FISHING IN THE GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK

For those in the know, fishing around the Whitsundays can be very fruitful. For those not so knowledgeable, it can simply be fun to drop a line & see what happens. Having said that, there are many rules and regulations to abide by and it is advisable to get the latest updates by visiting www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb

The information contained in this webpage is gained from many different sources and is by no means complete and is only to be used as a basic guide. You should do your own research before embarking on your fishing trip as changes to legislation, etc may occur.

Now, we know all good fisher people love to show off their catches, so we are designing a page specifically for our clients to send their best fishing pictures to us for posting. All you need to do is tell us the date, the vessel you were on and a caption to include. Email them to info@yachtcharters.com.au

What type of fish can you expect to catch in the Whitsundays?

Bluefin and Mackeral are in abundance all year round. They can usually be located by the sight of seabirds skipping over the surface of the water where the tuna are. Casting or trolling around the headlands and in the passages between the islands should also land you a few good tuna for dinner.

There is excellent estuary fishing to be found in Gulnare inlet, Hill inlet, Nara and Macona inlets.

Coral Reef Fishing can provide the likes of Coral Trout, Sweetlip, Emporers, Gropers etc.

Before visiting the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, it is important you study the zoning map for the area you are visiting to be sure of the activities that you can do and where you can do them. A link to the zoning map is below:

http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/10675/mpz_10.pdf

Why do we have closed seasons?

Closed seasons prevent people from fishing at certain times of the year to protect species at vulnerable times in their life cycle, such as during spawning seasons.

Barramundi
Throughout the Queensland East Coast, a closed season applies to Barramundi from midday on the 1st November to midday 1st February.

There are 3 x nine day periods that have been implemented as closed seasons for the taking of all coral reef fish. These are October, November and December each year around the new moon phases. The closures apply to all Queensland East Coast waters between latitude 10°41´S and 24°50´S. The closures are designed to protect spawning aggregations of most Coral Reef Fish Species.

The closures for 2009 are yet to be decided but will be in the months of Oct/Nov & Dec. 

Hiring Fishing Gear:

As Queensland Yacht Charters do not supply fishing gear, it is recommend you either bring your own equipment (Generally handlines are the easiest if you just want to dabble) or you can hire gear from RodsnHooks as detailed below. Please order in advance as we may not be able to supply you on the day.

Why not try a complete package with everything you need to get you going for $12 p/day:
1 x Fishing Rod & Reel
1 x Tackle Box with sinkers, lures & hooks etc
1 x Handline with 40lb line
1 x Landing net

1 x Heavy Duty Mackeral Hand Line (110lb braid line) @ $2.00 p/day
Use: Spanish mackerel, Giant Trevally. Trolling only, complete with lure.

1 x Baitcaster Rod (12lb light/medium spinning)  @ $8.00 p/day including a box of assorted swivels, hooks & sinkers. Use: Mangrove Jack, Trevally, Sweetlip. Typical rod used for casting from the boat or dinghy. Ideal for getting close to mangroves with a floating lure.

1 x Overhead Rod (40lb Trolling line) @ $8.00 p/day including a box of assorted hooks, sinkers, swivels. Use: Spanish Mackerel, Queenfish, Giant Trevally. Mainly used to troll from the back of the boat for that big catch but can also be used to drop a line over the side at the end of the day.

1 x Hand Line (30lb line) @ $1.00 p/day
Use: Coral Trout, Trevally. Hand line for the kids or just try your luck at the end of the day.

Crab Pots @ $1.00 p/day

Landing Net @ $1.00 p/day

Gaff @ $1.00 p/day

Bait: Pilchard 380gm @ $3.50; Squid 350gm @ $5.50; Prawn 200gm @ $5.70

To arrange you can email us on reservations@yachtcharters.com.au or call 1800 075 013