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