Bream, Flathead and Whiting highly accessible for kayak fishermen

Bucket-mouth bird

Famous for it's resident population of dolphins (including the rare Indo-pacific humpback variety) Tin Can Bay isn't backward in coming forward about it's affinity to anything remotely fishy. Just take a look at the following street names, which a keen eye will note while driving into town: Anchovy st, Barramundi st, Bass st, Bonito Cr, Bream st, Cod st, Coral trout dr, Dart st, Dolphin av, Dory st, Drummer st, Dugong st, Emperor st, Gaff ln, Gar st, Groper st, Herring st, Jew st, King st, Kingfisher ct, Luderick ln, Mackeral st, Marlin way, Oyster pd, Perch st, Sailfish st, Salmon st, Saratoga ct, Snapper creek rd, Sole st, Squire st, Sweetlip circle, Tailor st, Threadfin st, Trevally st, Tuna way and Whiting st... welcome to the end of this sentence.

Does anyone else think this town was built by keen fishermen? By the time you've driven in from the start to end you'll be so keen to wet a line you be thinking of anything else. Kayak fishermen will observe the water with enthusiasm due to the highly accessable nature of the water. There are literally hundreds of spots where one could launch a kayak, although perhaps the most accomodating is the boat ramp close by to the coast guard at Snapper Creek (right where the dolphins come to feed). Being a concrete ramp, this allows for a sand-less entry and exit from the water. It's also nice and close to a nearby commercial fishing company jetty, which the Bream seem to be rather fond of.

I happened to come into Tin Can Bay right in the middle of flooding rains, which came in two parts - both of which lasted for days on end. As has been the case with the entire south coast of Queensland, this has resulted in a lot of muck being washed into the bay with gushing fresh H2O and thus muddying the water. Tin Can Bay is severely effected by this, however, due to the nature of it's geographical make up. Although the dirty water is washed out somewhat by outgoing tides, incoming tides tends to bring a lot of straight back in. Ergo, it takes longer for Tin Can Bay to clear up whenever floods occur.

Kayak Fishing Tin Can Bay

According to locals, the bread and butter species of the innder Tin Can Bay area are Bream, Flathead and Whiting, although a large variety of species can be caught further out in the ocean. I have heard reports of Mangrove Jack being caught around the jetties around the coast guard at Snapper creek and no doubt other species would make apearances as well. A word of caution needs to be mentioned here, as there is a Military firing range  on the opposite side of the creek and you are well advised to not get too close to it.

Aus Military Wide Bay Training Area - stay clear

More adveturous kayak fishermen can head out through the Wide Bay Bar in search of species such as Cobia, Snapper, Sweetlip, Sharks, Red Emperor, and several species of Perch and Cod off the various reefs. Another alternative would be paddle outside the breakers of Rainbow beach in search of Dart, Tailor or Bream. Due to the weather I was unable to do this myself, although I'll certainly return another time to give it a try.

Summary

• Fishing reports, GPS Marks
  
• Recommendations