Hinchinbrook Channel and Cardwell fishing spots

The Hinchinbrook Channel runs about 45 km of sheltered, mangrove-lined water between Cardwell and Lucinda. It is famous for barramundi, mangrove jack, fingermark and grunter in its creeks and rock bars, plus mud crabs, while Missionary Bay and the islands off Cardwell add queenfish, trevally and reef fish. Fishable almost all year because it stays calm in the trade winds.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

8 spots here: 2 fished from land and 6 reached only by boat or kayak, plus 2 public boat ramps. Seasons follow our Townsville & Hinchinbrook species list for Queensland. Positions are a guide only, not for navigation.

Under each spot, "Forecast for this spot" opens the app's forecast worked out for that spot: Go, Marginal or No-go for each day of the week ahead, with the best times, wind, waves and tide. Open the forecast.

Spots at a glance

8 spots: Hinchinbrook Channel and Cardwell
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Cardwell jetty	Jetty	Land-based	Ocean coast	Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park
2. Oyster Point (Port Hinchinbrook)	Breakwall	Land-based and boat	Bay, estuary or river	Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park
3. The Haven & Scraggy Point	Channel	Boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park
4. Hinchinbrook Channel (central reaches)	Channel	Boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park
5. Deluge Inlet	Estuary	Boat	Bay, estuary or river	Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park
6. Missionary Bay	Bay	Boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
7. Goold Island	Island	Boat	Offshore	Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park
8. Murray River	River	Boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–

1. Cardwell jetty

Type: Jetty · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Town jetty on the Cardwell foreshore; street parking nearby.
What's good here: Peak in October: javelin / grunter, golden snapper and queenfish. Also in season: yellowfin bream and blue threadfin. Now and then: tiger squid.
Best tide: Top half of the tide.
Best wind: W to SW (offshore); exposed to SE trades. Faces NE.
Note: Town jetty looking over Rockingham Bay to Hinchinbrook Island. Bait for grunter and bream; cast lures at dawn for queenfish.
Safety: Shallow at low tide; boats tie up here. Crocodile country: stand well back from the edge, never wade, and clean fish away from the water. Box jellyfish and Irukandji: highest risk Oct/Nov to May; wear a stinger suit if you wade or swim.
Zone: In a habitat protection (dark blue) zone: normal fishing rules. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -18.26200, 146.02719 · Open in Google Maps (position: Jetty (unnamed in dataset), Built features - Queensland series (Marine infrastructure lines))
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Oyster Point (Port Hinchinbrook)

Type: Breakwall · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and boat. Port Hinchinbrook marina precinct south of Cardwell.
What's good here: Peak in October: barramundi, mangrove jack, javelin / grunter, golden snapper, queenfish and trevally. Closing soon: barramundi (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January).
Best tide: Run-out and the change at the channel mouth.
Best wind: Sheltered from SE. Faces NE.
Note: Rock walls at the northern mouth of the channel. Cast soft plastics along the walls on the run-out; boats drift the deep edge for fingermark.
Safety: Crocodile country: stand well back from the edge, never wade, and clean fish away from the water.
Zone: In a habitat protection (dark blue) zone: normal fishing rules. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -18.27740, 146.04940 · Open in Google Maps (position: Oyster Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. The Haven & Scraggy Point

Type: Channel · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat and kayak. Boat from Port Hinchinbrook or Cardwell (about 6 km).
What's good here: Peak in October: barramundi, mangrove jack, estuary cod, golden snapper, javelin / grunter and mud crab. Closing soon: barramundi (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January).
Best tide: Neaps for the rock bars; springs for creek mouths on the run-out.
Best wind: Sheltered.
Note: Island side of the northern channel. Rock bars and creek mouths for jacks and cod; deep holes for fingermark.
Safety: Crocodiles: keep hands and legs inside the boat and never clean fish at the ramp. National park camping area: check QPWS rules.
Zone: In a habitat protection (dark blue) zone: normal fishing rules. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -18.28810, 146.10110 · Open in Google Maps (position: The Haven, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Hinchinbrook Channel (central reaches)

