Clean Up Australia Day 2023

Bulwer, Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) Friday 3rd – Sunday 5th March

2023 Clean Up Australia Day volunteers at Bulwer Wrecks

Site No: 11310 – Bulwer, Moreton Island

For this 33rd Clean Up Australia Day, our event was held over 3 days from March 3-5. It covered Bulwer Township and bay side beaches and creeks from Comboyuro Point to the Cowan Bypass. Once again it was supported by Griffith University Environmental Science student volunteers. Almost 1 tonne of rubbish was collected.

Significant concentrations of broken bottles and glass pieces in bushland added to the weight of collected rubbish. Broken up polystyrene; rubbish from the 2022 floods; discarded fishing line; micro plastic; light sticks used by commercial fishing; ribbons with balloon remnants; and resident’s old and broken tables abandoned on the dunes were noticeable in this year’s clean up.

Volunteers: 21
Rubbish bags collected: 49 Total
Recycling bags: 14
Sharps: 3
Hazardous/Large items: Moreton Island is still dealing with 2022 flood debris – much of which has washed into beachside creeks. This includes endless polystyrene; plastic sheeting (skirts from pontoons); metal and rubber strips from pontoons; pieces of marine ply and fibreglass; building timber; survey pegs; plastic nursery pots; broken plastic rubbish bins; 2 plastic drums; and continuing large numbers of plastic spring water and soft drink bottle tops. Also found was a trailer axle, jet ski pieces and a high end upholstered boat seat. Unusual items: Discarded twin tub washing machine and used fireworks.
Total weight: 949kg

Rubbish was disposed into Brisbane City Council bins at the Bulwer Waste Transfer Station, timber into green waste at Bulwer Waste Transfer Station, and cans and bottles into Moreton Island Rural Fire Station collection trailers. It would be helpful if Brisbane City Council actions extra bin service at Bulwer Waste Transfer Station for Clean Up Australia Day in the future.

Thanks should go to Karen Kerr, Dick Craig and the Bulwer Progress and Social Association for the cost of student accommodation; the Micat for discounted volunteer fares; Dr. Peter Davey for his ongoing and invaluable assistance to the island; and all the volunteers who continue to turn up to help make a difference.

Greg Curtis
Ph: 0427 754 192
gcur3703@bigpond.net.au

Griffith Students Volunteering at Bulwer

In August and September 2022, the Bulwer environmental volunteering program headed to Moreton. They’ve written a blog describing the 8 days of activities, over 2 trips, to conduct environmental community projects. The projects were undertaken by Industry Students at Griffith Sciences Partnership Office, with Peter Davey and Greg Curtis as supervisors. Click below to read the blog article!

2019 ARB Moreton Island Fishing Classic Winners

Day 1

Some fantastic fish weighed in for Day 1 of the ARB Moreton Island Fishing Classic! 

And the lucky mystery weight winner was Jarrod Grobe with a 0.890 flathead !!

Adult Winners Day 1
Whiting – Chris Wallace  0.420
 
Flathead – Ashley Cowling  2.820
 
Bream – Chris Wallace 0.860
 
Tailor  – Peter Watts 2.820
 
Dart – Ronnie Grobe 0.560
 
Mulloway – Jason Malachevski 7.79
 
Junior Winners Day 1
Whiting – Miles Wallace 0.250
 
Bream – Hunter Longhurst 0.490
 
Tailor – Ashton Smith 1.120
 
Dart – Miles Wallace 0.380


Day 2

Winners for Day 2 of the ARB Moreton Island Fishing Classic! 

Mystery Fish was whiting and the winner was Eddie McCormack with a 0.180kg fish!

