Australian Reef Fishing Charters

Reef fishing in Queensland especially, is probably the most popular and common type of fishing. Reef fishing can basically be described and any type of fishing (but mainly "bottom bashing"} in the area of a coral reef. Australia's Great Barrier Reef stretches 2500kms parallel to the Queensland coast. It is known to be the most biodiverse ecosystem on earth and is home to over 1500 different species of fish. In the past 10 or so years the regulating authorities or the GBRMPA, have made some massive changes in the regulation of the Great Barrier Reef and the way that you can fish it.

The reef itself isn't one big barrier as the name suggests, but some 3000 individual patch, fringing and ribbon reefs that have all been spit into different types of zones. Over a third of the Great Barrier Reef is now classed as a green zone being a zone that all types of fishing are prohibited. These green zones, in my belief are the sole reason that the reef fishing in Queensland is so good. Most coral reef finfish spawn on the current lines that peel off the pressure points on the reefs. Large numbers of reef fish congregate together at certain times of the year and eject eggs and sperm into the current where it is mixed together in a giant soup of life and drifts away. Larval reef fish are attracted to the reef by chemical signals and take up refuge in the protection of the reef. Essentially, the green zone at position X may well be populating reefs both near and far away where fishing is allowed. Reefs that were known to be important zones for breeding were closed to fishing as is the entire reef (irrelevant of the zone) for a period revolving around the new moons in October, November and December to coincide with known spawning periods.

Reef fishing can be enjoyed by anybody who has access to a boat. The reef in Qld can be anywhere from 10 nautical miles to 50nm from the coast. Mackay is a very popular reef fishing destination. The size of the boat required will depend on how far you have to travel across open and often very rough and tidal water to get to the protection of the reef itself. Most people manage fine with a vessel of about 20- 25 feet long. A good sounder is probably the most important piece of equipment when fishing on the reef as the bigger fish will be off in the deeper water on bommies that cannot be seen. The reef is riddled with deep channels and drop offs that hide the sunken reefs and shoals that are the favored haunts of big red emperor, coral trout, sea perch, cod and job fish. The best way to fish the deeper water is to use a rod or a handline with a single dropper rig, being a rig with the sinker on the bottom and the hook on a snood 1 foot above the sinker. Best baits can be cut baits of oily flesh such as tuna, mackerel or trevally, squid, cuttlefish or mullet fillets. Live baits of butterfly bream or iodine bream work particularly well on big coral trout and cod. The bait should always be on the bottom and a good solid strike is always required to hook a fish in deep water.

Remember, due to the larger tidal movement around most reefs, the best time for reef fishing is close to the top and bottoms of the tides.

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Up one level Useful Links Contact Us Fishing Blog Fishing Channel Weather Forecast Moonphases Tide Predictions Regulations Queensland New South Wales Victoria Nothern Territory South Australia Western Australia Tasmania Types of Fishing Game Fishing Reef Fishing Sport Fishing Species Fishing Barramundi Fishing Bonefish Fishing Cobia Fishing Coral Trout Fishing Giant Trevally Fishing Marlin Fishing Red Emperor Fishing Snapper Fishing Tuna Fishing Mackerel Fishing	Home > Reef Fishing Australian Reef Fishing Charters Reef fishing in Queensland especially, is probably the most popular and common type of fishing. Reef fishing can basically be described and any type of fishing (but mainly "bottom bashing"} in the area of a coral reef. Australia's Great Barrier Reef stretches 2500kms parallel to the Queensland coast. It is known to be the most biodiverse ecosystem on earth and is home to over 1500 different species of fish. In the past 10 or so years the regulating authorities or the GBRMPA, have made some massive changes in the regulation of the Great Barrier Reef and the way that you can fish it. The reef itself isn't one big barrier as the name suggests, but some 3000 individual patch, fringing and ribbon reefs that have all been spit into different types of zones. Over a third of the Great Barrier Reef is now classed as a green zone being a zone that all types of fishing are prohibited. These green zones, in my belief are the sole reason that the reef fishing in Queensland is so good. Most coral reef finfish spawn on the current lines that peel off the pressure points on the reefs. Large numbers of reef fish congregate together at certain times of the year and eject eggs and sperm into the current where it is mixed together in a giant soup of life and drifts away. Larval reef fish are attracted to the reef by chemical signals and take up refuge in the protection of the reef. Essentially, the green zone at position X may well be populating reefs both near and far away where fishing is allowed. Reefs that were known to be important zones for breeding were closed to fishing as is the entire reef (irrelevant of the zone) for a period revolving around the new moons in October, November and December to coincide with known spawning periods. Reef fishing can be enjoyed by anybody who has access to a boat. The reef in Qld can be anywhere from 10 nautical miles to 50nm from the coast. Mackay is a very popular reef fishing destination. The size of the boat required will depend on how far you have to travel across open and often very rough and tidal water to get to the protection of the reef itself. Most people manage fine with a vessel of about 20- 25 feet long. A good sounder is probably the most important piece of equipment when fishing on the reef as the bigger fish will be off in the deeper water on bommies that cannot be seen. The reef is riddled with deep channels and drop offs that hide the sunken reefs and shoals that are the favored haunts of big red emperor, coral trout, sea perch, cod and job fish. The best way to fish the deeper water is to use a rod or a handline with a single dropper rig, being a rig with the sinker on the bottom and the hook on a snood 1 foot above the sinker. Best baits can be cut baits of oily flesh such as tuna, mackerel or trevally, squid, cuttlefish or mullet fillets. Live baits of butterfly bream or iodine bream work particularly well on big coral trout and cod. The bait should always be on the bottom and a good solid strike is always required to hook a fish in deep water. Remember, due to the larger tidal movement around most reefs, the best time for reef fishing is close to the top and bottoms of the tides.
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