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The ATDW website has had a makeover.
But our commitment to Australian tourism is as strong as ever.
Begin your fishing adventure on the Serenity Coast, where mangrove-lined creeks meet the Coral Sea. St Lawrence is one of the oldest towns on the Queensland Coast, and provides exciting fishing opportunities in the nearby creeks and inlets. The coast from Clairview to St Lawrence is a popular location to catch tasty mud crabs.
Continue your journey north to the town of Carmila, and take advantage of the excellent fishing at Carmila Creek. Carmila Creek is an ideal place to launch a boat, otherwise cast a line from land, near the creek mouth. Sunset fishing is particularly good here for barramundi, mangrove jack, trevally and flathead. Enjoy the friendly hospitality of this coastal community for the evening.
The most scenic areas of the Serenity Coast are best explored in a four wheel drive. Yarrawonga and Notch Point Reserve is one of the best fishing spots on the Central Queensland Coast, famous for whiting and flathead. Continue your journey into Cape Palmerston National Park, where The Cape Creek campsite overlooking Ince Bay is a popular rest spot with anglers.
Continue your journey into Cape Palmerston National Park, where The Cape Creek campsite overlooking Ince Bay is a popular rest spot with anglers. Facilities include pit toilets and picnic tables. Ince Bay is zoned as a Dugong protection area. Stock up on bait and tackle in Ilbilbie, as well as food and plenty of water, as you will need to be self-sufficient in this area. Dense mangroves line the many branches of Cape Creek, but be aware of your surroundings at all time to keep an eye out for crocodiles, which can inhabit the area. Cape Palmerston’s pristine coastal environment is seemingly untouched, making the surrounding waters rich in an abundance of marine life. Bream, flathead and cod are popular chases in this area, with anglers also reporting catching slender tomhead’s, mangrove jacks and queenfish. Fishing off the rocks or off the coast in a tinny will increase your chances of reeling in reef fish or mackerel. Camp overnight at Cape Palmerston, or nearby at Ilbilbie.
Make your way back to the Bruce Highway and head north to Koumala, where you can turn off to Rocky Dam Creek. A favourite spot with locals because of its diversity, anglers have reported catching bluenose salmon, catfish, flathead, bream, jewfish, and grunter. After a morning of fishing, drive north to Sarina to enjoy an early lunch, before the long drive to Bundoora Dam, close to the mining towns of Middlemount and Dysart.
After a morning of fishing, drive north to Sarina to enjoy an early lunch, before the long drive to Bundoora Dam, close to the mining towns of Middlemount and Dysart. Get to this destination by driving over the Sarina Range until you meet the Peak Downs Highway, then turn left onto the Fitzroy Development Road, followed by a right onto the Middlemount Road, until you reach the Connection Road, where you will find the picturesque and tranquil waters of Bundoora. Fish for saratoga, golden perch, eel-tailed catfish, sleepy cod, spangled perch and redclaw crayfish within the man-made lake. The water is clearer than many other inland dams, with sand on the edges. Free camping facilities are available, including toilets and picnic tables. Beautiful sunsets are a treat in the evening. Spend the evening camping at the dam, or find accommodation in nearby Middlemount or Dysart.
Continue your journey to Clermont, past the spectacular peaks of Peak Range National Park. Theresa Creek Dam is located off the Peakvale Road, 22 kilometres from the town of Clermont. Facilities at this serene location are well looked after, with coin-operated barbecues, public toilets, showers and shaded picnic tables. Take your own food and drinking water for a day on the dam, either from the comfort of a boat, or casting off the water’s edge. Theresa Creek dam is fully stocked with barramundi, golden perch, eel-tailed catfish, sleepy cod, silver perch and bony bream, as well as redclaw crayfish. You will need to obtain a fishing permit to fish here, as restrictions apply to areas of the dam. You can purchase this permit in Clermont. Camping is permitted for a small fee. Spend the evening by the shores of the dam, or experience outback hospitality in Clermont.
Take the Peak Downs Highway to the cattle farming township of Nebo. Along the journey, you may like to take the 10 kilometre detour to Moranbah, to visit one of Queensland’s newest towns, to stock up on provisions. From Nebo, continue on the Peak Downs Highway until the left turn onto the Suttor Developmental Road. Spend an afternoon setting cages for redclaw crayfish at Lake Elphinstone and watch an abundance of birdlife drawn to the shores of the lake. Free camping amenities are available at the shore of the lake, otherwise choose to stay in nearby Glenden or Nebo.
Make your way into Mackay via the Peak Downs Highway, where avid anglers are spoiled for choice for fishing locations. Winding its way through the heart of Mackay, the Pioneer River is Queensland’s only blue water river, and one of only a few in Australia. It provides many excellent spots to cast a line, where whiting, bream, flathead and trevally are commonly reeled in. Look for the boat ramp on River Street, or the fishing platforms along the Bluewater Trail, located close to the Forgan Bridge, and near the Mackay Hospital to drop a line.
Enjoy lunch on the palm-fringed esplanade of the Mackay Harbour, then journey out on the breakwater to throw a line into the ocean. Mackerel and tuna can be plentiful when the northerly winds blow, and reef fish are often caught. If mangrove-lined creeks are more your style, McCreadys creek is a popular choice with local fishermen. Whiting and flathead are commonly found around the mouth, while mangrove jack, barramundi and sooty grunter can be found further upstream.
If mangrove-lined creeks are more suited to your liking, McCready's Creek is a popular choice among local fishermen. Whiting and flathead are most commonly found around the mouth of the creek bed, whereas mangrove jack, barramundi along with sooty grunter can be found a little further upstream. A wonderful fishing experience!
With the Great Barrier Reef located off the coast of Mackay, deep-water fishing opportunities don’t get any more exciting than here. A number of safari charters are available, departing from the Mackay Harbour. Chase big game fish, from marlin to mackerel, or snare a prized table fish like coral trout and red emperor. Mackay’s local fishing guides can take you to some of the most isolated areas of the reef, with more fish and more fun on the agenda. Choose an exciting day-trip adventure, or extend your charter as long as you desire. When you return to shore, an abundance of accommodation awaits in Mackay, from beach-side resorts and motels, to options at Mackay’s marina and inner-city apartments.