How far north?

[IRMC000]

How far north do you have to go to get into "magic" estuary or river fishing country?
Country that is not over-fished and you can expect to have a GREAT days fishing almost every day?
Just dreaming again
Robert

[Cammy]

I dont think many of them are around anymore, but if u ever find one tell me and no one els, lol.

Cam

[FNQCairns]

Approx 500km as the crow flies north of Cairns or due west to the other coasts from Cairns, Hinchinbrook puts up a good battle though, up here as in most other places it has the more to do with river form and innate productivity as commercial fishing.

cheers fnq

[Flex]

Anywhere where you dont get agriculture run off into the estuary. This means cooktown or further north.

Any estury you fish north of cooktown is sensational! it has to be experienced to be believed. I often fish a place called Red bream creek, just south of starke national park. You'll get sick of catching jacks after 3 days. I guranatee it

but any creek system in far north QLD away from a major town will have unbelievable fishing

[blueline]

hey robert
i come from innisfail its all good up here,but dont forget barra season closes nov 1. and if you go north storm season is upon us. but im sure theres lots of creeks between you and here,my cousen lives in makay and he does good there

[Coddie]

hey robert
i come from innisfail its all good up here,but dont forget barra season closes nov 1. and if you go north storm season is upon us. but im sure theres lots of creeks between you and here,my cousen lives in makay and he does good there

Barra season closed early this year, October 12 I think. Anyways, they're nice to catch but Jacks are a better chew if you ask me.

[blueline]

hey coddie
its allways nov 1 to feb 1 but thats east coast i think its different for west coast. but i stand to be corrected. and yes agree on the jacks but i dont eat fresh water fish barra from salt is just as good ,im a reef man myself love the trout.
thanks for the reply

[MeePee_99]

Yer nov 1 is the start

[Coddie]

hey coddie
its allways nov 1 to feb 1 but thats east coast i think its different for west coast. but i stand to be corrected. and yes agree on the jacks but i dont eat fresh water fish barra from salt is just as good ,im a reef man myself love the trout.
thanks for the reply

From the dpi web site. Looks like you're right. That means I can keep one tonight if I can find one.

Barramundi

Throughout the Queensland east coast, a closed season applies to barramundi from midday 1 November to midday 1 February. Throughout the Gulf of Carpentaria and adjoining waterways west and south of the intersection of longitude 142°09´E with the shore at high tide, a closed season applies to barramundi. The timing of the closed season varies each year according to lunar and tide cycles coinciding with spawning peaks.
The Gulf of Carpentaria closed season for barramundi for 2008 is:

• midday 7 October 2008 to midday 2 February 2009.

These closures do not apply in East Leichhardt Dam and Belmore, Corella, Julius and Moondarra lakes, and to waterways upstream of these impoundments. See also the section on freshwater closed seasons (barramundi) for information on taking barramundi from some freshwater during the closure.

[Noelm]

I guess this is relevant to were you started, some places "up North" are South to some of the members! if you are in Victoria, then there is a heap of Rivers to be looked at that offer great Fishing, without the Crocodiles, Biting things and Stinging Jellyfish, but also without the Barra, jacks and so on!

[blueline]

hey coddie
up here the barra and jacks are going off at the moment , good 50cm jacks at the mouth of the johnstone river!.
thanks mate.

[snatch]

There are still areas south of here that fish well. There are a few of the smaller creeks that are largely inaccessible without the largest tide range that can be fish a half a dozen times a year. Repulse creek is one such system.

Due to the top half of repulse bay being shallow and exposed to the sth easters it is largely off limits, however in the summer when the big tides run the jacks are waiting. Also trevors ,barra and other estuary species.

Proserpine river fishes very well at the right times. It has agricultural runoff, but not the population stress most systems have sth of here. Excellent barra, king salmon and jack fishing as well as flathead around the mouth.

The entire Whitsunday population is 20,000 and most boat owners go bluewater so the river is relatively quiet.

[IRMC000]

Guys
Thank you very much for the thoughts coming through on the post.
I'll check out where Repulse is and may get in touch for more advice
R

[spelchek]

and you can expect to have a GREAT days fishing almost every day?

Dunno about you, but every day I get to go fishing its a GREAT day.

[snatch]

Guys
Thank you very much for the thoughts coming through on the post.
I'll check out where Repulse is and may get in touch for more advice
R

Repulse bay starts at the mouth of the Proserpine River in the Whitsundays. It is largely shallow and Repulse creek is to the nth of the mouth of the Proserpine river in the bay itself. In summer "if" the traditional northerlies kick in, it provides protection to get into repulse creek on the large tides. I have stood in the creek where the fresh is flowing into the salt waste deep casting lures on light gear for juvenile jacks. It is their spawning ground.

The main creek itself is very scenic as it is on the southern side of the conway range. It as mentioned has all the typical estuary species. If you plan to fish Proserpine river you can't go wrong. Time your trip for the bigger tides in December /January and Repulse will be a bonus.

Throw in some pots too.