Airlie beach/Hamilton island

[mattooty]

Hey guys, got a fortnight off from uni in september and seeing as though a mate is moving there soon figured i'd go up there for 10 days or so for a drinking holiday. What i'm after from all you qld'ers is a list of plausible things to do/see while i'm up there remembering i'm on a student wage. I'm definately putting money aside for a couple of scuba dives and a charter. Any reccomendations? I don't really have the money to go on a high class charter but might be able to stretch some money if you think its really worthwhile.

[lenthals_barra]

hit the pubs hard mate you wont go wrong with the fish there, all different species from around the world in one street. oh yeh and the fishing in the water aint bad either

[BobbyJ123]

G'day mate. A good charter would be MV Jillian II on 07 49461507. It is a 12 metre Cougar Cat and goes from Abel Point Marina about 7.30 am, out to the east side of Whitsunday Island and usually returns via Hayman at about 5pm.

[mattooty]

Lenthals, don't worry I definately plan on hitting the pubs on every other night....Just thought i might be able to work off a hangover on the water at some point.
Are there any landbased spots or is it mostly boat based?

[jaredluke]

mattooty if you want some land based spots, try the marina break wall, and hideaway bay. On the breakwall you usually pick up a few trevs sometimes some big ones. Last time I was up there a fella caught a 14kg trev. And yes there are a lot of fish from other countries in the main street

[mattooty]

jaredluke, what sort of gear are they using? Lures or bait? I think i'll probably have to go for the lure option. Do you think a daiwa hrf would be fine? I'm thinking of taking up the spheros instead with 50lb braid.... =/

[jayvee]

MATTOOTY: theres a full day cruise on a massive purple cat called the Camirra (check spelling,maybe google it) think its $165 for the day leaves shute harbour at 8am returns at 430pm. morning tea/ rib fillet,fish lunch/afternoon tea included and yes as much free beer/wine as you can drink from 11am onwards. i've been on it and it is well worth it. cruises through all the islands stops on a reef and they ferry you out for a snorkel also stops on a wicked white sand beach.

as for pubs/clubs the main st of airlee is absolutly laoded with them. i'd recomend MAGNUMS,MAROOCO"S (for the wet t comp on fri nights), and MAMMA AFRICAS!
as for the fish walking up and down the strret! what you think is alright now will be plain jane when you get up there. my advice is take the neck brace cus your gonna need it!! CHEERS JAYVEE

[mattooty]

Jayvee, I didn't think i could get anymore gee'd up than i already was, but you my friend very successfully did it! Now i'm really pumped! Can't wait, got a mate who is moving there in a fortnight and another friend who is working on a sailing boat taking tourists out snorkelling. Will definately check out the camirra. you wouldnt happen to have any contact details would you?

[BobbyJ123]

Jayvee, I didn't think i could get anymore gee'd up than i already was, but you my friend very successfully did it! Now i'm really pumped! Can't wait, got a mate who is moving there in a fortnight and another friend who is working on a sailing boat taking tourists out snorkelling. Will definately check out the camirra. you wouldnt happen to have any contact details would you?

Here you go, mate.
http://www.sailingwhitsunday.com.au/...ps/camira.html

[snatch]

Stay off the mv jilian. It goes to the same area all the time and doesn't do very well. Best bet if you get some calm days is to hire a tinny and go play on the bommies around the eastern side of nth mole.

As for the other fishing, Airlie is a single guys dream. Magnums boardwalk is a got spot to catch crabs (non edible).

[jaredluke]

jaredluke, what sort of gear are they using? Lures or bait? I think i'll probably have to go for the lure option. Do you think a daiwa hrf would be fine? I'm thinking of taking up the spheros instead with 50lb braid.... =/

Mate they are using both lures and bait, for lures try squidgy flick baits in pilly, gold any colours really. Also slick rigs work well up there as well. As for bait try pillies under a float, floaters and also squid. 20-30lb braid would be enough with a 50-60lb leader. If you want to go ultra light I would try 10lb braid with a 50-60lb leader. You need the heavier leader because of the rocks and toothy critters you can encounter up there. The HRF would be a good option for casting slick rigs and heavier plastics around and the spheros would be good for the heavier work (ie. drifting pillies for macks etc.). I would also highly reccommend going on a charter or hiring a boat from either airlie beach or shute harbour. If you've got a boat license hire a boat from shute harbour they have one that has I think a 150hp long boat good for fishing. If you want a guided fishing charter check out fishdive (www.fishwhitsundays.com.au) for a full day they are about 200 so about the same price as the other charters. They specialise in offshore and inshore, offshore they target mackeral, tuna, marlin. And the inshore targets species such as GT, barra, threadfin slamon, cod, trout etc. I would highly reccommend you go on a fishing charter as well as landbased.

[BobbyJ123]

Stay off the mv jilian. It goes to the same area all the time and doesn't do very well. Best bet if you get some calm days is to hire a tinny and go play on the bommies around the eastern side of nth mole.

As for the other fishing, Airlie is a single guys dream. Magnums boardwalk is a got spot to catch crabs (non edible).

Granted the MV Jillian goes from Airlie around to the east side of Whitsunday Island, but I've been on the boat 4 times and each time we have been to different places, depending on the weather, down to Apostle bay, or up around Hook Island and on to Hayman.

[mattooty]

Jaredluke, just checked out fishdive and unfortunately they don't leave from airlie. I won't have a car while i'm there which is a shame cause they look the goods. I might just suss it out once i get there....or just drink my sorrows away.

[jaredluke]

I see what you mean mattooty, I was thinking of going on a charter with them late next year but I guess I won't be now.

[whatscracken]

Marlin Blue charters would be the way to go if you could afford the cash mate, they are probably the most professional unit running out of airlie