If you turn on the TV now, it is hard not to notice, all the doom and gloom messaging about covid-19. Scroll through social media and it appears that anglers and boaties everywhere are arguing amongst themselves about the right to fish. The right to boat versus the stay at home messaging. It is an emotional time for all of us. Livelihoods are on the line; opinions are being plastered all over the place. It can seem a little overwhelming. Never fear though, as the good times will return.
Be it in 3 months, 6 months, 12 months or further into the future, make no mistake. The good times will return. I believe holding onto this simple fact can help alleviate some of the anxiety we are all feeling.
Use The Time To Plan
For my family and I, the good times are simple. Clear skies, light wind, the smell of the ocean. White sandy beaches, sand between our toes and the occasional chaos that erupts when fishing line starts being ripped from the spool.
Now, is the perfect time to ponder, plan and to start putting into place those things which you will need to emerge from these difficult times.
Why Visit The Fraser Coast ?
When this time comes, many regions around Australia are going to be asking for you to visit their own piece of paradise. The reasons for this are many, we all know what they are. But what I am going to say to you today is full of bias, self interest and pride. So, forgive me!
Come visit the Fraser Coast!! If you enjoy your boating, fishing or just exploring nature. You must visit our patch of paradise and here is what we can offer you.
What Is On Offer
From Brooweena and Bauple all the way to the Sandy Cape light house on Fraser Island, the Fraser Coast region covers approximately 7,000 square kilometres. Including the world heritage listed Fraser Island. The mighty Mary River meanders past Maryborough and empties into the Great Sandy Strait. Providing the southern most recognised barramundi fishery on the east coast of Australia. Lake Lenthalls spills fresh water into the Burrum River. Which, after navigating several weirs eventually mixes with the salt, flows past the tiny beach side town of Burrum Heads and spills into Platypus Bay.
For the mad keen fishers out there, the Fraser Coast region offers such diversity in fishing options. That you could spend a lifetime ticking various fish species off your bucket list. For the boaties, yachties and explorers out there. The biggest challenge is trying not to get lost is the abundance of sights and experiences which you simply must take in and do. All of this lies only 3 hours’ drive north of Brisbane.
Booking.comLet Us Start With The Fishing
The Fraser Coast enjoys a unique geographical advantage. It is the meeting place for cooler southern waters moving up the east coast of Australia and warmer tropical waters moving south. For this reason, the species of fish found in Fraser Coast waters are incredibly diverse. The Fraser Coast is also protected by the largest sand island in the world, Fraser Island. Which provides protection from strong southern and easterly winds blowing in from the open ocean.
The Great Sandy Strait sits between the southern reaches of Fraser Island and the mainland. Cooler salt water from the ocean enters the straits across the Wide Bay Bar, flows past Inskip Point and continues north into the strait. This water eventually meets warmer saltwater flowing south into the strait across the Breaksea Spit, through Platypus Bay and into the northern mouth of the strait. Fed by numerous freshwater creeks flowing from Fraser Island and the mainland and the Mary River itself. The Great Sandy Strait is an estuary fishing mecca.
Species On Offer
Barramundi, threadfin salmon, mangrove jack, trevally, nannygai, fingermark, grunter, flathead, bream, whiting and mud crabs to name just a few of the species on offer. In all honesty, I have been fishing the Great Sandy Strait for years and have only covered a small percentage of this massive fishery.
I particularly enjoy fishing the shallow saltwater flats along the western side of Fraser Island. I have gathered countless gps marks for drains and creek mouths where freshwater and saltwater mix. And, which prove productive at various times of the year for many high quality table fish. When the tide retreats, I then move to fishing deep holes or a selection of the many areas of shallow reef and rock ledges which litter the Great Sandy Strait.
Many visiting anglers are surprised to learn that good quality reef species can be found within the deep-water channels of the Great Sandy Strait. Some less than 10 minutes boating from popular boat ramps. Many more visiting anglers are left dumbfounded. After spending the entire day travelling hundreds of kilometres. Burning through litre upon litre of fuel, charging around Platypus Bay searching for good quality reef fish or longtail tuna. To almost return to the Urangan harbour and witness longtail tuna schools busting up only minutes from where they launched that morning.
Platypus Bay
As I have already alluded to, Platypus Bay is a massive area of water. Generally speaking, it covers the area from the northern mouth of the Great Sandy Strait all the way north to the Breaksea Spit which is located at the northern tip of Fraser Island. The bay is protected in part by Fraser Island. Much of that protection, wider of the island is lost when winds exceed 15 knots. However, areas to fish in close to the island on less than ideal days of weather are in abundance.
