAF to make sure there will be no live firing when you do though.

    You could head up the shipping channel and give the deeper water off Orchard rocks a go as well.

  4. #4

    Re: Inshore Townsville

    Is it a big trek over to rattlesnake from the coast guard ramp? I've got a 90hp 2str on the new boat. Would be a bit steady navigating the mouth of the bohle as my experience with that is non existant...
    Thanks for your help so far, this forum is worth it weight in gold.

  5. #5

    Re: Inshore Townsville

    You wil have to watch the Bohle channel, as it may have changed significantly with all the water that went through there over the last couple of weeks. As a guess though with your size quinnie and engine weight, I reckon you would need at least 0.7-0.8m of water under you to get through. Going from the bohle is a bit closer, but on the grand scale, you would be travelling an extra10-15km one way if leaving from the coast guard ramp.

    A tip for the Bohle is to get there early in the morning (sit and wait on one of the rock bars at the mouth with a live mullet soaking for a chance at a barra) and watch other boaties head out through the channel and follow in their tracks, keeping pace with them, as you do travel higher up in the water when at speed.

    but there is plenty of good fishing to be had around Maggie at westpoint and bayrock, middle reef, and orchard rocks (as mentioned earlier) just to name a few. If you do decide to have a crack at rattlesnake, remember to have all your safety gear, including epirb, charts (hard copies, electronic devices don't satisfy requirements as they can fail), compass, radio (don't forget the aerial), vsheet, flares, as well as all the equipment required for inshore waters

  6. #6
    Ausfish Platinum Member levinge's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004

    Re: Inshore Townsville

    Totally agree with Scott Nthqld. If you go to Rattlsnake, pick up a couple Rapala red and white lures with the metal bib, you can't go wrong we collared two GT's last weekend out there around the island. Bohle had heaps of water running out but hopefully the level has dropped"See Meet and Greet section and read the forum on Nasties off NQ Coast". Give you an idea of what can be floating off the coast with this weather. But just remember, take it easy and be very observant of your conditions, if the swell is like a washing machine stay closer to shore, especially if your kids are young, far offshore and a seasick kid aren't a recipe for a good day. West Point can fire up pretty good, but Rattle has plenty of shoals and reef around the island, TRICK peel your prawns!!
    Last edited by levinge; 20-02-2008 at 09:03 PM.
    Fillet and Release Squad

  7. #7

    Re: Inshore Townsville

    White rock on the other side of Maggie is good too, can get queenies and trevs on high speed popper lures

  8. #8

    Re: Inshore Townsville

    Thanks for you help! How far are the shoals off the back off the eastern side of Maggie?

  9. #9

    Re: Inshore Townsville

    not sure exactly but I think they are about 40-50km out. I've never fished them before, I havn't been game enought to go that far out yet.

  10. #10

    Re: Inshore Townsville

    Ok sweet, i had the impression they were only a few km's off, i definitely won't be venturing out that far!!

  11. #11
    Ausfish Silver Member Gilli's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006

    Re: Inshore Townsville

    Hey all,
    if you are planning on trying to navigate your way out of the bohle channel than think again for the channel is no more. I was down there a few weeks ago and the only way to get out of there is on a mid to high tide.

    There is a 6 meter hole then it goes to 20cm deep of water over a sandbar which is easily 100 meters long. Just pick your tides, launch from pallarenda ramp or bohle, and make sure you know what the winds are doing for they pick up really quickly around that area i have found.

    Regards,
    Chris
    Gilli

    Most sports require one ball..... Fishing requires two


    GO326Q
    4M tinnie with 25hp johnson
    Call ova for a chat if you see me out on the water

  12. #12

    Re: Inshore Townsville

    Mate,

    Re the Shoals from memory they are about 20-25km from the coast guard ramp not 50 km out. 50km out would put you around the bomber if you went that far you are almost certain to bring home a good feed.

    Cheers Rod....

  13. #13

    Re: Inshore Townsville

    Pryort,

    Let us all now how you got on today, perfect weather, I went out wth another member from this site and we did okay couple of longtail Tuna good fight and a GT. Enough for a good feed. We porbably should have headed out wider but I thought that we would just hang around the Rattlesnake area and have a fish.

    Cheers Rod....

  14. #14

    Re: Inshore Townsville

    Hey Rod,

    Yeah I couldn't have picked a better weekend for trying out the new boat. We hit burdekin rock at sunup and fished without luck for a couple of hours. Many boats came and went without luck also. We then trundled back to west point and had a bit of an uneventful troll and anchored up for the high tide at bay rock. right at the turn of the tide they came on the bite and we caught and released about 10 coral trout and a small GT just not big enough to bag, but heaps of fun. We did however land a very nice grunter which cooked up very nicely. All in all a great day on the water. Only let down was a blown tyre on the boat trailer after pulling the boat out at the ramp. Job for the week entails purchasing a spare for the tralier. about the only bas i didn't have covered.... Murphy's Law. Thank god that Bob jane is open till 4pm on a saturday!!

    Cheers for your help.
    Last edited by Pryort; 25-02-2008 at 09:46 AM.

  15. #15

    Re: Inshore Townsville

    Good to hear you had a good trip Pryort. Hopefully next time you'll get some of those trout over legal

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •