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If it?s a fishing, camping or just a get out of town holiday with a difference you?re after then read on, because you could do far worse than planning a trip to the Gulf Savannah region of north west Queensland. The Gulf region hasn?t had a lot written about it over the years but that doesn?t mean it should be considered as a waste of time. You only have to see all the vehicles up here that come from down south to realise that there must be something on offer. It?s amazing how many cars and 4WDs there are towing boats through this region on the way to the Northern Territory in search of good fishing. I?ll be the first to admit that the Territory is getting their fish management scene together and that it will continue to lure top tourism dollars for years to come, but when travelling anglers drive past the Normanton Road turn off, 120 kilo metres east of Mount Isa, they are passing some excellent fishing locations and driving and extra 1500 kilometres in the process.
The recent promotion of the Matilda Highway has had its desired effect too, virtually opening up the Gulf Country to people who otherwise thought a 4WD was the standard equipment needed to get here. This time around a lot are towing caravans but I?ll bet that the next trip a lot will be towing boats. The Matilda Highway is otherwise known as the Burke Developmental Road and it leads to the south east corner of the Gulf of Carpentaria to Karumba. This road is bitumen which means all that is needed is a conventional vehicle to get you into the Gulf and onto some very exciting fishing grounds. It would need a book to list all the fishing spots up here but taking into consideration that most fishos will be bringing a boat and time being the limiting factor that it is, we?ll look at a general overview of what there is on tap which is reasonably accessible.
Starting at Mount Isa and driving east toward Townsville for 18 kilometres and then pulling a left will put you onto the Lake Julius Road. The road is unmade and its 90 k but quite manageable.
Following the signs will put you onto a lake that must rate as the best stretch of inland water I have ever fished.
Lake Julius consists of 3000 square kilometres of very fishable water that can be accessed via an excellent concrete boat ramp. Once on the water you are immediately taken aback by the sheer ruggedness and beauty of the place. This is where the attraction of the Gulf Region begins to take hold. Most of the time you will motor around this huge lake and be the only boat on it, which, believe me, is pure relaxation at its best in an environment that is entirely unspoilt. River gums, melaleuca and pandanus palms border the shoreline while in other areas sheer rock faces disappear into the depths.
As far as the fishing scene goes, any fisho worth his salt would soon realise the potential for some top action in amongst the dead timber and rocky outcrops. At Lake Julius it?s the hard hitting sooty grunter that is king. These energy-stored tackle busters are no push over either and will soon put you and your gear to the test. Most deep diving lures will do the trick but my favourites are the Reidy?s Mighty Mite and Little Amazons. Sooties can be caught when lures are trolled along the rock faces in the deep water or cast amongst the snags. When targeting these fish be prepared because when a sooty hits there?s no mistaking it.
It may just eventuate that after a day or so here you might not want to leave, but this is only the beginning. The Gregory River is an easy four to five hours travel north west of Lake Julius and has to be seen to be believed. A tropical oasis amongst the spinifex.
There are a number of excellent camping spots along the river that allow good access to bank fishing. Plenty of shade, clear running water and fish. Add to this, no highways, no major tourist resorts, no crowds and you have the perfect five-star environment.
Bank fishing can either mean staying where you are at camp or foot slogging and exploring and taking in the beauty this magnificent river has to offer. The other alternative is to grab an oar and a canoe and paddle. Just remember that the current only goes one way so the further you paddle the further you may have to walk back.
As far as the fishing goes the river can provide some top action with sooty grunter, rifle fish and sleepy cod but don?t forget that as long as you have a line in the water you have a chance to mix it with a barra. There is one thing about the Gregory that makes it popular with the locals and that is definitely its barramundi. Some of the biggest barra caught in this region have come from the Gregory.
The other resident of this river is the red claw yabby. These little toe biters grow to 200 millimetres. The age-old art of a piece of string with a slab of meat tied to it is usually a good enough method to secure a few of these yabbies. Other than that try to spot one around the snags at night using a torch and a scoop net, this pastime will keep anglers of all ages entertained for hours on end. Yabbies also make an excellent barramundi bait when tied to a hook but try and explain that to the cook.
The Gregory Hotel, which is situated by the river. also offers accommodation and is definitely worth the stop. As well as refuelling and enjoying a cold ale you can gain some very valuable information on various fishing and camping spots as well as other points of interest along this impressive river.
Burketown
From here we keep heading further north along the Wills Developmental Road up to Burketown. A few kilometres before getting to Burketown you pull a left and head for the Escott Barramundi Lodge. The sign at the turn off will make sure you don?t miss it.
