top end trip

[Gilli]

hi all

Myself and a few mates are looking at going up the top end of QLD for some fishing for a week or two. not to sure about what spots are good or not, have heard of a few and been told good things about them. have heard about the starkey river and a few others.

Anyone got any good spots or opinion on a good spot to hit up for a week or two??

We all have 4wd's and will have boats on roof racks so no stress about access.

[Richo1]

Hi Gilli,
I've always had a good run in Lakefield National Park, heaps of options there - lots of big Crocs too! Stop in at the Laura general store and ask Harold & Jenny for the local fishing reports, they speak to heaps of people comming back down from the Cape. Have a good workshop too if you find yourself needing repairs - especially tyres.

Cheers Richo

[Flex]

Been going to the cape for over 10 years now,

if your after a pure fishing trip you dont need to go all the way up. Fishing is just as good from north of cooktown to the very tip and all places in between. Further away from a local town the better.

Its my opinion the section between bathurst bay and Cape Bedford fish the best. The main road to cape york bypasses this coastal section to its totally untouched and has no communities along the coast. The road is a real bastard to say the least so not many travellers along it. But the fishing is unreal if you make the effort. I know plenty of poeple who come back from the cape and catch SFA.

What size boat are you taking? Do you want to do a barra trip or do you want to catch everything else?


I have fished the Starke quite a few times, The starke itself is one of the few creeks that fishes poorely. I dont understand why but I always did alot better fishing other creeks. Starke is geographically different than surrounding creeks and requires a different fishing approach, All other surrounding creeks always fish awesome.

Is your boat capable of travelling in a little chop? Starke is a good place to base yourself at. South is a big system called Red bream. More jacks in that creek than rest of Aus combined I think. Even caught sweetlip 1km upstream,aswell as trout, Massive salmon and goldens at the sandy mouth and tons of queenies etc.

north of Starke is Hummocky creek. Small eastury but boy does it fish awesome. It has a fringing reef just 200m from the mouth(mostly greenzone) but it really makes the creek fire.

North of that is a big Rocky outcrop I call Fingermark rocks. Always fishes fantastic if the wind allows you to.

All the above areas require a boat that can handle a little bit of chop to get to. If you have a punt then I wouldnt bother.

Bathurst bay is another popular spot. It can be busy though. I personally take the effort to fish more remote spots, but the fishing there can be great too. Also its protected from the SE trade winds.

ninian bay south of bathurst bay is great, total bastard to get to and like bathurst bay requires beach launching but its less fished and has reef right on your doorstep. but trade winds can be an issue.

Anyhow, send me a PM im happy to help out with some info in the regions I have fished. good on ya for having a go. not many blokes makes the effort to fish the cape.

Cheers

[Richard]

If you are heading right up, you have to check out Vriyla Point, lovely spot for camping and supposedly some good fishing. I say supposedly as when we made it there it blew 30-40knots and we got sick of eating sand.

It's just south of the Jardine River crossing, on the west side of the coast and has fairly easy access. Turn off is a little bit hard to find but once you do, you have to go across a little log bridge over Crystal Creek (which has saratoga in it you can snorkel with). Then you head out to Rocky Point and then it's about a 7klm beach run up to the main camping area.

Let me know if you want more information and I'll elaborate..

Richard

[bungie]

Vriyla Point, was there for 4 days and caught SFA. Nobodyelse did either, but its a lovely spot in the she oaks

[capt]

Hey Flex,
you seem to know that area well. I plan to make a trip up that way with the missus in the next few months . I have a 4 mt tinney and a roof top tent on the 4wd . What is the best time to hit this region ?

Jimmy

[Gilli]

hey, i have a 4 meter tinny with a 30 and it can take a little chop, put through some good swells down here in t'ville lol. We are more inclined to go to places that are a little harder to get to, makes the trip more interesting. have been told about the starke and how it drains right out on low tide and the fishing is mostly only good at the mouth, wasnt too keen to head there, was just a thought of a possible place.

We have all the setup's to get to some remote places, although i have heard of the jardine river crossing and apparently it can be a bit hard??

Chris

[rooboy98]

I am heading up to Lakefield National Park next month for a few days. I need to make a booking. We have stayed at Kalpowar overnight once before but didn't get a chance for a good look around on that trip.

What camp areas do people recommend in the Park. We will be in a Cruiser towing a 4.1m boat and it would be great to be able to leave the boat in the water next to the camp. Freshwater or saltwater, I'm not real fussed.

People's opinion on any of Lakefield's camps appreciated (good or bad).

Thanks,
Roo.

[bungie]

When we were there people had their boats in the water at the Kalpower crossing, and camped 50 metres away

[capt]

What's the best time to go for a trip up the top . Want to plan a trip .

cheers Jimmy