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Mackay is arguably one of the best fishing locations on the east coast of Australia.

Mackay Fishing Charters

It is fast becoming famous for it’s sensational fishing action, with great fishing all year round and catering to all styles, depending on your interest.  Mackay fishing charters offer a great range of charter operators who can look after your fishing requirements.

These range from reef fishing and game fishing, charters, guided estuary and impoundment fishing for massive Barramundi.

All this great fishing within an easy hour’s drive or cruise from Mackay.

Feel free to contact any of the local tackle shops, Barra Pro, Fishing World & Northside tackle for great friendly service and the latest local fishing info and info on the regions charter operators.

Mackay is truly blessed for us Offshore fishing charters with numerous islands and reefs to the south, east and Whitsunday islands to the north, with endless options.

Finding The Right Mackay Charter Boats

For the smaller charter vessels, try Reefari’s charter vessel Obsession” a fully customised 24 foot fishing machine for fishing the reef’s surrounding Taroba Rock, just to the Northeast of Flat top and Round Top island just east of the Pioneer River Mouth, easily accessible from Mackay Harbour or the Mouth of the Pioneer river.  Some great fishing for Snapper in the cooler months or Mackerel in the summer months.

Mackay Fishing Locations

Keswick Island and St Bee’s are the closest main group of island to the North East approximately 15 Nautical miles away which offers access to the smaller trailer boats.  Other islands just a bit further include Brampton Island, Wigton, Calder, Scawfell and Derwent, just to name a few, and recommend a larger vessel to target these destinations, safely and comfortably.

Some great fishing can be had working the reef and points, with the prized coral trout a common catch.  Spanish Mackerel are also available and well worth having out a livebait under a balloon, or trolling deep points and rocks.

Lures and rigged baits the go here. We can also depart from Hay Point and service all the islands to the South, such as Middle Island, Snare Peaks, and the Beverly group of islands.  Even more remote, beautiful scenery and even better fishing.

Fishing The Great Barrier Reef

Further afield is the Great Barrier Reef with countless fishing destinations.  Serious Trailerboats and fuel capacity are required with Parker or Credlin Reef the closest at 50 nautical miles, and continuing to the outer reef 100 miles.

This is where Raptor II, is ideal, another Reefari Charter boat with the speed to cover these big distances.  Prized reef species which are likely to be caught include Coral Trout, Red Emperor, Redthroat Emperor, Nannygai and heaps more to numerous to mention.

This is where a reputable local Charter operator will look after you.

Game Fishing In Mackay

Game fishing for Black Marlin and Sailfish is well worth a try out in the Shipping Channel wide of Scawfell or Calder islands over the summer months.  A combination of Skipping Gar and lures your best bet trolled about 6 knots.

Our annual run of Spanish Mackeral is from June to October, with quality and numbers of Spanish mackerel improving, with Monsters over 30kg regularly caught.  Trolled lures, swimming Gar and Wolf Herring the ultimate bait.

Check with Mackay’s Game fishing Club for latest fishing news and what’s biting.  Don’t forget the Spanish Mackerel shootout fishing competition held every June with great prizes on offer.

Offshore and extended overnight reef fishing charters are available on “Mako”, a  Steber 41 gameboat with small groups of up to 6 people for that full on fishing trips with mates or family.  Even more time to relax and enjoy the beauty of the great Barrier Reef.

Mako is ideal for trips up to 4 days, 3 nights with fishing charters tailored to your needs with heaps of time Game fishing for Spanish Mackerel, Popper fishing for Giant Trevally, reef fishing for Red emperor and coral,  and even have a dive on the Reef.

Mothershipping Reef Fishing Charters

You can also experience the ultimate fishing adventure with a Hardline Reefari charter for 5 or 7 days with limited trips planned throughout the year.  Book early as this is possibly the ultimate fishing trip of a lifetime, as above but with an 80 foot mothership, 33 foot gameboat, and 3 14 foot dories.

Live in comfort on the big mothership with air conditioned cabins and roomy accommodation, Great food, and fish hard throughout the day amongst the remotest regions of the Great Barrier Reef some 200 kilometres offshore.

Arthur Lovern from Seaforth Fishing charters is the man to sea for fishing the maze of creeks and estuaries around the Seaforth area, and close inshore islands.   With years of local experience, Arthur will put you on to the local Barramundi population, and other estuary species such as Mangrove Jack, Threadfin Salmon, Grunter, Trevally and Queenfish, just to name a few of the tropical sportsfish you’re likely to encounter.

For Impoundment fisherman, make sure you do a fishing charter with local Guide, Mick Rethus, with well stocked local dams of Kinchent, Teembura and Eungella having  Massive trophy Barra up to 1.2m and larger are well worth doing battle with.

These dams are becoming well known for great fishing for monster fish and the days of traveling to the Northern Territory aren’t required to catch a trophy 1 metre fish.  With excellent results almost guaranteed, we really are spoilt in Mackay for great fishing.  These dams are stocked with Barramundi, Sooty Grunter, and sleepy cod.

Summer months are definitely the time to try as fish are more aggressive with the warmer water temps, with trolling of lures along the Dam wall a great way to get started.  Sooty Grunters are reaching up to 50cm in size, and built like Beer Kegs and fight like real freight trains.

Definitely a great place to live with an endless amount of fishing spots and great fishing  destinations, with a huge variety of fish species to match.  Mackay fishing Charters will look after you and be able to tailor a charter to suit your needs.

Take the stress out of your next fishing and enjoy what Mackay Fishing Charters has to offer. Contact Us for more information.