Continuing from last month, we go from Corio Bay up to Five Rocks and Nine Mile Beach. Corio is a fair sized estuary system that holds a great number of fish species ranging from barramundi to queenfish and everything in between. Mudcrabs attract people from as far away as the mining towns (4hr drive) to try these quality treats. Corio Bay is one of the most spectacular looking places anywhere and on those sunny clear days there is nowhere more spectacular. The views, the isolation and the fish keep bringing back anglers, and even if they don’t set any records they always have a great time. The close proximity to Yeppoon make it a favourite spot for fishers and 4WD day trippers.

Corio Bay branches into two main arms: Waterpark Creek and Fishing Creek. Fishing Creek starts at Salmon Rocks and though it is only a few kilometres long it has many ntural formations that encourage bream, barra, salmon and the like to stay in the system. Most fishers use the sand ramp (4WD only) at Sandy point for access to places like the Black Banks and Undiscovered. Sandy point at the mouth of Fishing Creek and Corio is an excellent place to drive to and the miles of virtually empty beaches give the public stacks of room to fish or swim. Whiting, flathead, salmon and shovelnose rays are the main catches much of the year. Waterpark Creek is the bigger offshoot that covers a sizeable chunk of area home to many fish. There are two main boat ramps that allow entry to the creek: Kelly’s Landing and Corbett’s Landing where timber and cattle used to be brought across from northern side of Waterpark.

Cast nets and other netting is prohibited upstream of The Kelly’s ramp. Heading up Waterpark there is top country for muddies, king salmon, flathead, and whiting with quality grunter and barramundi in the right season. As winter is upon us xos bream gather for spawning and the whole Corio area is worth a shot. Any of the deeper holes and rockbars can fire up – catches of fish 1 one kg upwards are common. This system has loads of yabby banks and little creeks with live bait on tap. Additionally, places like Solero and Greenslopes have muddy banks that prawns prefer to hide along making them an easy option for live bait or a fine feed. In glassy June days, tuna and doggies can come right into the Corio taking flashas cast from the rocky points or drifting in with the tide casting lures. This part of Corio on the northern side is a seriously special place with the possibilities almost endless.

On a trip there three years ago we land golden trevally, queenfish, mangrove jack, barramundi, doggies, bream and flathead in a morning session using lures only. The conditions can be perfect on cold flat mornings and it is the time to blood every lure in your box including those odd ball jobs that you think haven’t got a hope. Sandbanks, rocks and a reasonable tide variation can make the whole Corio system a precarious place at times. The go is if you don’t know, approach with caution. Check the area out on a rising tide for the first time so that you know you can leave when you want.