East Coast Epic - The MUST FISH places on the East Coast

[nautilus]

I am taking some time off and planning to drive with my boat from Tassie to Cairns. It is a 7m Powercat, so towing is fairly draining and I would like to break up the trip into a week or two and fish a few of the good spots along the way.

I would be very grateful for any suggestions as to where I should stop off on the way. I would need a proper boat ramp (can’t launch off a beach), but would really value some recommendations and what I should chase.

Also, if you can recommend secure places where I can park the boat and don’t have to leave it on the street, such as fenced marinas etc… that would be helpful too. Thanks in advance!

[Dignity]

I am taking some time off and planning to drive with my boat from Tassie to Cairns. It is a 7m Powercat, so towing is fairly draining and I would like to break up the trip into a week or two and fish a few of the good spots along the way.

I would be very grateful for any suggestions as to where I should stop off on the way. I would need a proper boat ramp (can’t launch off a beach), but would really value some recommendations and what I should chase.

Also, if you can recommend secure places where I can park the boat and don’t have to leave it on the street, such as fenced marinas etc… that would be helpful too. Thanks in advance!

Nagg might have a few suggestions as he travels a fair bit as no doubt others do. I've just started looking at towing a boat from Townsville back to the Sunshine Coast. The worst stretch appears to be Rockhampton to Mackay, not much in between, I've found it so difficult as I haven't done that stretch in a decade and we used to drive straight through, easy enough to do when younger and a relief driver or 2 but harder as the years go on.

[chris69]

Woud it not be cheaper to book some charters thats a long tow there and back from tassi to cairns and back.

but if your keen hervey bay, 1770, gladstone, yeppoon, airlie beach, townsville,lucinda but you will need some good weather all the reefs and fishing grounds are a few kms of the coast.

[nautilus]

Thanks Chris,
I appreciate your suggestions. I will definitely be doing those places. I agree, from Tassie it is a long way, but given that a charter is around $1000 per day (for the whole boat) or $200 per person, it would be quite a bit more expensive to do it that way. Plus, I plan on staying up North for a couple of months. It is as much the journey that I am looking forward to as the fishing.

[nautilus]

Thanks Dignity,
I am planning on taking it a very relaxed pace. Thanks for the heads up on the difficult patch between Rockhampton and Mackay.

[Corry]

We tow our 6.5m Cruise Craft a lot between Cairns and Mackay, the biggest thing for me is that Queensland have NFI on how to build a road. The roads up here are atrocious. We've had a full travel cover made for both boats, sick of getting to our destination to have mud, dirt and tar all over the front of them. I'd suggest at a minimum a stone guard on the trailer.
Then there are the potholes, make sure suspension is working properly, you will spend a lot of time dodging potholes, and some can really hurt. I actually find the Rocky to Mackay section good to drive as there's bugger all towns, the Townsville to Cairns section sucks for me as there is a town and a change of speed limit every 50k or less, and less overtaking opportunities, except between Ingham and Cardwell. I hate holding up the traffic, we've got enough caravaner's up here that take pleasure in seeing how many cars and trucks they can line up behind them.

In saying that, there is some awesome places to fish, and way better if you have your own set up. If you are chasing reef fishing, the reef gets closer to the coast the further north you go. If we do a reef trip out of Mackay, it's 140k, in Cairns it's 40k.

