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Robert
Robert will be your inshore guide taking you amongst the mangroves chasing that trophy Barra or Mangrove Jack. You may even spot a Dugong or Turtle or a Croc warming itself on the mud flats. He loves using soft plastics where we have onboard various styles and colours for you to use on your sport fishing charters.
Damien
Damien will be your offshore guide taking you out on trips to various reef spots (including the Great Barrier Reef) or playing around the islands. He loves the excitement of hooking up to a big red or if you are really keen a GT. Sometimes we see whales on their migration or dolphins playing on fishing trips. On board our charters, you will have the option of bait or lure fishing depending on what you are chasing.
Unique, guided fishing charters of the scenic world heritage listed Hinchinbrook Island (located an hour and a half north of Townsville) and great barrier reef in Australia. Providing clients with fishing experiences that will create memories they will talk about for the rest of their lives!
We have the best of both worlds when it comes to sport fishing charters. For a full day fishing charter, you are on the water for approximately 8 hours. Depending if you fish inshore or offshore, we target different fish species. Our inshore boat is good for getting into the shallow creeks that are scattered throughout Hinchinbrook Island and on the mainland throughout Girringan National Park where our bigger boat cannot reach. Inshore fishing is usually calmer as we can hide amongst the estuaries to get out of the weather if windy. Some of the fish species we target are Barra, Mangrove Jack, Trevally, Finger Mark, Nannygai, Sooty Grunter, Cod and Queenies to name few. We use live/dead bait or lures. On our offshore days we use our offshore boat which is a 6.2 Svensson which is quite stable on the water. Your offshore fishing experience can start as close as the end of the sugar loader, popping and stick baiting for GT’s and from there we can visit various places on the reef where you may come across Spanish, Grey or Doggy Mackerel (depending on the time of year), Cobia, Nannygai, Coral Trout, Tuna and Golden Trevally.
Sport fishing packages can be tailor made to suit your holidaying experience. From single full day guided fishing trips to multi day packages including accommodation and a continental breakfast hamper. Our charters leave from the various boat ramps located around Lucinda in beautiful north Queensland, Australia.
ALURER
Crackajack’s purpose-built lure casting flats boat. Anglers enjoy lots of flat deck space.
Features include a Motor Guide electric motor, non-skid casting platform, large live bait tank, latest Lowrance electronics with structure scan imaging, a very reliable 70hp Yamaha 4 stroke outboard. Great stable boat for fishing the creeks of Hinchinbrook.
Alurer fishes a maximum of 3 anglers people comfortably at affordable prices.
REEL EXTREME
Crackajack’s Blue Water Sportfishing Machine, purpose built with huge front casting deck allowing clients to cast poppers for GT’s or metals and plastics to surface feeding pelagics.
Being a rear centre console allows clients to access all areas of the vessel for those hard running, fierce fighting sports fish.
A great stable platform to fish from. It has been built to AMSA requirements with fully sealed self-draining decks, and the latest safety equipment.
Reel Extreme is powered by a 175hp Suzuki 4 stroke to get you to the fishing spots quickly. It has a deep vee with big reverse chines and a set of trim tabs to make the ride exceptionally soft and dry.
Reel Extreme has the latest Lowrance electronics which makes finding the fish easy.
Reel Extreme fishes a maximum of 4 anglers comfortably offshore and 5 anglers inshore. Get in touch for prices.
The world heritage listed Great Barrier Reef (GBR) – At your doorstep
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is a Sportfishing mecca, whether you are floating across the shallow coral flats casting surface or stickbait lures for Coral Trout, Red Bass, Sweet Lip & different Emporers.
Casting big poppers at pressure points on the Great Barrier Reef for the hard fighting GT’s and Spanish Mackerel.
Microjigging the edges of the reef for all types of Trevally species & Spanish Mackerel & Reef fish.
Or simply dropping a bait to the bottom to catch a fantastic Red Emporer, Nannigai or Coral Trout and many other species. Trolling skirt and swim baits around the edges for small Black Marlin, Tuna & Spanish Mackerel.
The Great Barrier Reef really is a fisherman’s paradise with spectacular scenery.
So many species – so much ground to cover.
Hinchinbrook Channel is 110sq km of endless mangrove lined creeks, rivers, tidal flats, sandy drop-offs and deep rocky holes.
Fishing the flats can supply exciting action at high tide and as the tide falls drains and drop-offs are formed and bait schools are forced out by the receding waters.
Sprays of shimmering baitfish or prawns often reveal the presence of hungry Barramundi on the prowl. This is prime hunting time on the flats for the mighty Barramundi – Australia’s premier tropical inshore sportfish.
There is no greater thrill than to have a large Barramundi explode from the shallows boat side after inhaling a well presented lure. The flats at high water are also a feeding ground for Trevally, Australian snub nose dart (permit), Tarpon, and the highflying Queenfish.
Lure fishing the flats is year round with activity reaching a high point during the warmer months. If you would like to experience the excitement of saltwater flat fishing then consider the Hinchinbrook Channel Flats with Crackajack Sportfishing Adventures.
Experience the Hinchinbrook Island Wilderness
”This area is like travelling back in time. Hinchinbrook Channel is a diverse wilderness and an angler’s paradise in Australia.
The area is world heritage listed and is surrounded by unspoilt National Parks, that makes it a true jewel of nature.
On the eastern side of the channel lays Hinchinbrook Island (about 100km from Townsville), the largest oceanic Island National Park in the world. 400sq km of rugged mountain peaks, waterfalls and pristine tropical rain forest. The island is uninhabited and most areas on the island are so remote that scientists are still discovering new species of insects and reptiles.
The rainforest habitat supports large numbers of bird species including the majestic Osprey that can be viewed soaring above the water waiting for an opportunity to pluck a meal from the many baitfish schools.
On the western side of the Channel the mountain range form part of the Lumholtz National Park, named after Carl Lumholtz, a Norwegian naturalist who visited the are in 1882 to study Australia’s Aboriginal tribes. This led to his discovery of the tree-climbing kangaroo that carries Lumholtz’s name and still exists in the surrounding rainforest.
Like to Treck? This could be for you.
Freshwater streams around Hinchinbrook are simply spectacular with beautiful Australian rainforest lined creeks and are the home of Sooty Grunter, Jungle Perch, Barramundi, Tarpon & Mangrove Jack which can be quite often sight casted to in the crystal-clear waters.
Lure casting these beautiful freshwater streams and rivers can offer some fantastic fishing charter trips and unique scenery, different to that of the Great Barrier Reef.
Using surface lures, crank baits, spinnerbaits, plastics result in some fantastic strikes.
Unfortunately, our charters no longer operate out of Townsville Harbour. We now organise charters and fishing trips from Lucinda instead, meaning you get more reeling time on Hinchinbrook Island and in the Great Barrier Reef. If you would like to find out more, contact us now about our fishing trips and prices!