Tips For Magnetic Island

[fish feeder]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience up at Magnetis Island, heading up in early June for a week with the family, would it be worth taking up a rod or two (are there are any decent land based spots) or would I be better off getting in touch with a charter for an outing?

[slinkymalinky]

G'day Fishfeeder,

My parents live on the island so I've done a bit of fishing there and it's definitely worth taking a rod or two. The fishing charters that operate on the island aren't really serious, catering mostly to back packers who are happy catching any old thing. There is some fantastic fishing on the reefs off the island for anything tropical but you have to know where to fish and avoid the marine park restrictions. One of the charter operations may have picked up its game but your best bet is to arrange a trip with an operator from Townsville... there are plenty. The other option is to hire a boat.

On the island itself there are basically 2 options... one easy, one hard. The North West coast of the island has some good land based spots but is really hard to get to. The easy option is to fish from the end of the Picnic Bay jetty. You can catch live herring and pike from the jetty and then drift them out where you can catch anything from GT's to Queenies and Mackerel. Check the park zoning though.... the jetty is in a Yellow Zone which means only one rod per person etc etc (ie don't try to jig bait while you've still got a live bait out... the Marine Park people take their job seriously and patrol regularly).

Cheers, Slinky

[Victor]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience up at Magnetis Island, heading up in early June for a week with the family, would it be worth taking up a rod or two (are there are any decent land based spots) or would I be better off getting in touch with a charter for an outing?

I went to Magnetic 12 months ago a had a blast! It could have had something to do with the 1 german and 3 Estonian Female backpackers that decided to stay with me in my hotel but the fishing was good to.

Picnic Bay Jetty is good for exactly what the other bloke in the forum set but take hede of his warnings about the yellow zone.

There is only 1 charter running from Magnetic Island but he knows where the fish are. About $100 for 2 and a half hours fishing plus 2 and a half hours snorkelling was the option I took. He took us to a beautiful spot for a snorkel that can be only accessed by boat then off for a fishing we we landed all sorts of stuff, but mainly moses fish and stripeys before i landed a awesome 32pound Golden spotted Cod. Delicious!! Fed me and the gang for days.

This blokes name is Barnacle Bill. He stinks a bit but knows where they are. Tell him Vic from Sydney said g'day if you take up the option. I was their last Feb and bought a battery setup off him.

This fishing is done out of Horseshoe Bay. A good place for a fish with the kids off the beach too for some Dart. Seeya