Type: Channel · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat and kayak. Boat from Cardwell or Dungeness.
What's good here: Peak in October: barramundi, golden snapper, mangrove jack, javelin / grunter, queenfish and mud crab. Closing soon: barramundi (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January).
Best tide: Neap tides for the deep holes; run-out at the creek mouths.
Best wind: Sheltered from most winds.
Note: Deep, winding middle of the channel with dozens of mangrove creeks. Sound out holes and ledges for fingermark; cast at drains for barra and jacks.
Safety: Crocodiles: keep hands and legs inside the boat and never clean fish at the ramp. Strong tidal flow on springs.
Zone: In a habitat protection (dark blue) zone: normal fishing rules. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -18.40000, 146.20000 · Open in Google Maps (position: Hinchinbrook Channel, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Deluge Inlet

Type: Estuary · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat. Boat from Dungeness or Cardwell around the south of the island.
What's good here: Peak in October: barramundi, mangrove jack, golden snapper, estuary cod and trevally. Closing soon: barramundi (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January).
Best tide: Run-out to low; enter and leave on enough water.
Best wind: Light winds (the entrance faces the open coast).
Note: Remote inlet on Hinchinbrook's east side. Snags and rock bars for jacks and barra; the entrance bar needs care.
Safety: Shallow bar at the entrance. Crocodiles: keep hands and legs inside the boat and never clean fish at the ramp.
Zone: In a habitat protection (dark blue) zone: normal fishing rules. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -18.41700, 146.20330 · Open in Google Maps (position: Deluge Inlet, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Missionary Bay

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat and kayak. Boat from Cardwell or Port Hinchinbrook (about 20 km).
What's good here: Peak in October: barramundi, mangrove jack, golden snapper, javelin / grunter, queenfish and trevally. Closing soon: barramundi (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January).
Best tide: Run-out at creek mouths; flats on the run-in.
Best wind: Sheltered from S to SE.
Note: Large mangrove bay on Hinchinbrook's north side with many creeks. Yellow zone: one line and one hook each; part of a dugong protection area.
Safety: Crocodiles: keep hands and legs inside the boat and never clean fish at the ramp.
Zone: In a conservation park (yellow) zone: 1 rod or line with 1 hook per person. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -18.24170, 146.20890 · Open in Google Maps (position: Missionary Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Goold Island

Type: Island · offshore (boat)
Access: Boat. About 18 km by boat from Cardwell.
What's good here: Peak in October: grass sweetlip, trevally and queenfish. Also in season: school mackerel. Closed season now: coral trout (8 October to 12 October 2026); Spanish mackerel (8 October to 29 October 2026).
Best tide: Neaps for the reef edges; run-in for pelagics.
Best wind: Calm to light winds; exposed to SE.
Note: National park island in Rockingham Bay. Fish the fringing reef for trout and sweetlip and troll the points for mackerel; the island's waters are a yellow zone, so one line and one hook each.
Safety: Open-water run; check the forecast. Box jellyfish and Irukandji: highest risk Oct/Nov to May; wear a stinger suit if you wade or swim.
Zone: The waters around the island are a conservation park (yellow) zone: 1 rod or line with 1 hook per person. No green zone within about 3 km. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -18.16670, 146.17080 · Open in Google Maps (position: Goold Island, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Murray River

Type: River · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat and kayak. Boat from Cardwell north along the coast, or small craft at the river.
What's good here: Peak in October: barramundi, mangrove jack, king threadfin, javelin / grunter and mud crab. Closing soon: barramundi (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January).
Best tide: Run-out at the mouth; snags on the turn.
Best wind: Sheltered in the river; mouth open to E.
Note: Smaller river north of Cardwell. Barra and jacks on the snags, salmon at the mouth after rain.
Safety: Crocodiles: keep hands and legs inside the boat and never clean fish at the ramp. Shallow mouth bar.
Zone: No zone is mapped at this point in the river; the nearest mapped zone, about 1,600 m away, is a general use (light blue) zone: normal fishing rules. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -18.07860, 146.01280 · Open in Google Maps (position: Murray River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

2 public boat ramps are listed for Hinchinbrook Channel and Cardwell, with positions from Built features - Queensland series (Marine infrastructure lines). Lanes, parking and tide access are as the data says: check them on the day.

