TOWNSVILLE NORTH QUEENSLAND
"Spanish Mackerel, Rainbow Trout, and Barramundi
Cod, Quite a variation"
I live in Townsville North Queensland and have done for the last 35 plus
years. I have found the people very friendly and easy to get along with.
Townsville is now getting a bit large for my liking. The population is near to
200,000 when one includes Thuringowa, in the western suburbs of Townsville. The
fishing is declining in numbers and this is confirmed by the various local
fishing club records of captures. Surprisingly the barramundi is on the increase
however all other species are suffering badly.
The destruction of the local seagrass by recreational and commercial
anglers is probably the cause. The run of doggie mackerel that used to be in the
thousands and lasted for months is now extremely patchy in numbers and lasts for
a very short time only. The breeding grounds in the sea grass is gone and
consequently so are the numbers. Commercial catches of 80 tonnes a day per boat
also didn't help the local fishery.
The islands to the north of Townsville still have good fishing though
somewhat limited in time frames compared to some years ago. The Queenfish is
considered the poor mans marlin and even its numbers have declined. Queenies
around the outer islands were prolific and it was common to have up to six
anglers hooked up at the same time catching and releasing these brilliant
pelagic jumpers. The occasional Spanish mackerel was also caught in these areas
however they were rarely put back in the water.
Fishing is superior in the Northern Territory, hence the occasional trip
into this abundant fish area. The outer reefs are also extremely good fishing
when one can get there.
- Fishing
- I have been an avid angler for many years fishing from Tasmania to the very tip
of Cape York. Most of my fishing has been on the Great Barrier Reef. This has resulted in
finally becoming a Master Grade five skipper and I still enjoy going to the reef as often
as I can. I fished with the late Malcolm Florence in many of his excellent fishing movie
productions centered on the very northern areas of the Great Barrier Reef. Most areas we
fished had rarely if ever been fished with sportfishing gear, and may I say it was a
bugger of a job but someone had to do it.
-
.
- "The brilliant Cruisecraft 'Outsider' I had to test for Nichols
Brothers for over a year"
-
- I have even tried fishing in the ponds in front of Parliament house. Not much
luck, I feel they must have all died from the extreme amount of hot air that issues from
the front door.
Fishing at Parliament house in Canberra
- 4WD tours
A love of fishing naturally leads to driving to remote spots for
what one considers the best spots. Getting away from it all is one of my highest
priorities. Even if it is just for a day into the bush areas around Townsville.
Camping out - 4W driving and camping are somewhat under the same roof as one is almost non
existent without the other. My fishing mates and I travel great distances over this great
country and we have sure found a some mind blowing camping spots. We now also use a great
full van from Compass, complete with toilet and shower and My wife and I use this to travel
in comfort to some of those more accessible sites.
-
- Skippering game boats
- Again the fishing has enabled me to attain my Master grade five licence and
nothing gave me more pleasure than assisting friends and visiting anglers to see our
awesome barrier reef. I never cease to wonder at the reef and every time I go it gets
better. My ticket has since lapsed after some 15 years due to insufficient sea time so this pleasure
has declined somewhat.
One wonders how one can lose a licence by this method
however that's the ruling, so be it.
"Eddie Riddle on the Cruisecraft"
- Computing
- Since retiring from 40 years in Telstra I have kept up my electronic knowledge
by working at home with my home computer. I find about two days a week is sufficient to
keep my mind active and give my wife a break from my never ending complaints and requests.
My knowledge of computers and the computer industry has increased and I still wonder at
the vast improvements that continue to come from the major manufacturers.
One day in the not too distant future computers will talk our language instead
of us having to talk theirs. - My own system has an INTEL Motherboard, INTEL P4 3.0 processor
with a few 100 gig hard drives and a gig of DDR ram. I have been producing a few DVD's
from my old home movies, very time consuming.
I have started a small company to assist those who have difficulty with
their computers and as a retiree I find many similar people wanting to get
on the computer bandwagon but are unable to pay for expensive
training.
http://www.ansa.com.au
The Premier fishing organisation in Australia
http://www.sunfish.org.au
The Recreational fishing organisation in Queensland
