Hamilton Island Fishing

[lukereneeseth]

We've got a holiday house (ClearWaters) for our honeymoon start of June at Hamilton Island. After going over what seems to be the only fishing charter on the island, I've eliminated it from being a definitely to not a chance.

Everything I've searches seems to be 3+ years old.

Anyone been in the last few years and done a bit of landbased? We've got a buggy with the house so a bit of exploration will be on the cards.

Don't want to do any live/bait fishing, can I get any recommendations on which popper/walkers to go for?

If you've been before what kind of 2 piece rod did you take? I'm looking at buying a decent 2 piece rod that would go fine in luggage..

thanks

[stussman]

You can hike to coral cove which I fished and snorkled at. Saw some big morwong etc while snorkling in the bay and there are rock platforms to fish off. There were some fishing rules in that area which you will need to check. Its a steep walk in and out on a gravel road but its worth the trip.

[lukereneeseth]

thanks mate. Will sus out the rules of it all from the Yacht Club or somewhere, but I imagine it would be hard getting fishing locations out of the locals. They probably get asked 200 times a year and well, I wouldn't be giving away spots if I lived on the island to every tourist either.

Anyone have ideas on poppers? The only ones I can think of that seems ideal for land based casting is the:
Williamson Popper Pro - 130mm 35g in Dorado & Red Head colours
River2Sea - 110mm 32g in Green/Gold & Pilchard
Halco Roosta - 80mm 16g & 60mm 7g

seem about right?

[todd88]

Coral cove deffinently looked like it was worth a try. It's a long walk over, start from the track entrance behind whitsundays resort. Check for green zones to make sure. I saw a guy walking around with some fly gear while I was there.

[CHUNQX]

I hope you did better than me at Hamilton Island. I went there a few years back but only stayed at Hamilton Is for a couple of nights more as a transit from the other islands. I've been to Daydream Island, Brampton Island, Long Island, Hayman Island and Hamilton Island. I managed to fish at all the islands except Hamilton Island.. Between not getting exact info about which areas were fishable and almost very few areas you could access, I didn't get to do any fishing at Hamilton which was disappointing.
There were massive GTs at the small jetty at Daydream Island and its a short ferry ride from Hamilton and not sure if it was still the case but Daydream was one of the few that they allowed day visitors to the island. The other islands you had to stay to be able to enter.

[CJ BRIBIE]

I went out on a charter from Hamilton, I believe it was renegade charters. The weather had been horrid and the boat was fully booked. We trolled around schools of tuna for hours and ended with donuts. The wind was against the tide so when the skipper tried bottom bashing he couldn't find any workable drift. We ended up with a few mother-in-law fish across the whole boat of eight people, with many not catching a thing. Although we had been told that the decline was fantastic and was wanted by marlins boats all over the world he was barely any help throughout the two days of fishing.

A better option would be to head across to the mainland. The jetty at Shute harbour is known to be a good place for some big gt's as well as plenty of other very fish able areas in the surrounds. If you're on the mainland near airline beach drop into the tackle store by the bp (from memory) servo and he'll set you up with somewhere good to fish land based.

[lukereneeseth]

Thanks guy's.
Just looking at taking the opportunity while we are over there. So wont be island hopping or anything.

Couldn't bring myself to spend the 600 odd dollars on doing a full day charter with a mob that's got such poor feedback over the years chartering out of a world renowned region of exceptional fishing. I bet the very few days they have no clients they would go out and bag out in a few hours.

Boat hire seems the go, even if we catch nothing (like I'd imagine on the charters) its a 6th of the cost of a charter and we can explore and do what we want at our leisure.

As for rods, I think this may fit the requirements -
Shimano T-curve Revolution Travel Offshore - 3pc 7.33m 10-15kg 20-100g

Can anyone see a problem with using this to throw poppers?

[Kustom]

G'day mate

Honestly try not to focus to much on the gts and more on the reef species!

I was lucky enough to live there for 6 months and caught some great fish ...

Take a bass /squire rod and chuck 4 inch gulps and 10-15g slugs everywhere and you will soon find a patern ! Arvo along any beach on the island with 60mm walkers will see a lot of long tom queenies and trevally, I even had my bream gear with small hards and gulp shrimp and what a range of species.

My favourite set up was a 4-8lb rod with a 2500 reel 12lb castaway and 10lb leader .

At night try the airport jetty land based and throw white small plastics around as there's plenty of tarpon jacks and trevally most nights,

Also I recommend if you hire a boat go out to plum island ( 5 mind from boat hire) and drift small lightly weighted plastics as you encounter plenty of weird and wonderful fish.

Any chance of big gts are harder to find than you think!

My biggest tip is watch the water for ages ! You will observe every little current line drop off bait pattern pretty quick!

If you want a heap of fun grab a light rod and try around the marina I used gulps and power baits but cranka crabs would blitz it!!!

Don't forget your squid jigs or a large range of leader !! Keep it light and fun !!

Best of luck !

[lukereneeseth]

thanks Kustom!

I intent to take the lighter gear also. 6'6 5-10kg Barra Jewel for the missus and 4-8lb for me.

More or less really taking this gear in case there just too much wind the whole time or too much reef.

I went there 6 years ago for a holiday and all I can remember of it was reef on your door step. Was walking around the reefy area where they have the volleyball, skiing, etc on the sand strip there and an American couple came over and said "what is that" so I went over and had a look. It was an epaulette shark, in ankle deep water half way inbetween corals (live rock)

That area is the image I have in my head in regards to soft plastics. ($100 gear gone in 1hr)