As above... hit by bad pollution spills in recent years... so probably not table safe from creeks/harbour -- Dam would be ok...
Whilst NO crocs "officially" live in the water systems there... and I never saw any... Keep in mind Rockhampton just 50km away as the crow flies is full of them, add to this the recent Floods in QLD, and I wouldnt count on it... Always the odd story that pops up on the rumour mill about a croc or two in the rivers... Play it safe... have an action plan... stay alert...
------------
Whilst I Only really fished landbased around town... The obvious attraction is Awoonga Dam 12km out of Town -- Stocked with Barra... and Plentiful too... Really need a boat for that though... Not navigable by foot around the edge... This would be SAFE eating... as its a dam / water supply.
Usually use Mullet/Worms for bait -- Mix it up... They usually like one or the other on any given day...
OH AND BE PREPARED FOR SANDFLIES AND BUGS PLUS -- I saw people wearing Bona Fide Beekeeper Suits.... Long Pants/Shirts a must... or pay the price..
Creeks: (In no Particular Order): -- Fish these just after the current starts moving one way or the other when the tide turns -- Fish heavier than usual, rocky bottom, be prepared for bulk snags...
----
1. Anabranch Bridge just out the west end of town past the power plant.
Bream, Grunter -- Small Red/Brown Cod, Catfish -- Occassional Random other Stuff... Barracuda, odd Dusky Flathead... but you will do better for flathead further upstream or at the Power Plant.
2. The Hot Water Outlet of the Power Plant -- You can get to this off the main road out of town... Popular for the Above -- PLUS a whole heap of random bigger stuff that follows the hot water current upstream from the ocean. Queenies etc --- Muddier Bottom, less snags than elsewhere... I picked up more than a few BIG duskys in here....
Ocean:
Plenty of spots around the Harbour, hit-miss with various Cods and Sorts...
Better fishing about 20km down the road in Boyne/Tannum Sands -- Nice creek that runs out there too... easy to get to as well....
----------
If your an AFL fan... be sure to go support the Mighty Gladstone Mudcrabs !!!
I had an extended holiday in Gladstone. I mainly fished in the harbour there. If you are going to use bait, grab yourself a cast net. It is the only bait to use. I found high tide to be alot better fishing. A 6kg baitcsat set up will cover most options. However I got wiped out multiple times on big unstoppables(mostly cod and groper). The breakwalls are worth a go for mangrove jacks on lures. Hope this helps a bit.
Used to live in Gladstone for a little while, and there's definitely some fun spots to go fishing.
I recommend the Boyne River if you're chasing Barra in the warmer months - head about 2km upstream from the Benaraby bridge (or as far as you can be bothered walking if you don't have a tinny) and you should find plenty of mullet & sards for live bait. Lots of stocked barra have come over the dam wall since the Jan 2011 floods, so there's 90cm+ barra in good numbers all year up there - but they don't bite much once the temp drops. If you do have a tinny then take it easy on your first few trips up there - low tide reveals lots of rocky / gravelly banks. I went on mid tide the first time, and hit them at full noise - not a great feeling :/
For this time of year, if you're still keen on barra, just stick to the hot water outlet at the power station. Sh!tloads of mozzies & bugs though, so pack the spray. Heaps of live mullet straight off the bank.
Its probably more fun if you've got a tinny to launch in South Trees canal, and head out to the mouth at lillies beach. Drifting across those sandflats should see you get a few nice whiting. Best bait is live nippers from the canals about 500m from the mouth, or prawns in the castnet. If that's no good, or the tide's too low, get a few livies and try near where the low tide cuts you off, or the pylons on the nearby bridges. I lucked into a few nice trevally around there, plus grunter, blue salmon and bream.
The other spot I enjoyed was wild cattle creek - head there on low tide, and walk 200m + upstream from the boatramp with your castnet. Should get plenty of prawns for bait (or a feed if you trust Gladstone waters). Never fished that spot much, but have heard there's decent whiting and flatties at times.
You'll have a few sessions which come up donuts (I did anyway), but those spots should see you have some good fun. Plenty of turtles around South Trees too - it's a great little spot.
MROCKS
Posts: 17
Date Joined: 06/01/09
Gladstone
Fishing is good but I wouldn't eat anything due to contaminated waters from the mining
Davi-d
Posts: 71
Date Joined: 03/09/12
cheers
thats all good then. im not to big on eating fish. im more into the sport of it
NORUN NOFUN
Posts: 1035
Date Joined: 15/08/11
Contaminated waters
That's a big statement ! Would you mind elaborateing as to your reply to Davi-d. As I will be fishing the Swains in 8 weeks, I would like to more !
Karellean
Posts: 29
Date Joined: 25/05/09
Lived there for 6 Years....
