Kinchant is one of three stocked dams in the Mackay region.
Though a relatively small dam, it is famous for the huge barramundi it produces, and is the first Queensland dam to have artificial reefs installed, in June 2019.
The dam was built on the Pioneer River in 1977, 30km west of Mackay.
The impoundment covers 920ha and has an average depth of just 7m.
It holds big barramundi, sleepy cod, sooty grunter, eel-tail catfish, fork-tail catfish, spangled perch and mouth almighty.
Barramundi were introduced in 2000 and have done exceptionally well, with huge, fat fish caught.
Stocking of barra and sooty grunter is by the Mackay Area Fish Stocking Association.
In 2017/18, 4660 barramundi were stocked. A total of 146,000 barramundi have been stocked.
There are no restrictions on vessel types.
Watersports are popular on Kinchant Dam so it pays to avoid weekends for serious fishing trips.
Accommodation is at Kinchant Waters campground, with self-contained cabins, van and tent sites.
There are toilets, barbecues, picnic tables, shelters, lookout, cafe, licensed bar and restaurant and a pool table.
There are also trails for walking and mountain-biking.
How to fish Kinchant Dam
Until the artificial reefs were installed (GPS marks pictured above), Kinchant had famously little structure.
There are fishable weedbeds, shoreline and a long rock wall.
Use sonar to find and fish the new reefs, which can be jigged or trolled.
Also fish weedy points and weedbeds, baitfish balls, and barramundi.
Look for feeding birds.
Barra fishing can be had all year at Kinchant, but warmer weather is best.
Kinchant fish are educated and smaller lures tend to work best. Night fishing can be effective.
Always position yourself quietly with an electric motor or oars in this shallow waterway.
As there is little snaggable structure, lighter tackle may be used, but some barra hooked will be huge, and may be lost anyway.
Mackay’s two other major stocked dams, Teemburra and Eungella, are perhaps more scenic, but Kinchant produces some of the biggest fish.
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