Hinchinbrook.
With its myriad freshwater creeks, tidal, mangrove lined rivers, rocky headlands and abundant offshore reef complexes, who wouldn’t love the place?

There are not too many anglers who haven’t been to Hinchinbrook or who don’t dream of going there. For many years, this area has been especially captivating for anglers. Hinchinbrook is rich in natural wonders and the fishing can be exceptional. From the pure freshwater reaches of the rivers where jungle perch and sooty grunter are found, to the maze of mangrove creeks where barra, jacks and trevally are lurking, all the way out to the reef where coral trout, giant trevally, nannygai and mackerel live, Hinchinbrook is an angler’s paradise.
Just about everyone who has visited Hinchinbrook and fishes comes away with a special memory or two and it is this fact alone that makes Hinchinbrook such a must visit location. It is a memory maker for anglers.
But it’s not just the fishing that attracts people to Hinchinbrook. The natural beauty of the area, the walking tracks, the sightseeing and the chance to meet dugong and crocodiles up close are just some of the attractions for those not single-mindedly blinded by the fishing.

HISTORY

The Hinchinbrook area was originally occupied by the Bandyin Aboriginal people who lived on Hinchinbrook Island and Europeans didn’t start exploring the area until 1845. The first settler in the Herbert River valley is considered to be Henry Stone, who started a pastoral station in 1865. However by the early 1870s, sugar caners had discovered the rich soils and this is when the area truly took off. Sugar cane quickly dominated the economics of the area and to this day remains a very important part of the Hinchinbrook economy. Tourism and support industries to the sugar industry sprang up and today the Hinchinbrook Shire is a diverse community of many industries.
These days Hinchinbrook Shire has a population of around 13,000 and is spread over 2,600 square kilometres. The major industries are sugar cane cultivation and milling, fishing, tourism, cattle raising, small cropping, prawning, crabbing, production of watermelons and pumpkins and the production of rare and exotic fruits.
The commercial centre for the area is Ingham, located 110km north of Townsville and 245km south of Cairns. However there are many other small towns that are important to the area and these include Cardwell, Lucinda, Halifax, Dungeness, Allingham (Forrest Beach), Taylors Beach, Abergowrie, Toobanna, Macknade, Bemerside, Long Pocket, Stone River, Hawkins Creek, Braemeadows and Forest Home.

HINCHINBROOK ISLAND NATIONAL PARK

Hinchinbrook Island cannot be missed by people visiting the area. The rugged, mist-covered mountains, sweeping beaches, mangrove-lined creeks and rivers and the lush rainforest make Hinchinbrook Island a wilderness of importance.
The area is one of the richest mangrove areas in Australia and many fish species use the mangrove creeks and flats to breed and as an area for the young to grow.
The island is surrounded by marine park waters where fish are plentiful and dugongs and sea turtles are commonly encountered. Fishing is allowed throughout the area, but it pays to check all relevant locations to ensure you are doing the right thing in the right location as fishing restrictions are getting tighter every year. Fortunately, the many kilometres of mangrove creeks and rocky headlands provide abundant opportunities for anglers keen to tangle with a mangrove jack or the famed barramundi.
You can camp on Hinchinbrook Island and fresh water is available along some of the walking tracks, although it is best to check out availability as there are limited camp sites and visitor numbers are restricted.
The walking tracks themselves range from easy hour long trips through to tough and demanding walks that will require a good level of fitness.
A short list of tracks to check out would include:

The entire walk will take about three days for experienced walkers who are self-sufficient.
On these walks you are encouraged to take plenty of water, sunscreen, insect repellent and food, and you will also need a permit.
For the most up-to-date information check out the Hinchinbrook Island National Park link on the EPA website at www.epa.qld.gov.au.

FISHING

Now this is the most important part of all when you are considering going to Hinchinbrook. What can I catch, where and when are all pretty important pieces of information to make the best decision. But you also need to consider the likelihood of cyclones, stingers, oppressive heat and humidity and the activity levels of the fish.
Luckily, Hinchinbrook offers the angler something at any time of the year. From hitting the reef areas for mackerel, tuna, marlin and GT in the warmer months, through to chasing tasty bottom fish such as red emperor, coral trout and nannygai in the cooler months, the offshore scene at Hinchinbrook is alive with options.
Within one hour from any of the boat ramps, Hinchinbrook can give up over 100 different species of fish to anglers. There literally are too many to list, but the diversity of the place is amazing. A glassed out day can have you miles out to sea, whereas a day with a bit of wind may see you up the creek casting lures and baits at snags.
If you are more into estuary fishing, Hinchinbrook is best when the barra and jacks are active. This means booking some holidays between February and May or October and December. Remember that there is a closed season for barra between November and February on the east coast, so if you do catch a barra unintentionally during that time it must be released as quickly as possible.
If the freshwater scene is more to your liking, there is no real best time as the fishing for jungle perch and sooty grunter can be great at any time. However, when the water warms a little at the end of the year is often the best time. Light tackle and small lures are the best choice in the freshwater reaches as the greedy sooty grunter and jungle perch just love to prey on small food items. Cast up stream near structure and wind your lures back with an erratic retrieve for some hard pulling action.
Keep in mind that the entire Hinchinbrook Shire is crocodile territory and you need to take all appropriate precautions. Estuarine crocodiles do roam into the fresh water so make sure you are aware of this when chasing the freshwater species. A good local tip is that if you catch a barra or a jack, there is a chance that estuarine crocodiles can reach the spot you’re at!
The freshwater reaches of the creeks and rivers though are worth a visit any time because they are simply breathtaking. This appeal is just enhanced with the knowledge that there are some serious fish in amongst the snags, rocks and weeds so be prepared for some great action.
The prime targets for anglers fishing at Hinchinbrook are barramundi, mangrove jack, nannygai, mackerel and trevally. Below is a list of the best times to target these fish. If you’re new to the Hinchinbrook area, the best advice as always is to hire one of the many competent guides who operate in the area. They will put you onto the fish and provide a great day out and some fantastic memories.
Everyone wants to catch a barramundi at Hinchinbrook. They attack lures and flies with as much gusto as they snaffle a live bait. They fight well, leap high into the air and if you want to keep one for dinner, they provide a great feed too. Barramundi are the pinnacle sportfish as far as many anglers are concerned and they’ll travel a long way or fish for many hours just to catch one.

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