Boat ramps: Hinchinbrook Channel and Cardwell
Ramp	Notes	Position
Port Hinchinbrook boat ramp	Free public ramp beside the Port Hinchinbrook marina (double plus single lane in the state data). Travellers report it can be unusable at low tide.	-18.28269, 146.04435 Google Maps
Cardwell boat ramp (Sheridan Street)	Single-lane beach ramp off Marine Parade (TMR CW17); tide dependent, best for small boats.	-18.25649, 146.02139 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Hinchinbrook Channel and Cardwell in October: barramundi, mangrove jack, golden snapper, javelin / grunter and 11 more. Of the 31 species our Townsville & Hinchinbrook list has for this part of the coast, 15 peak in October 2026 and 6 more are in season.

Peak in October: barramundi, mangrove jack, golden snapper, javelin / grunter, queenfish, trevally, mud crab, estuary cod, king threadfin, grass sweetlip, black jewfish, dusky flathead, cobia, grey mackerel and marlin and sailfish.

Also in season: blue threadfin, yellowfin bream, school mackerel, whiting, spotted mackerel and longtail tuna.

In closed season now (no take): Spanish mackerel (8 October to 29 October 2026); coral trout (8 October to 12 October 2026); red emperor (8 October to 12 October 2026); nannygai (8 October to 12 October 2026); spangled emperor (8 October to 12 October 2026); redthroat emperor (8 October to 12 October 2026); tuskfish (8 October to 12 October 2026).

Closing soon: barramundi (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January); black jewfish (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January).

Out of season in October: banana prawns (best Feb–May).

Seen now and then, so not rated: tiger squid and blue swimmer crab.

Seasons are closure-aware: a species is never listed as in season, for the area or at a spot, while it is closed there; a closure for part of the area says where. Species links go to our South East Queensland species guides, with Queensland's limits: Queensland's own size and bag limits are on the official rules page.

Can you fish here? Rules and safety

No licence or fee for recreational fishing in Queensland tidal waters, including the Gulf and Torres Strait (as at 9 Oct 2026). Licence details. Size and bag limits and closed seasons apply: Queensland's limits (checked 9 Oct 2026).

Rules at Hinchinbrook Channel and Cardwell

Barramundi closed season on the east coast: no take from 1 Nov to 31 Jan (min 58 cm, max 120 cm otherwise).
Coral reef fin fish (trout, cods, emperors, tropical snappers, tuskfish, sweetlips) closed 8-12 Oct and 6-10 Nov 2026.
Spanish mackerel north of 22S: no take 8-29 Oct and 6-27 Nov 2026.
Black jewfish on the east coast: closed 1 Nov-31 Jan; otherwise min 75 cm, 2 per person.
Great Barrier Reef zoning applies to every saltwater spot here: green, pink and orange (scientific research) zones are no-fishing; yellow zones allow 1 rod or line with 1 hook per person.
Much of the channel is state habitat protection zone (normal fishing rules); Missionary Bay and the island coast are yellow zones (one line, one hook).
Dugong protection area: netting restrictions; check the Hinchinbrook Plan of Management.

Marine parks and no-take zones

The zone notes here name Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Hinchinbrook Channel and Cardwell

Crocodiles are common throughout the channel and its creeks.
Stinger season roughly October/November to May.
Strong tidal currents in the channel on spring tides.
Crocodile country: saltwater crocodiles live in rivers, estuaries, beaches and around islands here. Stay well back from the water's edge, never clean fish at the water, and don't stand on logs or overhanging banks. More.
Marine stingers (box jellyfish and irukandji) can be in these waters, mostly in the warmer months: cover up if you wade or swim, and carry vinegar. More.

