Fishing around the Whitsundays.

[Rushy]

G'Day Guys,

We are looking at taking the boat(5.3M Pride Albatross) down to Airlie next weekend ... weather permitting and was curious as to where to fish for some trout.Don't want to go too far - any suggestions ?

Rushy

[Wayne Benfield]

Hi,

Most of the islands fish pretty good, find a point look for some structure on a point and go for it, but there's a couple of main rules to follow... ALWAYS fish the flow on/pressure faces. Always look for bait columns. Don't be afraid to move frequently. And probably the most important, "no run, no fun".... You don't have to fish in overly deep water, infact some of my favourite spots range between 10-15mtrs, but water clarity is a big help. Try to look for the cleaner water.. Generally the outer islands hold the cleaner waters, places like Edwards Island and Deloraine Island (20°09'26.7"S 149°04'23.5"E). There's some nice edges and a bit of territory you can work on the northern side (Minstrel rocks) but a bit of tide flows over that and coming up to the moon it might make it hard to find the bottom. Should find some Spanish there though if you want to set a live bait out there or run some gars. Sink a few gars down deep off the N/W corner of minstrel rocks and you should find them at about the 10m mark....particularly off Jester reef(20°08'36.7"S 149°04'19.0"E). If you do find that the tide isn't running too hard, try Lepper Shoal (20°08'29.0"S 149°05'28.1"E) while you're there. Been known to hold NICE lippers, and the occasional wandering reddy. Pulled some freight-train trout out off that shoal too, but this isn't my space.
Edwards island would also be a hot tip from me.. reason being, you can hide from the tide by finding micro pressure faces along the outside fringe bays both on the eastern and western sides. Kind of protected from the main tidal flow, but still enough to generate an active reef, usually with bait for Africa. If you're up for a bit of fun, and want a chance at chasing some smaller blacks, they can be found outside and to the south a fraction, off Yuindalla Island (20°15'15.7"S 149°11'03.6"E)... Like anywhere, runlines set the pace for the action... Within a few hundred metres there's definitive run lines that often hold bait, and billfish.. On the southern tip of Yuindalla is my favourite spot for Spaniards. I know you're looking for trout, but a nice method to fishing productively around the islands, finding trout on the bottom, is to troll around known bait grounds while scanning the bottom for the desired hang for some nice island trout. Probably telling you how to suck eggs here, but try not to use any burley. The sharks are pretty painful and aren't usually far away when you find a nice bit of ground that's producing.. If it starts to slow down, or the sharks move in, move... I ran charter boats out of Hammo for a few years, worked the decks for a few others, and had the fortune of coming up under the local legends of the area. Haven't fished there for about 6 years now, but it should still run the same. Only thing that would've changed is the Greenzones.. Border Island is a greenzone, along with the eastern side of Hazelwood and Lupton Island. Pretty sure Esk is too. Be careful to check the area anchoring zone guide, there's a few spots that you can't even put an anchor down. Mourings are plentiful if you want to pull up for a snorkel or a quiet lunch.

If it gets a bit blowy, and you're subjected to 10kns or more, There's a spot on the inside of Hazelwood that's opposite Whitehaven that produces You could pretty much drop your anchor on this mark (20°16'25.2"S 149°04'32.4"E) give yourself a bit of scope and sit in the tide. Usually weather protected, holds bait, and often coughs up the odd rogue Spaniard.

There are spots around Hook Island like Mackerel Bay that use to produce, but not this time of year. Mostly when coral spawns.

Anyway, that should start you off.. Have a study, any more questions, fire away... there's lots more where all that came from.

Don't bother with the southern islands, Linderman can provide, but it takes a bit of recon over a week or so to be productive.

Deloraine Island (20°09'26.7"S 149°04'23.5"E).

Lepper Shoal- (20°08'29.0"S 149°05'28.1"E)

Jester reef- (20°08'36.7"S 149°04'19.0"E)

Yuindalla Island (20°15'15.7"S 149°11'03.6"E)

[Rushy]

Hey, Thanks Mate - much appreciated.

Weather permitting, will give it a shot, cheers !

[Scratchie]

Hi,

Most of the islands fish pretty good, find a point look for some structure on a point and go for it, but there's a couple of main rules to follow... ALWAYS fish the flow on/pressure faces. Always look for bait columns. Don't be afraid to move frequently. And probably the most important, "no run, no fun".... You don't have to fish in overly deep water, infact some of my fiavourite spots range between 10-15mtrs, but water clarity is a big help. Try to look for the cleaner water.. Generally the outer islands hold the cleaner waters, places like Edwards Island and Deloraine Island (20°09'26.7"S 149°04'23.5"E). There's some nice edges and a bit of territory you can work on the northern side (Minstrel rocks) but a bit of tide flows over that and coming up to the moon it might make it hard to find the bottom. Should find some Spanish there though if you want to set a live bait out there or run some gars. Sink a few gars down deep off the N/W corner of minstrel rocks and you should find them at about the 10m mark....particularly off Jester reef(20°08'36.7"S 149°04'19.0"E). If you do find that the tide isn't running too hard, try Lepper Shoal (20°08'29.0"S 149°05'28.1"E) while you're there. Been known to hold NICE lippers, and the occasional wandering reddy. Pulled some freight-train trout out off that shoal too, but this isn't my space.

