BOAT JOURNEY
Moreton Island A Fishing Adventure
with Paul Burt
Tangalooma Wrecks, Moreton Island
W
hen you think of islands in our local vicinity, ninety-nine percent of us instantly think of North and South Straddie, then Fraser Island some three hundred kilometres away. But what about poor old Moreton Island? I guess most think of Moreton Bay as being on Brisbane’s back door (and by right it certainly is!), but what makes this island so incredible is its biodiversity and charm. Once arriving on the island, you feel as though you’ve just landed on Fraser Island without traveling so far; and for me, Moreton is like North Straddie without bitumen. Sand tracks meander through the small townships and up the secluded campsites with million-dollar bay and ocean views. The water clarity is incredible, and some would describe it as being gin clear. The marine life that flourishes in it is amazing. Freshwater lakes can also be found around the island with the Blue Lagoon being the favourite stop for many. The northern tip of Moreton is commonly known as North Point. Here, campers can wake up to the smell of the salt air and the endless crash of near perfect waves rolling onto the beach. Fishing in this area is incredible with a variety of fish constantly schooling and moving through the waters. Erosion is a small problem when the
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northerly winds blow, but that makes for perfect grounds when the annual flathead run occurs. Certain times of the year, hundreds of flathead lie among the logs waiting to ambush the small whiting and hardy head fish swimming past. Further down the island, the surf beaches are littered with some of the best gutters I have ever seen with kilometres of near perfect whiting grounds. Old battery arms sit on top of the sand dunes. If you’re keen to take the ten kilometre return journey, you can to get up close and personal with some of the old remnants from World War Two. Further south, you reach an area known as the Mirapools, another perfect fishing spot, but also an area that can take your car if you’re not up to speed with the tides. Running the beach here can be dangerous particularly on the rising tide, but once through, a track winds its way from the eastern side of the beach to the western and past a small village called Kooringal. This small fishing spot sits on the most southwestern tip of the island and provides perfect shelter for boaties wanting to spend the weekend away on the bay. There is a downside to this part of the island though, and that is the midges or sand flies. Mangrove trees line the bottom end of the island.
Paul fishing from Moreton island beach
As you head further up the western side, you pass monster sand hills that seamlessly climb up and up into the heavens. The climb is a killer, and I mean a killer. It’s torturous, extremely steep, and in the middle of the day, temperatures on the sand feel as though they’ve doubled. Once you reach the top though, the views are magnificent as they stretch from across the bay to Brisbane, north to Bribie and south towards Straddie. The best part of being on top is the quick exit down with the use of a piece of cardboard. On the way down, remember to quickly pull up otherwise you’ll eat sand.
JULY - SEPT 2021