Adult Winners Day 2
Whiting – Martin Cowling 0.530
 
Flathead – Dean Middleton 1.97
 
Bream – Nick Edwards 0.550
 
Tailor  – Rodney Keevers 2.140
 
Dart – Nick Edwards 0.640
 
Mulloway – Jamie Laurie 8.530
 
Junior Winners Day 2
Whiting – Miles Wallace 0.360
 
Flathead – Hunter Longhurst 1.040
 
Bream – Miles Wallace 0.550
 
Tailor – Thomas Borger 1.190
 
Dart – Thomas Borger .430

2019 ARB Moreton Island Fishing Classic – Day 1

Well, the 2019 Moreton island ARB Fishing Classic started with a bang! 

From the stunning weather to the prawn peeling competition and amazing prizes, a fun time was had by all. 

Campr have also provided a great video of day 1 which you can view below.

Happy fishing – see you on the island! 

Moreton Island Remote Cleanup with Sea Shepherd Australia

Sea Shepherd Australia volunteers conducted a remote cleanup and microplastic survey on Queensland’s Moreton Island between July 16 – 22 to find out just how contaminated with plastic this remote coastal area is. 

The aims of the cleanup and microplastic survey were: 

  • To showcase to the QLD Government, industry and the public the impact that plastic pollution is having on our oceans and marine life.
  • To clean up as much of the marine debris as resources allow to create a safe and clean environment for wildlife.
  • To conduct science-based surveys to estimate the loading of plastic on Moreton Island beaches.

According to the Queensland Government, Moreton Island is one of the least polluted and least disturbed coastal environments along the Queensland – New South Wales coast, yet there continues to be an increasing number of marine wildlife found entangled in marine debris.

In 2018, two green turtles drowned after becoming entangled in rubbish at Moreton Bay, the stretch of ocean between Brisbane and Moreton Island. Green sea turtles are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as endangered, with a decreasing population due to fishing gear entanglement and loss of habitat. 

Local resort Tangalooma has also reported an increasing number of dolphins found on the island with discarded fishing debris entangled in their jaws around the Moreton Island coast. 

Campaign Leader Rebecca Griffiths said, “In addition to turtles and dolphins, this area is also home to a large population of dugongs, many seabird species, and humpback whales migrate past here in the winter months.”

“We will remove as much deadly marine debris as possible to save the precious wildlife of Moreton Island.”

Marine debris is a globally recognised environmental issue as marine wildlife are increasingly affected by human-made refuse, much of which is plastic. This year, there has been an alarming trend of whales washed ashore with stomachs full of plastic. 

“Sea Shepherd is known to be on the front line of conservation and this remote marine debris campaign at Moreton Island is no different,” said Marine Debris Campaign Coordinator Marina Hansen.  

“Our oceans are being inundated with plastic and the impacts on our precious marine life are increasing at an alarming rate, we need to tackle the scourge head-on before it’s too late.” 

Sea Shepherd Australia’s remote cleanup at Moreton Island has been generously funded by a 2019 Team Grant from Santos Organics.

For more info about our Marine Debris campaign click here

We are awaiting more information about 2019’s cleanup and will update you as we have more statistics.

Friends of the Sea Shepherd help clean up Moreton Island.

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY VOLUNTEER WEEKEND 2019

In response to escalating weed infestations across Moreton island, an enthusiastic team of Griffith University student volunteers from Master of Environment and Master of Urban and Environmental Planning, camped out at Comboyuro Point on the slightly wet weekend of 30th-1st April, 2019. This was the fifth return to Bulwer since initiation of the weed management program in 2017. Students participated in a range of volunteer activities as a contribution towards their professional development portfolio.

Prickly Pear Removal

As part of the field work we completed on Moreton Island, we completed a number of hours of volunteering involving removal of prickly pear from around the Tangalooma airstrip. This was a brilliant opportunity to help with controlling a significant noxious weed in Queensland, and ensuring it does not damage the fragile ecosystems on Moreton Island. What was probably the most valuable element of the experience, however, was being able to work alongside our classmates and teaching staff, and get to know them better through the process. This was particularly valuable considering most of our classmates are international students and so being able to spend time over on Moreton together. It was also fantastic to be able to participate in the field work because practical, hands-on learning is certainly extremely important in terms of solidifying the theory covered in our lectures. And being able to do so while experiencing and ensuring that Moreton Island remains a beautiful and healthy part of South East Queensland only adds value to this.