The lodge, as the name implies, is on Escott Station. The amount of activities available to the visitor will ensure that no one has the chance to get bored. These include scenic flights, good old fashioned Saturday night barbecues. clay target shoots. The list goes on and on but one thing is for sure, it is still the fishing that continues to draw people here and that is what the station is most famous for.
The Nicholson River and Gin Arm Creek wind their way through this 225,OOO ha property and provide 320 kilometres of both fresh and tidal water where the angler can sink his teeth into some real serious fishing. Accommodation is available at the lodge or within the camp grounds with river bush camps also available to the more adventurous angler. The extensive knowledge of resort personnel is there for the asking. What fish are being caught where and on what bait or lures. is all information they are more than happy to pass on to those that stay there.
Escott to Burketown, which is situated on the Albert River, is a 20 minute trip. Every Easter Burketown and the Albert River play host to the Burketown World Barramundi Fishing Championships. Fishing this fun event is a story on its own but the attraction of it draws anglers from just about everywhere all with the same objective, to catch a barra. maybe win the crown of World Champion and if they do. take the $2000 cheque that goes with it.
You can easily launch into the Albert River at an excellent concrete boat ramp situated seven kilometres out of Burketown at Truganini Landing. Launching punts and other tinnies are also manageable along the river?s edge near the bridge without too much trouble.
This area, which is two kilometres out of town, is a good option if you want to camp along the river and leave the boat in the water for the duration of your stay.
From the bridge to the mouth there is around 40 kilometres of very fishable river while heading back up stream the river meanders along for another 20 kilometres but does tend to narrow out in the upper reaches. Again, it?s all good water with no end of potential.
Although lures are definitely the go in most situations, there is still no substitute for live bait and in the Albert River there is no shortage of it. A cast net and a half adequate throw will get you all the bait you need.
Normanton
Heading out of Burketown towards Normanton are also places that are bound to get the adrenalin pumping. Leichhardt Falls, the Flinders River and the Bynoe River being the obvious. The potential of all these and other spots along this road should not be overlooked.
The Norman River at Normanton also offers many opportunities for the angler. Again, quite a good single lane boat ramp can give you easy access onto the river. Good barra and salmon can be taken from this river by trolling lures in front of any one of the many creek mouths that run into the Norman. Bait fishing the deeper sections of the river could also get you onto a decent size jewie. Pikey Bream are also abundant in sections of the river as well as the creeks and have no qualms about taking prawn baits.
Like a lot of areas in this region, local knowledge can play a big part in successful fishing. Check out some of the local pubs. If approached in the right manner the publican or some of the locals will be more than happy to pass on some free advice to an out of towner.
Normanton is also the departure point for other places that offer excellent fishing. There is no way known I would leave Normanton without drowning a bait at Karumba. Seventy kilometres further north is what fishing is all about up here. If the grunter or threadfin salmon are running you will know all about it. As well as the grunter and threadfin salmon you can expect to get amongst some black jewfish or fingermark. Depending on the time of year and the weather the list could go on and on to include bream, spanish mackerel just to name a few. In the unlikely instance you get sick of the fishing or the wind picks up a bit, take the time out to do a bit of cruising up the Norman River. There is usually plenty of things to see and creeks to explore.
Launching a boat at Karumba is a breeze. The boat ramp in town is protected and can handle any rig, so whatever you have shouldn?t pose a problem. Launching boats is also possible from the beach at Karumba Point but as well as boat handling being subject to weather conditions the hassle just isn?t worth it. The best bit of advice I can give is to stick with the boat ramp. The same road into Karumba is the same road out but 41 kilometres out of Karumba is the continuation north east of the Burke Developmental Road. Dorunda Station, which is run similarly to Escott, is 200 kilometres further down this road. Dorunda Station is bound by the Stauten and Wyaaba Rivers and plays host to not only some excellent barramundi fishing but has the hard hitting saratoga in its waters.
Sixty kilometres south of Normanton is the Flinders River. Once again we cross this river, but by a different road. Here there are ample camping spots to be found. The river carries its share of barra not to mention an abundance of red claw yabbies and prawns.
What to take
When you do decide to visit this Gulf Savannah region you must be aware that this is frontier country. Unlike the coast and its regional centres, there are no service stations out here 10 kilometres apart. Carry a jerry can of spare fuel as insurance. It also doesn?t hurt to keep a container of good drinking water in the car. This helps to avoid dehydration should the unlikely happen and you do break down. l can?t emphasis enough the importance of carrying the basics - radiator hoses, fan belts, spare wheels for both the car as well as the boat trailer. If you don?t realise the importance of these few basics then you?re not ready to venture out to this part of the world yet, it?s that simple. It?s a big country out here so be aware that open range grazing is the norm. That is, there are no fences between you and the stock. The stations up here breed some pretty big beasts who think nothing of propping themselves in the middle of the road. This is more so during the cooler months when these animals think the road is some sort of central heating system put there for their benefit.
