Fishing & Boating

Boat Ramps

The fishing and boating in the Burdekin is second to none with numerous creek systems, offshore reefs and an abundance of fish. There are 8 public boat ramps(PDF, 13MB) in the Burdekin Shire which provide access to fantastic fishing locations both inshore and offshore.

Cromarty Boat Ramp leads into the Haughton River in Giru, famous for its barramundi fishing and catches of whiting and flathead, grunter, mangrove jack and bream. The Cromarty Creek Boat Ramp is located 49km from Ayr.

Barramundi Creek Boat Ramp also known as Morris's Creek is situated 43.6km north of Ayr. 

Barratta Creek Boat Ramp provides access to Bowling Green Bay. The Barratta's delivers good fishing from the boat ramp or by boat in the creek system. It is locally known as a mud crab hot spot. The Barratta Creek Boat Ramp is located 42km from Ayr.

Ocean Creek Boat Ramp can be a great spot to chase barramundi, mangrove jack and mud crabs and provides the best access to offshore fishing. Ocean Creek Boat Ramp is located 13km north of Ayr. 

Plantation Creek Boat Ramp is located 13km from Ayr and delivers catches of whiting, bream and flathead.

Hell Hole Boat Ramp at Rita Island (accessible by vehicle) can deliver good catches of whiting, bream and mangrove jack. The Hell Hole Boat Ramp is 22km from Ayr and is the best access by boat into the mouth of the Burdekin River from Ayr.

Groper Creek Boat Ramp is one of the best fishing locations in the Burdekin and is located 17km from Home Hill. This boat ramp provides access to the Burdekin River from Home Hill as well as Wallace Creek and offshore fishing locations. Groper Creek is net free from commercial fishing and provides great catches of species such as barramundi, mangrove jack, whiting, grunter, bream and prawns. 

Wallace Creek Boat Ramp is located 20.2km from Home Hill and offers the same opportunities as the Groper Creek Boat Ramp and is also a commercial net free creek. 

Don't have a boat?

There are plenty of land-based options that provide great fishing.

Groper Creek has a jetty which makes it a perfect place to wet a line or throw out a cast net for prawns.

Lynch's Beach at Alva is the place to go for flathead, whiting, grunter, salmon and barramundi. Situated just 14km from Ayr, the beach is a great place to spend some time wetting a line. Four-wheel drive vehicles are permitted access onto the beach which makes it easier to get to your favourite fishing spot.

Wunjunga Beach (Beachmount) is a fisherman's paradise. Access by four-wheel drive vehicle or by foot can be found at access points along Wunjunga Road and at the end of the Wunjunga township. Located 32km from Home Hill, this beach is the perfect place to catch bream, whiting, grunter and salmon.

The Burdekin River flows for more than 700km from its source to the ocean east of Ayr. It is known to deliver good numbers of barramundi depending on whether you are fishing in the fresh or saltwater part of the river. There are several entry points to the Burdekin River on both Ayr and Home Hill sides.

The Burdekin Dam/Lake Dalrymple in the Charters Towers region was built for irrigation purposes but is also a fantastic place to fish. The dam is home to barramundi, archerfish, grunter, sleepy cod, longtom, perch, catfish, eels and crayfish. You will need a Stocked Impoundment Permit to fish at the dam.

Onshore fishing

There are plenty of great fishing spots in the region but some of the favourites amongst the locals are the Burdekin River, Haughton River, Groper Creek, Alva and the Burdekin Dam. The Burdekin River delta features dozens of sheltered estuaries suitable for small boats.

Offshore fishing

The Burdekin has excellent offshore fishing including around Cape Upstart and the shoals off Alva. It is also a great place to head to the Great Barrier Reef but make sure you check zoning before putting a line in the water.

Barramundi Season

Barramundi is one of North Queensland's most iconic fish, but it's important to know when the season is open and what the rules are before heading out. On the Queensland east coast, which includes the Burdekin, the barramundi closed season runs from 1 November to 31 January each year. This means you cannot target barramundi at all during this period. The closure helps protect breeding fish and ensures strong barra numbers for future seasons.

Tidal Information

Tide movements play a big role in fishing and boating in the Burdekin. Many of our coastal and creek systems change significantly between low and high tide, affecting access points, boat launching conditions and fishing success.