Coming to Australia

[jason72]

I am from Canada and am going to be in Brisbane, Lennox and the Whitsundays and would like to get a couple of fishes in. I was wondering if anybody might be able to guide me in the right direction. I am not sure what to fish, wieght of rod and what type of flies. Should I hire a guide and if so any recommendations?

Thanks
Jason

[lordy]

when are you coming?
are you bringing your own gear (if so what do you have)?

[jason72]

I am coming in the first 2 1/2 weeks of October. I am in lennox from the 5th to the 10th and Whitsunday from the 11th to 15th and then Brisbane for a few days and the last few unplanned as of yet. I have a 6 wieght travel rod and I have a reel for it with a full sink, intermediate and floating lines. I am not sure if my other rods will come as it will be a bit of a pain moving them around alot.

[duckbill]

Jason

With that 6 weight you can probably target estuary species (bream and flathead) in the salt, and bass in the fresh. If you are after larger fish then you will need something heavier, probably a 9 weight would give you the best options.

You could probably walk around on the beaches in the Whitsundays and have a cast at anything that moves, but that is just a thought, I am quite new to Queensland and have only fished around Brisbane. There are lots of guides around who would get you onto good fish and you would be provided with the right gear. My mate Nat Bromhead is an excellent guide and he works in the Noosa to Brisbane area (he posts on this forum as well and would be able to provide you with tons of info).

Here in Brisbane there are a bunch of guys who could probably take you out for a fish, as I mentioned I have been here 6 months only but have had plenty of chances to catch fish. [smiley=2thumbsup.gif] [smiley=2thumbsup.gif] [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]

Should be some good action on the pelagics here in Moreton bay that time of the year. If you have the chance to catch a longtail, you will be hooked [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]

[lordy]

I wouldn't bother bringing the 6 weight, if its a hassle, because you will need probably something a bit bigger, 8-10 weight. Might pay to see a few guides in the areas.

From Brissy north to Hervey Bay you could try for bass or saratoga in the freshwater dams, or try for Longtail tuna and other tuna offshore.

Around Hervey Bay, large golden trevally, queenfish, tuna and plenty of others. Great fishing there.

Paul Dolan is guide around Hervey bay. His web site lists the sort of thing you might catch.
http://fraser57.tripod.com/guide.htm


Not sure who to recommend around the Whitsundays (don't know the area well). There are likely to be a few good guides though.


Most of the flyfishing on this board is tuna related or northern tropicals like trevally. Not much freshwater fly fishing in Qld, though people are desperate enough to try and catch anything on fly that they thought up some very bizarre forms of fly fishing. Take deep water flyfishing for bass: basically involves casting a sinking line, counting down the line down for 30 seconds or so, strip pause strip pause strip, rewind. Repeat until you catch a fish or boredom gets the better of you (its is effective though).

[Matt]

Depends where your staying in the whitsundays too.. Airlie has some good landbased options around shute harbour and you can always hire a tinny and stand a good chance of getting into some nice fish. I stayed at hamilton island for the weekend not too long ago and a dawn fish on the beaches in front of the resorts is nothing short of magical. I fished 2 mornings and managed my first coral trout on fly around the rocks.

Matt.

[Zeeke]

Just to help, 6 weight will be perfect for the creeks.. but check with customs, ive heard they are getting touchy with fishing gear, especially used gear as it might be carrying diseases and such and can and will confiscate gear...

Also check and contact Paul, as Lordy said, he's in hervey bay and should easily get you onto a few trevally on the long wand, his new website btw is http://frasercoast.#######.com where he has forums for your to leave messages and you can also check out reports from his previous trips with pictures

Tim

[jason72]

Tim & Lordy, I am going to give Paul's site a try, thanks. Duckbill, I wouldn't mind hering a little more about the freshwater Bass. This is something I can relate to as I live smack in the middle of Canada, a long way from any salt. Matt, Do you know of any shops or guides around Airlie to rent equipment as this where we are going to be staying for part of the time. I am very interested in the surf fishing, to me the surf is what I see on TV not at my feet and I promissed myself I would do those things I would probably not get the chance to do again. Thanks for everybody's help and any further ideas or contacts would be much appreciated.

Jason

[duckbill]

Jason

Have a look at Fitzy's site (part of ausfish) for freshwater info, there is a lot there, with maps of dams and tips as well.

http://www.ausfish.com.au/fitzy

Also have a look at Nat's website/forum, where some of us ausfish flyfishers also post.

http://www.###################.com.au/forum/

If you are in Brisbane for a bit and want to catch fish, he is the man.

Keep checking this forum now and then to keep up with what is going on... [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]

[jason72]

Thanks Duckbill, I will give it a look?

[DRJ]

Jason

For the Whitsundays area have a look at www.mafsa.com

From here you can have a look at the local dams - with a link to Peter Faust Dam as well - look on the links page for guides or look on the forum and there is a sticky topic that lists the local guides and the forums can also give you a bit more info.

Many of the guides up here will hire you gear or it comes as part of the package.

Regards
Darren

[jason72]

Could anybody give me some suggestions for patterns of some flies to tie up for my trip. I am thinking of doing some salt and some fishing at the Peter Faust Dam.

[Fin_Addict]

Give Andy at Andy's Fly Fishing & Lure Casting a go..He's a top bloke and fishes the salt aswell as Faust's... www.andysfishing.com.au ...Lindsay Dobe at The Proserpine Tackle Shop is worth a look if your chasing a Faust's barra... www.barramundicharters.com ...I'm heading back up there on the 21st August for my annual 3week trip.. Make the effort and go for a drive out to Dingo Beach..Walk the edges at high tide and spot the trevally

[lordy]

Pink things for Faust. 1/0 up.The barra there are BIG, plenty over 1 m. Maybe a spinster or two.

http://www.fishingcairns.com.au/page6-6.html


Some surf candies and gummy flies for tuna. Wes Pang should have a gummy fly pattern. size 1 to 1/0

A few Clousers in varies sizes and colours, size 2 and larger.

[jason72]

fin addict,
I would be very interested in hearing how this goes for you. I ahve contacted both guys that you spoke of. What would your suggestion be for fishing the shorelines ie: rod & flies?