Asparagus Fern Removal & Revegetation

Thanks to continuing weed management efforts, re-establishment of the highly invasive Asparagus fern has been successfully prevented within the vacant state land, near Castaways in Bulwer, allowing our team to easily dig out juvenile specimens and begin revegetation. The team worked tirelessly to plant over 150 specimens of native flora which were kindly provided by the North Point nursery. This was a great opportunity for international students to get exposure to some important native species that contribute to the complex and fragile ecology of Moreton Island National Park. Students found this activity enjoyable and rewarding, having the opportunity to participate in the first stages of revegetation and help promote the natural aesthetic of the township.

Litter Pick-up

Between weeding and revegetation, a leisurely beach litter pick-up activity from the campground to Bulwer helped students unwind and relax. The team collected various netting, plastic bottles and discarded camping equipment amongst the dunes, to be used as data collection towards an honours research project.

Special thanks to Dr Peter Davey for providing free accommodation at Comboyuro Point campground and discounted student ferry fares care of Moreton Island Adventures.

Written by: Lewis Arnold and Kim Savage

Trip Report: Magical Moreton Island Holiday

Magical Moreton Island holiday

Author: Lachie Baker

Publisher: Bush N Beach

FIRST, can someone please tell me how time is going so fast? Christmas holidays are over and it’s back to work and school for everyone, with 2019 in full swing. Bad weather over the majority of the holiday period meant my offshore fishing was limited to one trip where smokings and bite-offs plagued us all day. In the end we managed to put a couple of nice squire in the box but really it was quite tough. Moreton Bay, however, has been fishing well for grass sweetlip, squire and cod. Offerings such as squid and pillies as well as small micro jigs have worked well. Mackerel haven’t really turned up in force yet, but after witnessing first-hand the amount of bait in the northern area of the bay, my guess is they aren’t too far away. In a lot of my articles I talk about how fortunate we are to have access to great fishing right on our Brisbane doorstep, but I have also discovered the amazing camping and offroad options that present themselves too. I recently spent a week camping on Moreton Island with close family friends, and this place proved exceptional for all three of the above options. The trip began by packing our Ford Ranger to the absolute rafters. There was literally no room for an extra chip packet. We had swags, gazebos,

tents, mattresses, tables, barbecues, eskies and fishing gear. Usually, whenever my family goes on a trip the majority of stuff is packed in the boat, but as it was my first time properly driving on the beach, the Bulldog stayed in the shed at home. It was a tight squeeze but we just managed to get everything in. The following morning was a Wednesday and we were booked on the 6am barge, so we got up at 3.30am, placed the last of the cold food in the Esky and set off around 4am. We arrived at the Port of Brisbane service station, met with our convoy and headed to the barge. We boarded Micat just after 5am and headed upstairs after letting our tyres down to about 18psi. We crossed a glassy calm Moreton Bay and arrived at the Tangalooma landing right on schedule.

Apart from excitement, there isn’t a word to describe the feeling you get as the ramp drops to reveal giant sand dunes and crystal-clear water.

Apart from excitement, there isn’t a word to describe the feeling you get as the ramp drops to reveal giant sand dunes and crystal-clear water. We left about five minutes after our convoy due to the positioning of the cars on the barge, but everyone driving off was being stopped by police for a quick breathalyser test and beach driving permit check. We didn’t get far before we ran into our mate Jason and his family, as they were bogged deep from the weight of the caravan on the back of his LandCruiser ute. Once we had the recovery sorted, we found the perfect spot to camp. We set up right at Cowan Point beside my good mate Tony Dummer, who had already spent two weeks on the island. After camp was set up, we ripped the Sea Jay 3.5 Nomad tinnie off the roof of the truck, rigged our rods and launched off the beach straight out the front of camp. We headed for the closest shipping channel beacons to see if we could spin up a few mackerel.

