Page 76 - Bush 'n Beach Fishing magazine

KAYAKING
& canoeing
Solar Coaster anchored in the inlet at Yellowpatch.
WYellowpatch is Curtis Island’s best kept secret
HEN peo- due to limited access to the adjourning estuary. ple think of the island, you’ll easily The other common Curtis Is- find a spot away from visitors to Yellowpatch
Canoeing
by DAN OWBRIDGE
land these days, it’s of- the crowd. are cruising sailors
ten in association with the new coal seam gas plants that have been erected there.
means typical of the rest of this large Curtis Coast feature.
est island in Queens- land and, excluding the developments on the southern end, largely untouched.
There are four main camping areas on Cur- tis, but by far the stand- out for me is Yellow- patch.
such as ourselves.
The anchorage in the
And while the trio of plants certainly domi- nate the view of the island from Gladstone Harbour, it is by no
Curtis Island is the northernmost and larg- est of the group of is- lands that make up Gladstone Harbour.
The island is perfect for fishing, camping, four-wheel driving, hiking and boating, and
A remote campsite located on the north- eastern tip of the island, Yellowpatch is tucked in behind Cape Capri- corn.
estuary, once you’ve successfully navigated the mouth, is deep and sheltered.
It is the third larg-
It is a perfect place to layover for a few days or even a few weeks.

Cape Capricorn Lighthouse at the entrance toYellowpatch.
Page 76 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2020
This very enticing spot is frequented by anglers who use it as a base to fish or crab in
We travelled from the mouth of the Boyne River, around the southern tip of Facing Island and up the east-
It is accessible only by boat and is instantly recognisable by its dis- tinct large yellow sand blow, from which it de- rives its name.
It was here, at the foot of Yellowpatch itself, that we anchored up.
Camping is on a shel- tered beach to the east of the sand blow, in among a stand of native hardwood trees.
This trip found us once again at sea on the Solar Coaster.
You may recall in an earlier article I wrote about my brother’s 40’ solar-powered catama- ran.
* continued P77 www.bnb shing.com.au