Edwards island would also be a hot tip from me.. reason being, you can hide from the tide by finding micro pressure faces along the outside fringe bays both on the eastern and western sides. Kind of protected from the main tidal flow, but still enough to generate an active reef, usually with bait for Africa. If you're up for a bit of fun, and want a chance at chasing some smaller blacks, they can be found outside and to the south a fraction, off Yuindalla Island (20°15'15.7"S 149°11'03.6"E)... Like anywhere, runlines set the pace for the action... Within a few hundred metres there's definitive run lines that often hold bait, and billfish.. On the southern tip of Yuindalla is my favourite spot for Spaniards. I know you're looking for trout, but a nice method to fishing productively around the islands, finding trout on the bottom, is to troll around known bait grounds while scanning the bottom for the desired hang for some nice island trout. Probably telling you how to suck eggs here, but try not to use any burley. The sharks are pretty painful and aren't usually far away when you find a nice bit of ground that's producing.. If it starts to slow down, or the sharks move in, move... I ran charter boats out of Hammo for a few years, worked the decks for a few others, and had the fortune of coming up under the local legends of the area. Haven't fished there for about 6 years now, but it should still run the same. Only thing that would've changed is the Greenzones.. Border Island is a greenzone, along with the eastern side of Hazelwood and Lupton Island. Pretty sure Esk is too. Be careful to check the area anchoring zone guide, there's a few spots that you can't even put an anchor down. Mourings are plentiful if you want to pull up for a snorkel or a quiet lunch.

If it gets a bit blowy, and you're subjected to 10kns or more, There's a spot on the inside of Hazelwood that's opposite Whitehaven that produces You could pretty much drop your anchor on this mark (20°16'25.2"S 149°04'32.4"E) give yourself a bit of scope and sit in the tide. Usually weather protected, holds bait, and often coughs up the odd rogue Spaniard.

There are spots around Hook Island like Mackerel Bay that use to produce, but not this time of year. Mostly when coral spawns.

Anyway, that should start you off.. Have a study, any more questions, fire away... there's lots more where all that came from.

Don't bother with the southern islands, Linderman can provide, but it takes a bit of recon over a week or so to be productive.

Deloraine Island (20°09'26.7"S 149°04'23.5"E).

Lepper Shoal- (20°08'29.0"S 149°05'28.1"E)

Jester reef- (20°08'36.7"S 149°04'19.0"E)

Yuindalla Island (20°15'15.7"S 149°11'03.6"E)

That's some really awesome information there!

Good on you for sharing wayne!

Cheers scratchie!!!

[Wayne Benfield]

That's some really awesome information there!

Good on you for sharing wayne!

Cheers scratchie!!!

No worries, Mate....

Some of the most beautiful waters in Australia, and others need to experience it too. It'd be awesome if Rushy bags out on Spaniards and trout... A few grassies wouldn't go astray either...

[Rushy]

Thanks Wayne and Scratchie

[Wayne Benfield]

Got my PB Cobia, nth eastern edge Mackerel Bay on a floating pilchard.

Just outside(eastern side) of the green zone at blue pearl bay Hayman island is good for Spaniards. Just double check green zones as mentioned above.

Nice fish too.. Actually they would be around this time of year up there... breeding pairs roaming around the outer islands... rig a swimming fusey, with a 10 ball under the chin and run that across some edgelines between Harold and Edwards... Even Pentecost and linderman...

[Rushy]

Thanks guys - hooked up to possibly A Spaniard just nth of Grassy Island (between the rock and Is)floating a Pilchard under a balloon..... sad story ... knot came undone ! Also hooked up to small shark there Sun 24th Jul. Tried Double Cone Islands and Roseric on the Sat - Not a bite , nothing. Will go out wider next time.

[Rushy]

I actually saw a Spaniard whilst snorkelling in Blue Pearl Bay ooooh,maybe ...15 years ago...

Was there on a conference , i was snorkelling with a mate from the conference and there it was - sitting about 5-6 meters away just under the surface, looking at me. Almost shat myself- up until recently I had thought it was a barracuda but looking back, believe it to have been a Spaniard(now that I know WHAT a Spaniard looks like)ha ha ha

[Wayne Benfield]

Hahahaha, tough luck, Rushy.. terminal tackle is where it's at.. but you never know until it lets you down.. I've always found that you can eliminate knots with wind-ons... Fishing under a balloon, you might as well use one... Not sure what rig you're using, but if you're fishing mono (30-35lbs), fish a double (cat's paw) to a 120lbs leader... Chasing macks, wire is a no-brainer.... (I can send you some wind-ons if you like)

But anyway, Hinchenbrook has always fished that way.. Double cone (2 bong rock... lol) has never produced for me.. Pulled some nice fish out of there, but it's been far and few between.. It's one of those places where you really need the local knowledge (and I'm not that local there)...moon, tides, swell, rip, bait, and water temp... If you spend a bit of time around there you'll come up trumps, and I'd suggest doing so.. There's some nice popper fishing on the northern side... I know the pros don't fish the joint... and the charter boats run a bit wider on the foul-grounds... I think if you want to try it again, look for some fuseys.... they'll hang on the edges flowing off the pressure faces... If you're chasing trout.. hardy-heads off dingo beach on the incoming tide(cast-net) and send them down under the columns under a 6-8 ball...anyway... good to hear from people fishing the places I consider to be one of the most awesome places on the planet... Take care and better luck next time..