We found heaps of bait and good fish showing on the sounder, so I was quietly confident we might catch one or two. It didn’t take long for my mate Liam to hook up to what looked like a solid fish. After about 10 seconds of fighting, he pulled the hook and had an epic dummy spit, much to my amusement. We kept fishing and mucking around but the n a breeze came in and the conditions worsened, so we ran back in to the beach empty handed. I didn’t want to get caught out in bad weather in an 11’ boat. We took it pretty easy the following day, chilling around camp for most of the day and going for a quick run up to the Bulwer shops to pick up a few things.

It was good for me to have my first crack at driving a few tracks, as this year my old man couldn’t make it over due to work commitments, so I was designated driver for my mum and sister. I found the tracks a lot easier than expected, so had a lot of fun following the other boys all over the island. Once we got back to camp, we got dinner going. Soon we decided to soak a bait out the front of camp to see if we could tempt one of the resident shovel nose rays for a bit of fun on light gear. Sure enough, young Liam hooked up and began the fight in front of a large audience of about eight families from our group.

A few videos were taken and some of the drunken commentary that was recorded was hilarious. We eventually dragged the ray up the beach, shook the hook out, took a quick photo and sent it on its way. All the kids at the campsite soon returned with their own fishing rods in the hope of catching the huge ‘great white’ they had just seen. We didn’t hang around for much longer because it was getting quite late, so made plans to take the tinnie out in the morning. These plans were cancelled once we awoke to rain and wind the next morning, but the showers cleared quick enough for us to take a trip up to the Champagne Pools and North Point with the rest of our extended group. The track in was rough and soft but a lot of fun until I began to hear an awful noise coming from the front driver’s side wheel. Once we got to the beach we jacked the car up and rattle gunned the wheel off because I was worried I might have damaged something but it turned out it was just a small rock jammed between the disk and backing plate – easy fix. Problem solved, we went for a flick off the rocks. The incredible scenery at this end of the island never ceases to amaze me. It almost makes the bad feeling of catching no fish go away. We hung around for a bit longer, and once everyone felt like lunch we all made our way back to camp. After lunch, we set the tinnie up, threw the rods in and took off once again. Instead of going out to the beacons, I decided to try something else. We hugged the beach and ran up to Curtin Artificial Reef. I had never fished there before, so began sounding around for something to drop on. It didn’t take long to find a massive bait ball with big fish hanging around it. I dropped a 30g micro jig and hooked up almost instantly. I was running 20lb braid on a 4000-size reel and struggled to budge this fish off the bottom. Straight away I called it for either a jewfish or big snapper because I could feel what I thought were big headshakes and powerful runs behind a fair bit of weight.

But once I had it off the bottom and it kept fighting hard, I quietly thought it felt like a big golden trevally. Sure enough, a bright yellow tail and golden fins appeared about 5m under the boat, and it wasn’t alone. Another golden of 80-90cm had followed it up from the bottom, but we didn’t try to get a double, simply focusing on landing the one we had already hooked. This proved to be quite a challenge without a net because the fish was still green and wanted no part of coming into the boat. Eventually, Liam got a hold of its tail and swung it into the boat and we were bloody stoked! The brag mat showed it to be 70cm on the dot, and after a few quick pics the fish was back in the drink kicking off. We went around for another drift and I hooked up again, this time to a chunky goldspotted cod of 45cm, which was very lucky it didn’t come back to camp for the hot coals that night. We were almost at the end of our drift when Liam said he was snagged, except it turned out he wasn’t snagged and was instead connected to a monster. It felt the hooks and smoked off along the bottom, nearly spooling Liam on its first run. I started the outboard and chased it down until it started coming up the water column and a massive cobia surfaced about 100m away. It was so big I thought it may have been a shark until I saw its white underbelly and distinctive tail. We both got a good look at it before it smoked off again, straight down to the bottom and into the reef. Ping went the line and “f***!” went Liam and I. By this stage it was getting late in the afternoon, so we decided it was time for a feed and home we went. I had a classic stacker out of the boat when retrieving it up the beach, which sent everyone into hysterics – I’ll even admit it was good laughing at my own expense. We were treated to another cracking sunset over the bay and we all agreed the day had been awesome. We finished off the night keeping well hydrated while listening to classic tunes from decades gone by.

