Page 52 - Bush 'n Beach Fishing mag

Clint with a typical mid-sized creek barramundi caught on a live mullet in the Calliope River.
Plenty on offer for Central Queensland anglers
* from P51
are another option in
caught in deeper sections of rivers, though usually smaller models.
worth a crack before moving on because these locations are regularly frequented by a variety of large predators.
Most of the prime lo- cations can be accessed by your average trailer boat, depending on weather conditions.
a few days, to hit the water and explore this wonderful region.
Central Queensland, and while they can be caught along the entire coast, the Fitzroy River and Port Alma region is the standout.
Gladstone Harbour can at times hold good schools of this fish, specifically around the rocky headlands that fall into deep water off the islands.
The shipping channel and markers through Gladstone Harbour can hold decent queenfish schools at any time.
When you add species like mangrove jack, fin- germark, blue salmon and grunter, along with reef and bread and but- ter species, it’s obvious CQ has it all.
If you don’t want to drag the boat around or spend time searching for fish, a number of ex- tremely good charters operate along the coast.
The sheer volume of schools that move through this system is mind-blowing, and the sizes these fish reach are incredible.
Remember, black jew- fish are a no-take spe- cies until next year and they do not release well when caught from deep water, so if you start pulling these fish from deeper water it’s a good idea to move elsewhere.
These fish are one of many trophy or buck- et list species readily available in the Central Queensland region.
Plenty of smaller towns along the coast make good spots for spending
Now we’re into Octo- ber, I’ll be heading to the Fitzroy River and Port Alma to chase a few barra before they’re off limits until next year.
Gladstone does hold a few threadfin but they are typically found as single fish or small schools, however to- wards Mackay they be- come a more common capture.
Queenfish, trevally, mackerel and tuna can also be targeted along the coastline.
Black jewfish are quite common along the coastline and the further north you go, the more common they become.
To find these species, target pressure points where tidal flow is pushing bait up against structure.
Typically, black jew will be found around local reefs and isolated rocky outcrops, which litter the coastline.
Many of the islands off the coast have at least one spot around them where this occurs during a tidal cycle.
The odd fish have been
If they don’t, it’s still
Phil and a school-sized black jew sh taken on a Zerek FishTrap.
Page 52 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020
www.bnb shing.com.au