Townsville sits at the crossroads of the tropical fishery — reef country to the east, Hinchinbrook and the Palm group to the north, Cleveland Bay flats to the south, and Ross Creek in the middle of it all. Reef species year-round, spring pelagics running through the shipping lanes, and world-class barra water an hour up the road.
Season, where, how, and the rules that keep the fishery healthy.
The reef's prize.
The northern classic.
Hinchinbrook silver.
The spring run.
Sight-fishing the flats.
The mangrove brawler.
The inshore reef surprise.
The Ross River staple.
From canal pontoons to the shelf — where the fish live and how locals fish them.
Townsville's back yard.
The shallow bay south of Maggie between Ross Creek and Cape Cleveland — golden trevally on the flats, fingermark on the wrecks, mackerel on the shipping-channel edges. World-class fishing within sight of the city.
The mid-bay wrecks fire on a neap tide when the water clears — spring tides kill the visibility.
The barra dream.
The 25nm mangrove-lined channel between Hinchinbrook Island and the mainland — barra in the drains, jacks in the snags, threadfin on the flats. One of the country's great mixed-estuary fisheries.
The bigger tides move the fish; the smaller tides let you fish them. Learn the difference.
Spring mackerel country.
The reef edge and current lines off Cape Cleveland and through the shipping channel — Spanish mackerel in spring, longtail tuna and cobia year-round, and the odd blue marlin further wide.
Watch the bird work early — the mackerel schools push the bait to the surface on first light.
Coral trout and red emperor to the north.
The fringing reefs and shoals around Orpheus and the Palm group — coral trout, red emperor, sweetlip and cobia. A day-trip in a serious trailer boat and a natural overnight in a cruiser.
Coral reef fin fish closures apply four times a year — check the dates before you leave the ramp.
The city fishery on the doorstep.
The river system running through Townsville — mud crabs, jacks in the rockwalls, barra on the bigger tides and fingermark under the bridges. Some of the best urban fishing in Queensland.
Fish the shadow lines of the bridges on a rising tide after dark — jacks eat the current seam.
Southern flats and mangrove country.
The wide shallow bay south of Cape Cleveland — sand flats, mangrove creeks and quiet water. Golden trevally, whiting, flathead and the odd big barra in the creek mouths on the wet-season run-off.
The creek mouths fire in Feb–Mar when the wet pushes the barra out — read the freshwater plume.
Jacks and threadfin fire in the rivers. Barra closed east-coast until Feb 1. Watch for crocs and storms.
Barra open. Post-wet run-off brings fish to the creek mouths. Reef fish switch on as the water cools.
Peak reef fishing — coral trout and red emperor. Cool nights on the reef anchorages.
Spanish mackerel run through the shipping lanes. Goldens tail on the flats. Everything switches on.
Bag limits, size limits, closures and licences — always check before you go.
Open regulator site