There may or may not have been some boot scootin’ and yee-hawin’ to a bit of Lee Kernaghan, but I don’t think we should discuss that in this article. The following few days were a blur of four-wheel driving, fishing, beer drinking and fun in the sun. My old man brought over his bigger Sea Jay on a day off work and spent the day in camp. I took the opportunity to take a young fella from camp out to try to catch him his first fish, and we succeeded in the form of a 30cm coral cod, which he was stoked about. There’s something about helping someone catch their first fish that makes me feel a sense of achievement, knowing it could be the start of an obsession similar to mine. We mucked around for a bit longer, and apart from seeing a kingy bash some bait up but not eat a plastic there wasn’t much action. We headed back to camp, where all the kids were keen on going for a ride in the big Sea Jay. After burning around for a bit, it was time to say goodbye to my old man and my younger sister who was a bit over the whole camping situation. It was hard going back to the tinnie after fishing out of the big boat with a Minn Kota iPilot and side-imaging sounder but we had to make do with what we had. A few more fishing trips accounted for a couple of squire and another coral cod, but all things considered it was very quiet.

One of the other boys at our camp hooked another big shovelnose off the beach but couldn’t manage to get it up the bank. We did another day trip, this time heading down to Kooringal and back around the Sandhills. We visited the iconic Gutter Bar and had a good feed of seafood and chips, then climbed the Sandhills before spending the arvo at Tangalooma. Unfortunately it was our last afternoon on the island because we had to go back to work and reality the following day. The next morning dawned and I was filled with sadness. How on earth can a week pass so quickly? I began pulling down my swag as well as the gazebo and all the tables. I had no idea that packup was such a depressing time. We went for one last drive up to the Bulwer shop before coming back, saying goodbye to everyone and parking at Tangalooma to wait for the 3.30pm barge. Just like that, our trip had come to an end. I have travelled to locations such as Hinchinbrook Island, Rockhampton and Turkey Beach in the pursuit of fish and the enjoyment they bring to me, but it was so relaxing just visiting a location right on our doorstep. I am already counting down the days until I go back. Hopefully the coming months see the return of our Moreton Bay pelagics, as I’m itching to get into a bit of surface action on speedsters such as longtail tuna and spotted mackerel.

Until next time, tight lines and sore arms.

Asparagus Fern Moreton Island

Asparagus Fern Moreton Island

Because Moreton is an island 40km off the coast of Brisbane, it is somewhat protected from invading species of plants and animals – but of course not immune! Invading pest species of weeds and the potential threat of cane toads (read more about how we tackle those here) are a serious problem and the island relies heavily on volunteer programs to control the influx. Special thanks to Greg Curtis for the article below which describes their recent attempt at removing one of the threats.

In response to escalating problems of weed infestation in the Moreton Island townships, and concerns by NPWS of encroachment into the National Park, the first Bulwer Weeding Weekend was held on December 2-4, 2016. Organized by the Moreton Island Protection Committee, with student volunteers from Griffith University Environmental Science and University of Queensland Doctors for the Environment, enthusiastic workers took to the northern block of Bulwer – north of the Glamping, about Castaways and the vacant state land on Marsh Street to Moreton Street.