At the right time of the year, anglers can target baby black marlin on the northern flats of Fraser Island. Large cobia, longtail tuna and trophy golden trevally are also found in these areas. Bone fish have also been caught from time to time, sparking the interest of fly fishers far and wide.
Of course, year-round there are many patches of reef, gravel beds, underwater gutters and deep holes which all hold various trophy fish species during different times of the year. In winter when our water temperatures start to drop to around 20 degrees. Large snapper become a favoured target. Personally, I find this a great time of year to fish for large tiger squid to secure my family a fresh meal of calamari.
Why Not Set Yourself A Challenge ?
As you can see the fishing options on the Fraser Coast are many. In fact, one challenge an avid angler could set for themselves while visiting our Fraser Coast, over a single long weekend. Could be a multi species challenge. Land a metre plus barramundi (fresh or salt) and threadfin salmon. Then move into the bay and aim for a metre-long golden trevally, followed by a longtail tuna and then finish with a baby black marlin.
Or, if you are not into the larger species or sports fishing specifically and wish to target species for the purpose of feeding your family. Why not aim for a saltwater barramundi, threadfin salmon, grunter and large flathead from the rivers of straits. Oh, and don’t forget a few mud crabs and then move onto a longtail tuna, snapper or nannygai and coral trout from the bay to round out the menu. All in a single long weekend?? Sounds like a challenge to me!
What About The Boating ?
Moving on to boating and exploring, with a little bread and butter fishing thrown into the mix. Something which my family and I really enjoy. Front of mind and the first destination for many family boating day trippers is to set foot on one of Fraser Islands gorgeous white sandy beaches. The good news is that there are miles and miles of beaches to choose from. In fact, you can quite easily find a location many kilometres away from any other people if you wish.
Popular boating destinations include Wathumba Creek and Coongul Creek. Where the rich tannin stained fresh water pumping out of Fraser Island meets the crystal-clear saltwater of Platypus Bay. Both creeks are best accessed at high tide. They both drain very shallow at low tide but offer safe anchorage in the creeks themselves for the night. Some people camp on the island, for which you need a camping permit. While others sleep on their boats. The fishing and crabbing in both creeks are great. However, many people use the creeks as a home base for striking out into Platypus Bay in a search for trophy fish species.
Closer To Home
Boating across to Kingfisher Bay Resort is a great family boating option for first time visitors to the Fraser Coast. Not only is it an easy to navigate and quick journey. The beaches either side of Kingfisher Bay Resort offer safe anchorage. Or if you are like us, a soft bottom to pull up, let your boat go high and dry while you explore the area. Enjoy lunch and a beverage at the resort’s restaurant. They even do, take away pizza’s!!
There are countless other destinations for boaties to explore across the Fraser Coast. As I have mentioned previously, the Great Sandy Strait offers so many possible destinations, little beaches, island, creeks and secret locations to explore that you could easily spend a lifetime trying to see it all.
Booking.comBut Wait, There Is More !!
If you follow the coastline north from Hervey Bay, at first it gently wraps west toward the small town of Toogoom. Then turns north again towards Burrum Heads. A small town sitting at the entrance to the Burrum River. Along the way there are several small creeks worth exploring and of course fishing. There are several boat ramps located amongst these small towns. Meaning you can either base yourself out of Hervey Bay and boat/sail to these locations. Or tow your boat and launch at these towns, enjoying their hospitality while there.
The Burrum River itself is another huge estuary system which itself needs an entire article dedicated to it. The Burrum River makes its way inland and eventually reaches Lake Lenthalls. Stocked with barramundi and bass this freshwater lake is a true local secret. Often overlooked by keen anglers driving hours, further to the north in search of impoundment barramundi.
Start Planning
So, the time to ponder, plan, budget and prepare for your next epic fishing or family boating adventure is now. As a community of anglers and boaties we all recognise that times will be tough for a while. Some of us are going to feel this more than others. And, for that there is nothing I can say, but that I am sorry. However, we must hold onto the knowledge that eventually the good times will return.
Amongst our community there is a tremendous amount of knowledge and motivation. Find it, cling on to it. Use this time wisely, learn from one another.
Get Inspired
If you are inspired to plan a trip, communicate, start asking questions and gather others around you via the technology on hand. Discuss tips and tricks to make your next dream trip a truly epic adventure. Give your family something to look forward to. Set the kids a project to find out everything they can about your nominated destination and then get them to prepare everything they will need.
Learn those knots, spool those reels, grease those trailer bearings and waterproof those swags because when all this bad stuff clears. I hope to meet plenty of you out and about on the waters of the Fraser Coast.