Karratha - Port Hedland

[Tony Ong]

Toying with the idea of heading up to either Karratha or Port Hedland the week before Boneheads (late March, early April).
Which would you prefer to base out of? Timing would be around the springs, as boneheads is based around the neaps. Will this create dramas with boat launch and retreive. Is water too dirty for sight fishing with the bigger tides? Suggestions for where to look for accommodation?
Any other considerations?

[peter birch]

Answer is Ross to much of those.

[Rudi]

Tony I think accommodation is still hard to find and very expensive in Port Hedland. Before the down turn it was nearly impossible. Boat launching in town which give you access to the channel markers and some reef where the fishing can be awesome. There is also a boat launch at Finucane Island which will give you access to creek fishing. I presume launching and getting out on a low tide will be difficult.

[sami]

Hi Tony,

I've been to Karratha/Dampier three or four times fishing the King Bay game fishing club's Dampier Clasic game fishing comp. This is held every year on the first weekend in August. Having been a member of the King Bay game fishing club we used the clubs own shack on Malus Island to stay at. Very peaceful out there and you are not likely to bump into anyone unless it's holiday time or a weekend.

Big area to check out but the good thing is that you will always find a lee shore on the Dampier side and with all the islands out there lots of places to explore.
You can go mangrove creek fishing ( not big systems on Dampier side ), many mangrove lined shores with clean white sand up to them, reefs, flats that nearly empty out and deep bombies.

I didn't do much shallow water fishing or fly fishing as when you're trolling in a game boat there is no room. The time I did get to from shore I caught big trevally, queenies and all sorts of bottom and reef fish. First time up there fishing from rocks a mate and I had five different coloured morey eels swimming around us looking for the fish we were throwing back. Still a place that has lots to offer just needs some time and dedication to exploring.

You could take some food and drink for an over nighter or two and camp on a beach. I've seen kayakers and other fishos do this. Saves travelling back to town every night. Thats one thing you'll have to keep an eye on. Travelling around the islands you don't really realise how far you have gone as you are always close to land but in reality you've travelled a long way.

Lots of bird activity and bait schools around and a lot of these are close to the islands. One school we came across had longtail tuna, spanish and board barred mackeral.

The springs can be 5 to 6m and lots of the bays will empty out completely and the main town ramp can be tricky on the lowest tides as you can't see the bottom ( abit muddy and late in the day didn't help) and the rockwall next to it is nearly completely exposed and you just know there has to be a few rocks in there. Other wise the boat ramp there is great and handles all tides well.

I'd have to get a map of the area to give any specifics or answer any questions as it's been a few years.

Haven't fished the Karratha side but shallower water so less fishing time on the springs.

Sami

[sami]

Hi again Tony,

I just reread your question and regarding the water clarity. Out at the Islands I have always found the water is clear no matter what the tide is doing. This is probably due to there not being any mud on the bottom like creeks have.
The boat ramp area can be discoloured but this area has a muddy silty bottom.

Some of the Islands were going to become sanctury areas so you may need to check on those.

Sami.

[Simon P]

Hit up Mark Davis or Paul Cunningham for advice, Ongy.

[Tony Ong]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Just exploring options at this stage. Will have to try and make it up there one year. Good to hear from you Simon. Hope you're keeping well.

[Simon P]

Cheers, Ongy! All good. First time I've been on here in a long while.

[eric franco]

Tony I fished these areas around the same time 4-5 years ago and ended up heading out to whim creek for majorty of the time. Camping out is the way to go. We could have been lucky but we had no problems leaving our gear around the camp. Fishing wise one of my mates picked up a nice barra from one of the creeks facing Depuch Is. Plenty of bludger trevs, a couple of long tails and mackies were caught around the island also.
The boat ramp has also been upgraded to concrete which makes retrieving the boat easier.
cheers
eric

[Tony Ong]

Thanks for all the feedback. Having sat down and considered logistics etc, it's going to be too hard to get there before boneheads this year. Will have to have a real serious look one of these days.