Queensland: official links

Read the official forecast and warnings in the Bureau of Meteorology's own words: Qld coastal and local waters forecast map and current warnings.

Boating: Queensland boating safety, crossing coastal bars and lifejacket rules. Lifejackets: Must wear: crossing a designated bar in an open boat or open area (any length); open boat <4.8m underway alone or at night; children 1-11 in open boat/area underway. AS 4758 only.

Heading out on the water? Log on and off with Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ). Until MRQ is fully operational, log on with your local marine rescue unit by boat radio or by phoning the unit. Channels and hours differ by unit.

Marine parks and closed areas: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Commonwealth) - GBRMPA zoning maps, GBRMPA - interpreting zones, Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park (State) and all Qld state marine parks, Moreton Bay Marine Park - app and maps, Great Sandy Marine Park - app and maps and Australian Marine Parks (Commonwealth waters, e.g. Coral Sea).

Help on the water (non-emergency): MRQ unit pages list 131 MRQ (131 677). More.

Queensland's official rules: size and bag limits and closed seasons and areas (checked 9 Oct 2026).

Emergency: 000 (112 from mobiles) · VHF channel 16 for distress.

Nearby fishing areas

Lucinda and the Herbert River (about 35 km south-east)
Mission Beach (about 45 km north)
Townsville and Magnetic Island (about 127 km south-east)
Cairns and Trinity Inlet (about 157 km north)

Distances are between the middle of each area. Every area in Queensland · all fishing spot guides.

Sources and checked dates

Spot and ramp positions: Composite Gazetteer of Australia (Geoscience Australia and the state and territory naming authorities), CC BY 4.0, ABS Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 (2021) (Australian Bureau of Statistics), CC BY 4.0 and Built features - Queensland series (Marine infrastructure lines) (State of Queensland), CC BY 4.0; gazetteer and ABS positions through our place index. Guide only, not for navigation.
Spot research checked 9 Oct 2026 and fact-checked 9 Oct 2026; species seasons and rules checked 9 Oct 2026; safety links checked 9 Oct 2026. Text in our own words.
Research sources: tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au (Cardwell ramps (Port Hinchinbrook, Fishers Landing, Meunga Creek, Marine Parade) and channel species); en.wikivoyage.org (Cardwell public ramps and jetty are tide-dependent; marina ramp hard to use at low tide); blog.mailasail.com (Channel length and its barramundi, grunter and crab fishing); publications.qld.gov.au (Sheridan Street, Cardwell ramp (CW17)); gbrmpa.gov.au (Yellow zone over Missionary Bay and the island coast); qld.gov.au (Size, bag and Gulf vs east coast limits (via the repo species file, checked 9 Oct 2026)); dpi.qld.gov.au (Barramundi, coral reef fin fish, Spanish mackerel and black jewfish closed seasons); dpi.qld.gov.au (Closed waters (no fishing / no spearfishing) by region); qld.gov.au (Crocodile habitat and safety); qld.gov.au (Marine stinger safety); gbrmpa.gov.au (What each GBR zone allows (line fishing, yellow-zone limits, crabbing, spearfishing)); legislation.qld.gov.au (Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park zoning plan: estuarine conservation zone allows line fishing, trapping and netting); maps.eatlas.org.au (GBRMPA zoning polygons (layer ea:GBR_GBRMPA_Zoning-2003) used to test every coordinate); spatial-gis.information.qld.gov.au (Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park zone polygons (QSpatial layer 63) used to test every coordinate); data.qld.gov.au (Marine infrastructure lines (boat ramps, jetties), CC BY 4.0, for ramp and jetty coordinates); publications.qld.gov.au (TMR boating infrastructure plans: official ramp names and facility IDs).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.