Whitsundays or Hinchinbrook options?

[Flex]

Hi all. In September I have a week off with the mrs. She's a fairly keen fisho and loves catching pelagics. I've fished a fair bit around Whitsundays and itcan be hit and miss with Tuna and mackerel,GT's but I know my way around I could probably get into a few.

I an Contemplating going to Hinchinbrook instead. I have never really fished much there from a boat. Whats the options around Lucida for nailing a GT or 3? I know the sugar jetty is a good start but whats it like in a SE wind? are there many places you can go to get out of the wind?

While im at it, does anyone know of a place you can camp/huts etc on the outer Whitsunday Islands? It would be nice to simply load my boat with fishing gear and clothes and stay on an Island instead of having to pound across the passage everyday. But im yet to find a secure place to leave my small boat overnight, its only a 4.5m tinny.

any info would be great thanks..

[NAGG]

Hi Flex

The sugar loader is exposed ( big time) in a SE wind .... & yes it would be the best starting point ........... You can get out of the wind ( up the creeks) if you like chasing Jacks & Barra
Honestly while I love Hinchinbrook ...... The Whitsundays are better for the pelagics (IMO)

Lots of camping options on the Islands ....... but it is a tough haul across the passage ( as you know) Butterfly bay is great ( keeps you out of the SE winds that you encounter in Sept) ....... From there you have good access to some great pelagic waters! Remember ..... you need to carry everything ( food , water & Fuel ....... Though you can always duck into Hamilton Is)
There are other options ...... south ! Cant remember their names , but I'll dig them out tonight
Buy a copy of 100 magic miles ...... Its all about boating in the Whitsundays - It's a must

Nagg

[Flex]

Thanks nagg, yeah im not to fussed on fishing the creeks etc for barra,jacks so maybe that limits my options at Hinchinbrook.

Does Hammo Island allow you to leave your boat tied up to a pontoon overnight? was thinking all i'd need is a bag of clothes+fishing gear and stay in a hut/cabin and tie off to a pontoon each night..if they allow that sort of thing

[NAGG]

Thanks nagg, yeah im not to fussed on fishing the creeks etc for barra,jacks so maybe that limits my options at Hinchinbrook.

Does Hammo Island allow you to leave your boat tied up to a pontoon overnight? was thinking all i'd need is a bag of clothes+fishing gear and stay in a hut/cabin and tie off to a pontoon each night..if they allow that sort of thing

I think you would pay a nominal fee at Hamilton .......... I actually never went there ( camped at Butterfly & Sawmill ....... + Armit Is well to the north ......... & carried everything)

Chris

[rizzi jnr]

i fished in the mouth of Macona inlet and managed to hook up a GT and a few other runs that i missed.

give that a go while your their.

Rizzi Jnr

[Flex]

Thanks Rizzi. I've fished both macono and Nara twice now and never done well there yet. I have landed a few mackerel around Nara but yet to get anything in Macona. did you get em at the mount of the inlet?

[BobbyJ123]

G'day mate, how about the Newry Islands just 6 km off Seaforth, north of Mackay. The southern end of the Whitsundays are 26 km off shore.
Good camping on Newry and Rabbit island, seven islands altogether. And safe waters for small tinnies.
Being National Park, you will need the camping permits.


http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/p....cgi?parkid=54

[Flex]

Oh that looks nice, never considered those Islands. Whats the fishing like around em?

[BobbyJ123]

Oh that looks nice, never considered those Islands. Whats the fishing like around em?

Some good fishing around the Newrys; Mackerel, gt, tuna, barracuda, coal trout etc. And 3 dams nearby stocked with metre + barra....

[bicko1]

I have never stayed there but a few blokes I know use hook island as a base when fishing the reef out of airlie. Good fishing, backbacker style accomodation , even a small pub. I dont think you will find anything better so long as the weather is good enough to get there