Asparagus fern on moreton island
Photo courtesy of Griffith University

The Target

Asparagus Fern on Moreton Island is a serious threat to native bush land and rapidly becomes the dominant vegetation. Displacing native habitat and wildlife, seeds from it’s berries are spread by fruit eating birds. It is a Restrictive Invasive Plant under The Biosecurity Act 2014, which requires all persons to take steps to control the plant and not release it into the environment (GBO – General Biosecurity Obligation).The main target weed was Asparagus Fern (Asparagus Aethiopicus), originally brought into Australia from South Africa by the nursery industry as a garden plant. Infestations have become so severe in sandy soils in many parts of Australia, particularly at Noosa-Sunshine-Sunrise Beach, the Point Lookout headlands, and Burleigh Heads National Park, that it has become difficult to control.

moreton island asparagus fern
Photo courtesy of Griffith University

What it looks like

Asparagus Fern has low sprawling green, prickly arching above ground running stems to 2 meters plus. They flower into green to red berries 5-8mm across, and have an extensive underground weed mat with grape-like tubers. Able to withstand long periods of dry weather, Asparagus Fern grows rapidly in leaf litter.

Moreton Island Asparagus Fern
Photo courtesy of Griffith University

 

How we manage it

The best method of control is to snip off flowering and fruiting runners to stop seeds spreading, dig out the underground grapes and weed mat totally to prevent regrowth – and burn. Be careful with disposal as any part of the weed mat or berries can regrow.Council treatment in our target area by poison or herbicide appeared unsuccessful. Treated runners had died, but the underground weed mat was still flourishing with new runners growing. All weeds were dug out by hand. In total 81 bags of Asparagus Fern, 1 bag of Prickly Pear, and 1 bag of Nightshsde, Cobbler’s Peg and Lantana were filled and taken to the Green Waste Section of Bulwer Waste Transfer Station to be burnt.

Moreton Island Asparagus Fern
Photo courtesy of Griffith University

How you can help

The next Bulwer Weeding Weekend is scheduled for March 18/19. Any residents, members of the public or students who would like to assist are welcome. Phone Greg Curtis on 0427 754 192.

Special thanks to

Thanks should go to Dr. Peter Davey of Griffith University; NPWS for offering free volunteer camping at Comboyuro Point Campground; Tangalooma Resort for free student ferry travel under their Environmental Fund; Moreton Island Adventures for reduced student volunteer fares; and Virginia-Nundah Fishing Club for special price student accommodation.

moreton island asparagus fern
Photo courtesy of Griffith University

 

Why you should enter a fishing comp when you don’t like fishing

Why would I enter a fishing comp when I hate fishing you say?

Well, I’m about to give you the 7 best reasons to pack your bags and get yourself off to your nearest, daggiest fishing comp and go mingle with the locals (and sometimes the yokels depending on the area!). There are plenty of fishing comps near Brisbane to read on to find out more…

  1. You don’t have to catch a fish to win big

    beach fishing competition near brisbane

So this is a secret I didn’t know until I started organising the ARB Moreton Island Fishing Classic, but you don’t have to catch a big fish, or a fish at all in fact to take home the major prizes at a fishing comp, often worth in excess of ten thousand dollars!  For an entry fee that might range from $10 to $100 and usually not a lot of entrants, that’s better odds than last month’s scratchy spend.

  1. You might pick up a husband (or wife…)

fishing competitions near brisbane

No seriously ladies, lots of eligible bachelors who aren’t the type to head to the pub on the weekend, congregate here with their mates…ok so they’re not all a good catch (pardon the pun) but there is something to be said for that rugged outdoor bloke who can feed the family with his bare hands.  And blokes, you’d be surprised at the amount of fish friendly ladies out there who have worked out that the prizes are not just for the men – expect some serious competition!

  1. Massive prizes up for grabs – and anyone can win

    fishing competition near brisbane

So a fishing comp generally runs in this fashion.  You catch a big fish, you win a little prize.  You catch a bigger fish, you win a bigger prize.  You catch the biggest fish, you win money – hooray.  You don’t catch any fish, but are still entered into the daily and major random prize draw and you stand the chance of winning some of the $50 – $100,000 worth of prizes given away over the duration – and the prizes are not necessarily fishing related.  I’m talking 4WD gear, boats, kayaks, cars & holidays!