As above... hit by bad pollution spills in recent years... so probably not table safe from creeks/harbour -- Dam would be ok...
Whilst NO crocs "officially" live in the water systems there... and I never saw any... Keep in mind Rockhampton just 50km away as the crow flies is full of them, add to this the recent Floods in QLD, and I wouldnt count on it... Always the odd story that pops up on the rumour mill about a croc or two in the rivers... Play it safe... have an action plan... stay alert...
------------
Whilst I Only really fished landbased around town... The obvious attraction is Awoonga Dam 12km out of Town -- Stocked with Barra... and Plentiful too... Really need a boat for that though... Not navigable by foot around the edge... This would be SAFE eating... as its a dam / water supply.
Usually use Mullet/Worms for bait -- Mix it up... They usually like one or the other on any given day...
OH AND BE PREPARED FOR SANDFLIES AND BUGS PLUS -- I saw people wearing Bona Fide Beekeeper Suits.... Long Pants/Shirts a must... or pay the price..
Creeks: (In no Particular Order): -- Fish these just after the current starts moving one way or the other when the tide turns -- Fish heavier than usual, rocky bottom, be prepared for bulk snags...
----
1. Anabranch Bridge just out the west end of town past the power plant.
Bream, Grunter -- Small Red/Brown Cod, Catfish -- Occassional Random other Stuff... Barracuda, odd Dusky Flathead... but you will do better for flathead further upstream or at the Power Plant.
2. The Hot Water Outlet of the Power Plant -- You can get to this off the main road out of town... Popular for the Above -- PLUS a whole heap of random bigger stuff that follows the hot water current upstream from the ocean. Queenies etc --- Muddier Bottom, less snags than elsewhere... I picked up more than a few BIG duskys in here....
Ocean:
Plenty of spots around the Harbour, hit-miss with various Cods and Sorts...
Better fishing about 20km down the road in Boyne/Tannum Sands -- Nice creek that runs out there too... easy to get to as well....
----------
If your an AFL fan... be sure to go support the Mighty Gladstone Mudcrabs !!!
Kare
All that I know...Is that my gut says.....Maybe...
Davi-d
Posts: 71
Date Joined: 03/09/12
thanks
thanks for the great detail. not many people are prepared to give up to much detail so its much appreciated
Davi-d
Posts: 71
Date Joined: 03/09/12
did you ever have much luck
did you ever have much luck with hard baits or soft plastics?
barneyboy
Posts: 1392
Date Joined: 08/01/09
Gday mate
I had an extended holiday in Gladstone. I mainly fished in the harbour there. If you are going to use bait, grab yourself a cast net. It is the only bait to use. I found high tide to be alot better fishing. A 6kg baitcsat set up will cover most options. However I got wiped out multiple times on big unstoppables(mostly cod and groper). The breakwalls are worth a go for mangrove jacks on lures. Hope this helps a bit.
FEEEISH ONNN!!!
Davi-d
Posts: 71
Date Joined: 03/09/12
thanx
all this talk is getting me excited. i dont normally say this but i cant wait to go to work haha
Tomrob1
Posts: 10
Date Joined: 28/08/12
Used to live in Gladstone for
Used to live in Gladstone for a little while, and there's definitely some fun spots to go fishing.
I recommend the Boyne River if you're chasing Barra in the warmer months - head about 2km upstream from the Benaraby bridge (or as far as you can be bothered walking if you don't have a tinny) and you should find plenty of mullet & sards for live bait. Lots of stocked barra have come over the dam wall since the Jan 2011 floods, so there's 90cm+ barra in good numbers all year up there - but they don't bite much once the temp drops. If you do have a tinny then take it easy on your first few trips up there - low tide reveals lots of rocky / gravelly banks. I went on mid tide the first time, and hit them at full noise - not a great feeling :/
For this time of year, if you're still keen on barra, just stick to the hot water outlet at the power station. Sh!tloads of mozzies & bugs though, so pack the spray. Heaps of live mullet straight off the bank.
Its probably more fun if you've got a tinny to launch in South Trees canal, and head out to the mouth at lillies beach. Drifting across those sandflats should see you get a few nice whiting. Best bait is live nippers from the canals about 500m from the mouth, or prawns in the castnet. If that's no good, or the tide's too low, get a few livies and try near where the low tide cuts you off, or the pylons on the nearby bridges. I lucked into a few nice trevally around there, plus grunter, blue salmon and bream.
The other spot I enjoyed was wild cattle creek - head there on low tide, and walk 200m + upstream from the boatramp with your castnet. Should get plenty of prawns for bait (or a feed if you trust Gladstone waters). Never fished that spot much, but have heard there's decent whiting and flatties at times.
You'll have a few sessions which come up donuts (I did anyway), but those spots should see you have some good fun. Plenty of turtles around South Trees too - it's a great little spot.
Have fun -