Take note of the season you plan to do the trip. The dry season between April to October is far more comfortable as far as the temperature goes. Even the locals avoid travelling during the wet. Not only is it too hot but the chance of being caught in a deluge of rain and getting stuck somewhere is pretty real too. Not a nice thought and not what boating and fishing holidays are all about. While on the subject of rain, up here in the Gulf muds aren?t muds. A light shower on the red soil still renders it driveable, if only just, but the black soil is a different story. This type of mud ends up slippery with a capital S. Many a motorist has come to grief on this stuff. Take extreme care and slow down to a crawl until you are clear of it.
What more needs to be said about salt water crocodiles? Like it or not we have to share the Gulf Region with these critters so take extreme care when in tidal waterways. It?s obvious that signs can?t be put everywhere to warn of crocs so just treat them as being there all the same.
Get yourself a good road map of the area. One map that I can highly recommend is the Sunmap Tourist map of the Gulf Savannah.
This map is the best of its kind and is packed with useful information and hints completely relevant to this area. It is up to date and the roads and distances are clearly marked. At around five bucks it is worth its weight in gold to anyone planning a trip up here.
Lake Julius
Family cabins, dormitories and grassed area for tents available. Besides boating
there are other places of interest in this area. For more detailed information
and mud maps as well as up to date accommodation prices contact: Mt Isa branch
Tourism,. Sport and Racing 077 432 130
The Gregory River
Camping permitted by the river. Certain areas however are on private property so enquiries and requests for further information should be directed to the Mount Isa office of the Dept or Environment and Heritage. 077 432 055. The Gregory Downs Hotel 077 485 566, Escott Barramundi Lodge, Burketown: 077 485 577. Motel units per night $45 single $75 double, s/c units available, price on application. Caravan and camping ground (no onsite vans) $12 p/n includes power. River bush camp sites (no facilities), $8 p/n per person. The bush camp sites also include mud maps and the security of knowing that if you are not back at the resort at a pre-designated time they come looking for you.
The resort also has boat and 4WD hire if you want to get out and explore the station.
Burketown
Mechanical repairs, bank, tourist information Centre 077 455 177. Burketown Pub 077 455 104. The Pub is the hub of the town so it is a good place to contact for any information required on Burketown, its fishing and its surrounding areas. It is also the HQ for the big barra comp each Easter.
Accommodation at the Burketown Pub: Budget accommodation, $12.50 per night.
Deluxe Motel Units $50 per night. EFTPOS facilities also available at the Pub.
Normanton
Major town in this region. Fuel and food 7 days per week. Norman River on the Northern outskirts of town.
Albion Hotel 077 451 218. Motel units, Single $45. Double $50. All counter meals $10 (huge and best value in the Gulf) top pub for up to date information on what?s happening on the river.
National Hotel (the Purple Pub) 077 451 626. Motel units and hotel style rooms.
Karumba
Top destination. Major fishing port. Fuel, food, bait 7 days per week.
Mechanical repairs 5 ? per week. Excellent boat ramp.
Karumba Department of Fisheries
077 459 142, 077 459 233
Hire Boat Availability
Karumba Point Holiday Cabins Boat Hire 077 459 126
Karumba Boat Hire 077 459 132
Gulf Hire boats 077 459 274
Y-Not Fish and Cruise 077 459 316
Ebzery?s Fishing Safaris 077 439 690
Accommodation
Karumba Lodge Motel, next to boat ramp 077 459 143
Gulf Country Caravan & Camping Park 077 459 148
Karumba Point Holiday Cabins 077 459 126
Ash?s Holiday Units 077 459 132
Karumba Point Caravan & Camping Park 077 459 277
Prices for everything vary with time so for up to date pricing a phone call is all that?s needed.
For a copy of the Sunmap Tourist Map of the Gulf Savannah or the address of your nearest retail outlet phone the Sunmap Centre, Brisbane on 07 896 3203. This map retails for around $5 and represents excellent value. Dorunda Station 077 453 477. Similar operation to that of Escott but also has saratoga as well as barramundi.
Information and printed matter on bag limits and fishing regulations in general can be obtained from the Queensland Fish Management Authority. Phone 07 225 1888, Fax 07 221 8793.
Further information for other areas of the Gulf Savannah can be obtained by contacting the Mount Isa Tourist Information Centre. Phone 077 437 966, Fax 077 438 746.
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