Fishing in Gladstone

Barramundi are Australia's iconic tropical sportfish, targeted with hard-bodied lures cast to mangrove edges, snags and tidal structure in the estuaries and coastal rivers of northern Australia from the Kimberley to Queensland. The wet season and immediately after provides some of the most exciting barramundi fishing as fish move into flooded country.

Black jewfish are a large, nocturnal estuary predator found in the tidal rivers and estuaries of northern Australia from the Kimberley through to central Queensland, prized for both their size and exceptional eating quality. Large live mullet and catfish baits fished in tidal holes and deep channel bends produce the best results during low light periods.

Bream and whiting are staple estuary species found in tidal waterways, estuaries and bays throughout coastal Australia, targeted with small baits such as prawns, worms and nippers on light gear. Bream in particular offer a surprisingly strong fight for their size and can be highly selective, making them a challenging and rewarding target.

King George whiting are South Australia's most prized table fish and are found in the shallow seagrass beds and sandy bays of Gulf St Vincent, Spencer Gulf and the Yorke and Eyre peninsulas. Fishing fresh peeled prawn, pippi or bluebait on small hooks with running sinker rigs over clean sandy ground produces consistent catches of these delicately flavoured fish.

Mangrove jack are one of Australia's most aggressive and frustrating estuary species, ambushing lures from beneath mangrove overhangs, submerged timber and bridge pylon shadows in tidal rivers from the Kimberley to northern NSW. These fish hit hard, turn instantly and use every piece of structure to bust off anglers, demanding heavy leader and immediate pressure after the strike.

Threadfin salmon are one of the most exciting lure fishing targets in tropical Australia, found in the turbid estuaries and creek mouths of Queensland and the NT where they ambush prawns and baitfish on tidal run-outs. These powerful fish respond aggressively to large soft plastic lures and hard-bodied swimbaits worked through the dirty water of tidal outflows.