Broad Sound is 150km from the nearest centres of Mackay and Rockhampton, and therefore sees relatively little recreational fishing pressure.

This is a shallow area swept by the biggest tides on the Australia’s East Coast, leaving vast drying flats at low tide.

Broad Sound is the innermost of two similar bays, the other being Shoalwater Bay, between which lies a peninsula that ends at the tiny fishing town of Stanage.

Such tidal conditions require careful planning of boat launching and retrieval, and navigation.

The big tides tend to concentrate fishing action into specific periods, depending on the species sought, but the fishing and crabbing can be superb.

Some creeks retain enough water to fish holes at low tide.

West Hill has a good creek, but with poor boat launching access.

South of West Hill is the tiny community of Clairview, with Clairview Creek 10km south of the town.

The launch site at Clairview is good, but dries towards low tide.

Further south, Broad Sound is drains several wide but shallow creeks.

On the largest tides, tidal bores occur in Broad Sound’s bigger creeks, a hazard for boaters.

Take note also of extensive GBRMPA green zones.

Broad Sound and Shoalwater bays are turbid except during neap tides, but outside of the inner islands lies clear water, with reef and pelagic fish.

Broad Sound has good habitat for barramundi, blue and king salmon, grunter and mud crabs, as well as bread and butter fish.

Broad Sound’s Charon Point, between the Styx and Herbert Rivers, can be reached by rough track from Marlborough.

Charon Point has a public reserve with camping and a 4WD boat launch, but the fishing area is restricted by green zones.

A base for estuary fishing and crabbing within Broad Sound is St Lawrence.

The township has a bank launch on St Lawrence Creek and bank fishing opportunities, both only available on the upper tide.

Large tides and shallow water make conditions tricky in all the local creeks.

Popeye mullet are usually abundant in this area, and make great livebait.

The easiest access to the Styx and the Hoogly waterways are from Charon Point.

The Bund Creek public launch site on the Waverley River, accessed via St Lawrence, was unuseable at the time of this post, being covered in several feet of mud.

There is no launch site at Ogmore.

Stanage is perhaps the best fishing location in this area, as its location at the top of the peninsula between Broad Sound and Shoalwater Bay.

Stanage gives access to a labyrinth of mangrove-lined creeks, as well as coastal reefs and islands.

This is arguably some of the best mud crab country in Australia, the local mud crabs are often huge.

With a bit of planning trailerboaters can catch barramundi and reef fish on the same day fishing out of Stanage.

Here is a list of recommended tackle for the north.

Book your fishing stay early at Booking.com

Stanage Bay tides
Clairview tides
QLD fishing regulations
QLD marine parks
GBRMPA marine parks
QLD stocked waters
QLD dam levels

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Clairview gives access to the shallow waters of upper Broad Sound, the large Clairview Creek and several smaller tidal creeks.

Launching is at the foreshore ramp at Clairview’s BarraCrab Caravan Park, travelling 9km south by sea and going in through the creek mouth.

Boaters launch at the ramp near the van park on the incoming tide, fish the high and early outgoing tide, and return when there is enough water to retrieve the boat.

This area is subject to huge tides and there is large tidal mudflat, so trips must be planned accordingly.

The bigger tides can create rough conditions when wind and tidal currents are opposed.

Smaller tides bring clearer water, especially after the neap cycle.

Smaller creeks in the area have launch sites suitable for small boats.

Clairview Creek, 10km south of Clairview, is the major local waterway.

The creek has jewfish, grunter, salmon, golden snapper, mangrove jacks and barra.

The smaller ‘Oyster Creek’, 5km south of Clairview Creek, fishes well but has a substantial rockbar that restricts upper access.

There are oyster rocks in both creeks, and holes which hold jewfish and barramundi.

Flock Pigeon Island is just 4km from the van park ramp and the reef at south end has golden snapper, cod and salmon.

Red Clay Island, 30km out, has coral trout and other reef fish, including pink snapper.

Most estuary fish are available all year, with threadfin salmon best in winter.

Big salmon are caught from the beach near Clairview, as well as whiting and flathead.

The Clairview area is quite sheltered and seems less windy than Mackay, says van park owner Bill Frier.

Here is a list of recommended tackle for the north.

Book your fishing stay early at Booking.com

Clairview tides
QLD fishing regulations
QLD marine parks
GBRMPA marine parks
QLD stocked waters
QLD dam levels

Email corrections, additions, pictures or video here.

Stanage township and the labyrinth of nearby creeks and channels around Thirsty Sound are located at the end of a peninsula that separates Broad Sound and Shoalwater Bay.

This is a fascinating and highly productive area for fishos.

This region is about as remote as it gets on Queensland’s central east coast, with a great mix of estuary and bluewater fishing.

Stanage is a tiny holiday town that has a good boat ramp and basic facilities nearby.

The sign-posted turn-off is about 75km north of Rockhampton on the Bruce Hwy.

The unsealed Stanage road is 100km long and scares off many people, but is usually well maintained.

Fishermen can start at Porters Creek at Stanage, reached by a short track from the boat ramp. The ramp is useable from about half tide up.

This is a great spot to collect mullet and yabbies for bait, and there is free camping at the creek.

Thirsty Sound, between Broad Sound and Shoalwater Bay, is a mostly shallow body of water inside Quail and Long Islands.

The whole area is affected by strong currents.

Thirsty Sound enters the shallow expanse of Broad Sound to the west.

Expect to catch barramundi and huge mud crabs throughout the estuaries.

Large local tides mean crab pots must be tied to mangroves or they might wash away.

Jewfish are best Oct/March, salmon and mackerel from June/Sept, and barra from Feb/Nov, with winter months preferred.

Stanage is the gateway to countless islands and reefs offshore with fishing for tropical and southern species.

Reef fishing is all year.

Big male crabs are common around Stanage from Dec/July.

Care is required navigating Thirsty Sound as it dries in places.

The great tidal run and shallow water ensures a chop if wind and tide are opposed, and dinghy users must take care.

There is plenty of beach and rock fishing near the township, with threadfin salmon and bream the main catch.

Prawns are in the gutters off Long Island from Dec/Feb.

Three rockbars in the area can not be crossed from half-tide down, for more information get a copy of the North Australian FISH FINDER book.

Here is a list of recommended tackle for the north.

Book your fishing stay early at Booking.com

Stanage Bay tides
QLD fishing regulations
QLD marine parks
GBRMPA marine parks
QLD stocked waters
QLD dam levels

Email corrections, additions, pictures or video here.