I'm not up with the NSW areas at all, we lived down there between 2015-2020, but hated the fishing so were happy to move back up north. In QLD, well central to northern, there are some places that you really should stop and spend some time for fishing.
Agnes Water/1770, I'm sure there would be some here that can share some marks that could get you going. Bunker group is the go to, there are also shoals closer in.
Next would be Gladstone, Boyne Island, Tannum Sands. This is access to the Capricorn Group, some great fishing out there. Grew up in Gladdy for the first 35 years if my life, fishing has changed a lot, but is still pretty good. Again, there's some Gladdy people here that could expand on this.
Yeppoon would be next, the Keppels is a great area, Man and Wife Islands, Barron Is are just a couple worth looking at, along with the northern end of the Capricorn Group.
You could then do Mackay/Seaforth, but I would tend to head straight to the Whitsunday's, Airlie Beach. As a 'social' day you'd have to head over to Whitehaven, then explore the islands, the fishing can be touch and go, but you're also getting closer to the reef.
My next stop from there would be Lucinda, or Dungeness. The Fishing Lodge there has it's own pontoon that you can tie your boat up to, and water front rooms. We stay here a bit, the reef is close, and if the weather isn't friendly, there's still some fishing to be had in the Hinchinbrook Channel. Probably one of the best places to chase Barra in a big reef boat . I can help with some marks for here if you wish, but like most reef fishing, it's pick bommies near the reefs, or deep sunken reefs and hang on. There's also the jetty, this is great for stretching arms and donating tackle.
Next stop would be Mission Beach or Mourilyan, easy access to reef, normal great reef fishing. Again, can help with some marks, as could others on here I'd say.
From there, I wouldn't stop in Cairns, I'd head straight to Cooktown. The road up is a good road, via Marreeba, and offshore fishing from Cooktown is probably nearly the best you will get. Cairns is a great place if you want to do the tourist thing, Sky Rail, Hartley's Croc Farm, Aquarium etc, there is so much to do tourist wise, but the fishing can be tough, there's a lot of boats that fish out of Cairns, in saying that, we still do alright.

As with all fishing, the weather is going to play a big part in where you can go and when. This time of year we've got the trade winds, so offshore fishing trips can be few and far between. As far as places to keep the boat, I've always struggled with this, I'd guess that maybe storage yards, or caravan parks would be the go, this could get quite costly though maybe.

Hope this helps, I'm sure as you start to lock things in, dates etc, you will get more 'advice'

[NAGG]

I am taking some time off and planning to drive with my boat from Tassie to Cairns. It is a 7m Powercat, so towing is fairly draining and I would like to break up the trip into a week or two and fish a few of the good spots along the way.

I would be very grateful for any suggestions as to where I should stop off on the way. I would need a proper boat ramp (can’t launch off a beach), but would really value some recommendations and what I should chase.

Also, if you can recommend secure places where I can park the boat and don’t have to leave it on the street, such as fenced marinas etc… that would be helpful too. Thanks in advance!

Hi Nautilus

Sounds like as awesome trip ...... big boat to tow though.

I'll see if I can be of any help .

Time of year ?

How much time do you have between leaving Tassie & arriving at Cairns ? (you mentioned a week or two .... )

What fishing interests do you have - what do you like to chase ?

What are your sleeping arrangements - swag / caravan parks / hotels ?

What is a comfortable travel day for you - hours ?

let's see what we can come up with

Chris

[nautilus]

Hey Chris,
Thanks for reaching out. I am pretty flexible on dates. Looking at leaving by end of August with no restrictions on when to be in Cairns. I was thinking that I might drive a day, fish a day or if the weather was good a couple of days fishing, if the weather is bad a couple of days driving. Would like to be there by mid-Sep. As for sleeping arrangements, that is the thing I am not too sure about. I am a bit worried about leaving the boat on the side of the road somewhere, and I figure that caravan parks or maybe even marinas might be the best way to get there with my sounder and radios still attached. Happy to drive four or five hours a day.
As for the fishing, looking to chase tuna in the southern parts and GTs in the northern parts. I like the idea a of a bit of jigging too.
Cheers, Al

[NAGG]

Hey Chris,
Thanks for reaching out. I am pretty flexible on dates. Looking at leaving by end of August with no restrictions on when to be in Cairns. I was thinking that I might drive a day, fish a day or if the weather was good a couple of days fishing, if the weather is bad a couple of days driving. Would like to be there by mid-Sep. As for sleeping arrangements, that is the thing I am not too sure about. I am a bit worried about leaving the boat on the side of the road somewhere, and I figure that caravan parks or maybe even marinas might be the best way to get there with my sounder and radios still attached. Happy to drive four or five hours a day.
As for the fishing, looking to chase tuna in the southern parts and GTs in the northern parts. I like the idea a of a bit of jigging too.
Cheers, Al

Not too much happening down in NSW other than chasing some snapper or kings .
Once off the ferry - I'd head straight north up the Hume Hwy & do an overnighter at Albury / Wodonga - The coastal road is a nice trip but it burns a lot of time & you're pretty well in the dead time fishing wise....... The bluefin run is currently underway though
From Albury - I'd do a full days drive ( you are on good dual carriageway) & head to Port Stephens (750kms) - A awesome waterway & a trip up to Broughton Island is pretty good - Even do an overnighter there. plenty of accommodation options too. ....... fishing would be mainly snapper & kingfish.

