'Turkey' for Easter !!!!

[craigie]

Have booked a house at Turkey Beach (coastal town just south of Gladstone) for Easter and the week prior, starting from 2nd of April.
Plan to have two boats for the trip although that is a logistical nightmare when you only have one vehicle ???
Turkey Beach is located at the southern end of Rod's Harbour and is famous for it's mudcrabs from the abundant Mangrove habitat.
Out through the heads of Rod's Harbour and your bound for the Reef. 20 miles to the North is Rock Cod Shoals or you can turn out to the East and head for the Bunker Group of Islands and Reefs.
Our fishing plans are dependant on the weather. If the breeze is up we can chase all the usual suspects like Whiting, Cod, Salmon, sharks around the creek mouths inside the harbour. Mud Crabs are naturally high on the target list, so plenty of time will be spent positioning/attending to pots to enable, Mr XXXX and Mr 'Chilled Mud Crab' to socialize on a regular basis.

When the weather allows it, I'll be aiming my new "Cyclone" north to the harbour entrance and out into the wild blue yonder in search of prized reef fish. Although only equiped with very basic electronics and a chart of the area, I'm hopeful of finding a few fish for the table.

Anyone else heading up that way for easter ??

Cheers
Craigie.

[JB]

Have got same time off craigie, but i'm gunna concentrate on the home ground this easter see if i can get my hands on some BIG pelagics off the tweed. Sounds like a good destination though, i'm sure you'll get a day or two of nice weather to head out wide, should be awesome. Cant wait to see return photos

[firetruck]

Sounds like a good trip you've got planned there Craigie.

Have been thinking about the Turkey beach option for a while, keen to see how you go.

Have fun.

[Lucky_Phill]

As you know Craig, Turkey is a fav of mine.

There should also be some good schools of big mack/tuna up there at this time of year, inside the Rodd's Harbour.

Rock Cod shoals will be the go. Even buzzing out to Ethel Rocks and down towards Pancake Creek in close.

Homebrew mozzie repellent is a must.

1 part metho,
1 part Baby oil,
1 part Dethol.

have a look over at Bird Island for me. good creeks and runoffs.

Don't forget, it is much easier to launch on the sand beside the ramp, than the ramp itself, even in a 2 wheel drive vehicle.

Cheers Phill

[craigie]

Yes guys it should be a top trip if the winds are kind to us.
Have done the Turkey trip 4 or 5 times now but never before did I have the boat to explore any of the offshore/Coastal structures.
With a bit of luck I should get around to Bustard Head for a troll/Bottom bash. Then just to the North there are several other rocky structures (Seal Rocks etc) close to the coast.
If the seas glass out, I may get to run out to the reefs following friends in there larger rigs.
Just trying to chase up an epirb that I can borrow for 2 weeks , maybe I just shell out a couple of hundred and get one

Found a couple of pics from last Easters trip.

Cheers
Craigie.

[craigie]

A few of the Muddies
Can't wait to load a few more of these into a boiling pot

[craigie]

Thanks for the tips Phill

Got 2 weeks up there , so will have plenty of time to check it all out this time around.

[agnes_jack]

Craigie
P.m. Me if you need some marks around pancake,Bustard.

Regards, Tony

[Craigo]

Hi Tony

I might grab those too if I can, I'm going up in May. Can't wait, can taste those mudiies now

Recipie for great time
8 Blokes
4 Boats
XXXX
Turkey


Cheers

[Robbo_Townsville]

Hi Craigie, my cousins husband has a couple of houses at Turkey Beach. If you want a bit of info into the hot spots drop in and see him on the way up.

PM me if you want his details.