Gladstone for a week

[gregor]

Hi to all, i'm heading to Gladstone for a week at the end of feb (staying at boyne island) and intend to spend most of that time chasing barra in awoonga. But would also like some other options for outside. taking up a 16foot plate stessl with 60hp yammie. As i've never fished anywhere up that way before could anyone please advise whether there's anything worth a look out from the boyne river mouth. i have a maximum range of about 70-80km (both ways). If anyone could point me to where i could find some info on where to go what to look for it would be much appreciated.

[Rainbowrunner]

try the points or rocky outcrops around facing island, can shoot straight across from boyne, . Use same lures as barra. for cod, trout queenfish trevally etc.
mouth of the boyne with livies on the beginning of incoming tide or can go to rock cod shoals or sable cheif on the front of facing island.

[Owen]

Apart from what Peter has mentioned, you can also have a look at Seal Rocks and Jenny Lind Banks and Rundle Island (probably better to put in at Gladstone to save some fuel for this one).
There are also several wrecks within your range that are marked on the charts.

[manny01]

Hey Gregor
Let us know how you go, we are heading there at easter and havent been there either. We were looking at Boyne island or the calliope river area so would be nice to get the heads up before we leave.
Good Luck
Ben

[Member101]

Hey Gregor,


Good to hear your heading this way. Be cautious around the mouth of Boyne, can be shallow and there are plenty of bombies. Go for a stroll at low tide and have a look before heading out.

Calliope can hold some good fish up toward Devils elbow and Sawyers but its a bit hot and cold. Sawyers also has lots of bombies and there is gravel bar (Beecher bar) along the way that can catch you unguarded.

There are plenty of spots in the harbour, Mina Rock, Tide Island, Picnic Island, the old meatwoks jetty, Mannings reef, Facing Island, Gatcombe Heads, .

Out the front there's Rat island, Farmers reef, Sable cheif rocks. The barge off cape capricorn usually holds some good jews, grunter and the odd nanygai or cobia. Yellow patch for whiting but beware of shallow water. lots of sand banks.

pm me if you want some marks although most of these are readily available off the net. Might even be able to show you a few spots if you would like (weather and work dependant). this offer does not come with a guarantee for actually catching anthing though.

Hope this helps,
Steve

[gregor]

Thanks Peter, Owen & Steve. Any information is like gold when you are fishing an area for the first time. I'll do some more research on the names you've given me, and hopefully end up with some sort of a game plan. I'll most likely end up heading as wide as i can(weather permitting) in an attempt to get among some of the reefies. When snapper fishing in norther nsw, nearly always run a solid berley trail for the most success - is this the best way up there? or does this just attract too many sharks?

[BladeRunner]

Hi Gregor
If you wont to fish well around Boyne try wild cattel creek be careful though it runs out pretty quick and gets very low in some areas.

(Solid berley trail) we do have a few sharks out wide.
Check with the local tackle shop on Boyne island ask for Trish.
Trish can advise you, and get an idea of the area there most helpful.

BladeRunner

[Owen]

When snapper fishing in norther nsw, nearly always run a solid berley trail for the most success - is this the best way up there? or does this just attract too many sharks?

Lets just say on my last trip to rock cod shoals in my 4.5m tinnie I had a "we need a bigger boat" moment with a Tiger shark. Actually I estimate he was 9-10ft but he was the broadest tiger I've ever seen and did a couple of circuits to check us out.
Snorkelling there is not recommended.

Yet a bit further out on the islands I don't think they're so prevelent.
I'm not a diver though, so I'm only operating on heresay on that side.

Berley up. If the sharks come, move somewhere else and stop using the berley.

[coraltrout68]

If launching from the Boyne ramp, watch the rip in the tide - it runs really quick there at times. Watch the tides, getting in and out 2 hours either side of low tide can be very tricky.

Range could be an issue, but: Rock Cod Shoals is a good start if the winds are down. Its about a 35 / 40km run to the shoals (one way).

[gregor]

thanks for the advice guys. much appreciated - i'll put up a report when i get back as to how we went (good or bad). hopefully now the weather plays it's part and we find a few. cheers