Coffs Harbour would be the next stop (400km) - plenty of accommodation options & of course a half day spent at MO Tackle . Offshore fishing around the islands to the north can be pretty good - it's prime snapper & kingfish time (big kingfish) - Worth a couple of days fishing + half a day @ MOs

From Coffs - I would keep driving ...... past the Gold Coast , Brisbane , Sunshine Coast ...... Through to Seventeen Seventy .

Chris

[nautilus]

Thanks Chris! That is really helpful. I had never heard of Seventeen Seventy before, so that is really useful. I agree, it might be better to keep driving until Port Stephens.

[NAGG]

Thanks Chris! That is really helpful. I had never heard of Seventeen Seventy before, so that is really useful. I agree, it might be better to keep driving until Port Stephens.

Yeh - enjoy the NSW roads while you get the chance ......

You'll need to consider the toll roads once you hit Greater Sydney - M7 , M2 & north Connex - $73.47 each way (with a boat). Well worth it though.

Pretty well all the NSW leg will be on dual carriageway with the exception of Coffs Hbr - hence why it makes a good stopover.

A little tip - plan to go through SE Qld (Gold Coast / Brisbane either very very early (4am) or late (6pm) - the traffic can be horrid & will be a total pain with a big boat.

Chris

[Qlder1]

Yeppoon area, good ramp at Rosslyn Bay. Not really much fishing around Keppels but in 7m cat probly Douglas Shoals and surrounding area will get you on good fish. Its @ 60nm east of Yeppoon, so only good weather even in your boat. Similar distance north is Pearl Bay/Island Head Ck if you like big spanos etc. Offshore from there is good deeper water fishing for red fish(fern type area) 50-60m. We have just had some rain up here so roads will not be the normal bad, they will be rooted.... if the weather is good when you are here give me a yell, might be up for a trip in my boat as well. Brad

[nautilus]

Thanks NAGG, I had not actually factored in tolls! (I think it will pale in comparison to my fuel bill, but still, good to remember). Qlder1, I am really hoping the weather plays ball. It could be a whole lot of driving for nothing if the weather is bad. I hear stories from the guys on YouTube saying that they have not been able to get out there for a month and if that happens, I will be pretty disappointed. Still, that is something I can't control and maybe a few hundred km up or down the coast will make the difference.

[Flex]

My suggestion is to simply chase the good weather and go where its good.

As for generic suggestion in a 7m cat.

The best places for fishing and remoteness skip anywhere south of Harvey bay IMO.

Launch at harvey bay and go check out fraser .

Launch at yepoon and run up into shoalwater bay/stanage area ( one of the most remote fishiest places in QLD beside cape york, super rough water though in that area)

Then go straight to Airlie beach. Probably the greatest place in QLD for general boating,island hoping and fishing. its 100% a must do.

Mission beach is amazing to stay and fish with all tide access. hit the reef or allows access to north end of Hinchinbrook.

port douglas after that is phenomenal for access to the southern ribbon reefs.

Cooktown for the ultimate fishing destination but its a fair way north.

All those places have sweet boat ramps and all tide access and access to amazing areas to fish/explore

Remember in QLD its not uncommon to travel over 100km-150km out to sea to access certain areas. Some southerners struggle with this concept even though they have capable boats

[NAGG]

Thanks NAGG, I had not actually factored in tolls! (I think it will pale in comparison to my fuel bill, but still, good to remember). Qlder1, I am really hoping the weather plays ball. It could be a whole lot of driving for nothing if the weather is bad. I hear stories from the guys on YouTube saying that they have not been able to get out there for a month and if that happens, I will be pretty disappointed. Still, that is something I can't control and maybe a few hundred km up or down the coast will make the difference.

All good

That Qld weather got the better of me - It was ok if you were fishing for barra in protected waters (Hinchinbrook , Russell /Mulgrave... or the dams) . The offshore stuff ....... Over the last 6 years I've probably spent 50+ days in NQ - I've managed 5 days on the reef & 3 were barely tolerable .

I think I've given up on NQ

Chris