Kurrimine Beach is a popular fishing community north of Mission Beach, a 90-minute drive south of Cairns.
There is reef, beach and creek fishing, with some good spots for boaters in close.
Importantly, the GBR reefs are only a relatively short run out compared with other East Coast locations.
Boaters should take note of Green Zone boundaries which lie north and south of the community’s inshore waters.
King Reef is a popular spot that extends out from Murdering Point.
This coastal reef has an annual run of mackerel in the cooler months and produces tropical rock lobsters (painted crays) for divers.
Being close in, King Reef can be fished in small boats in suitable conditions.
Spearfishing is popular as the water here is often clear.
August, September, October is best for the inshore school, spotted and spanish mackerel.
Large spanish mackerel come in close at high tide and can be caught in early mornings or late afternoons around King Reef by trolling or with live or deadbait.
Ellison and Eddy Reefs are the nearest proper GBR reefs, at 30km and 35km from Kurrimine, an easy run in a suitable trailerboat.
Adelaide, Potter and Farquarson reefs lie a little further out, providing plenty of ground to explore.
Fishing the deep rubble or fern ground between the GBR reefs can produce big red emperor and nannygai, while the reefs themselves have coral trout, tusk fish, cod and other reef fish, as well as big mackerel and GTs.
Trevally can be a nuisance, and surprises such as oversize mangrove jacks can be expected.
The beach can be fished at high tide for salmon, bream, flathead, grunter mangrove jacks, trevally, queenfish and whiting, however it is heavily tide dependent, with a wide flat exposed at low tide.
Aim to fish a large incoming tide for best results, and use livebait or fresh local bait such as herring or sardines.
Maria Creek produces mud crabs, mangrove jack, blue salmon and occasional barramundi.
Liverpool Creek to the north has good estuary fishing at times, with sooty grunter in the upper freshwater section.
There are two tide-dependent boat ramps at Kurrimine Beach but locals usually launch off the beach with a tractor.
A local highlight is the annual fishing competition, a major event, hosted by Kurrimine Beach Fishing Club.
Nearby Mission Beach has a jetty on Alexander Drive, with mackerel in winter, and excellent offshore fishing.
Nearby Clump Point Boat Harbour has landbased fishing.
South of Mission Beach are the Murray and Hull rivers, with mangrove jacks, trevally, barra and mud crabs.
Kurrimine Beach tides
Great Barrier Reef zone map
Qld dam water levels
Qld stocked dam permits
Qld fishing regulations
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