  1. Get rid of the missus

    fishing competition near brisbane

Want to hang out with your mates and have a boy’s trip, but that pesky wife (god love’er) is up for any holiday and always tags along?  I can guarantee if you spin it right, a fishing trip with the boys is NOT one of the holidays she will want to attend. Perhaps just don’t let her read reason number 2 or find out that actually the ladies often do better than the blokes (yup I said it.)

  1. Travel on the cheap

    fishing competition near brisbane

So another secret no one wants you to know, is that often companies are putting out specials for the event (we do!).  Whether they be accommodation specials or ferry specials depending on the location, you can jump on board just by entering in the fishing competition.  It’s a win win situation, you get the chance to win thousands of dollars in prizes, head to an awesome beach side location, and get some great savings on your travel.  Why not?

  1. Your kids will survive the zombie apocalypse

kids fishing competition

Ok, that’s a bit dramatic perhaps but, you do want them to be able to feed themselves if they need to right?  There’s something completely organic about hunting and gathering your own food.  Fishing with the kids is a great way to get them outside, and teach them a thing or two about feeding themselves.  The best part is, if you reel in a monster, you’ve got witnesses to attest to your awesome fishing skills!

  1. You’ll get brownie points with the boys

fishing competition

Nobody likes a soft cucumber right?  Well, organise the fishing trip, grab the beers and you’ll get untold brownie points with the boys.  A great way to get away with the mates, away from those poncy cafes & halfwit soccer dads and, at the very least you’ll avoid having to follow your wife around the shops this weekend holding all her purchases and sitting on those “I’d rather be dead” seats out the front.

If you’re keen to wet a line (or open a beer, no pressure) why not check out the best 3 fishing comps near Brisbane:

ARB Moreton Island Fishing Competition

Location: Moreton Island, 35km from Brisbane

Dates: 23 – 27 August 2017

Prizes: Over $65, 000 of cash & prizes including 4WD gear, fishing gear, camping gear, BCF vouchers cash & more.

Cost to enter: $85.00 for adults, $45.00 for kids, special discounts given on ferry fares for competitors.

Why it’s a winner: One of the only island fishing comps left. Super chilled out comp located on idyllic Moreton Island. Family friendly with great kid’s & adult prizes. Small number of entrants so a greater chance of taking home a cash (or other) prize.

Check out some photos here

Rainbow Beach Fishing Competition

Location: Rainbow Beach, east of Gympie

Dates: 21st – 29th July 2017

Prizes: $100, 000 worth of prizes (less random prizes)

Cost to enter: Adults $140, Cadets $80, Junior $35

Why it’s a winner:  Great if you live on the North Coast and want a longer competition to go to.  Boat fishing is included, as is a separate cadet’s competition.

Hervey Bay Family Fishing Competition

Location: Urangan, Hervey Bay

Dates: 2017 dates to be announced

Prizes: $10 000 cash prizes, $8000 boating package & more

Cost to enter: Adults $40, Juniors $10

Why it’s a winner: small family fishing club run competition.  Great for starters and kids to get out there and have a try.

If you would like to be kept in the fishing comp loop and receive updates about the ARB Moreton Island Fishing Classic, you can sign up to the VIP list HERE

fishing competition near brisbane

Eight Queensland hotspots to visit

Photo Credit: BMAG
Photo Credit: BMAG

Fed up with the “no vacancy” signs that popped up around Queensland this summer? Then you need to read this list from BMAG!

Source: Eight Queensland hotspots to visit in 2017 – bmag

There’s more to Moreton

There’s so much more to Moreton Island than feeding dolphins and exploring wrecks. Take a Bear Grylls-style adventure to this untouched paradise, where 48 hours of beachfront accommodation is cheaper than your weekly caffeine addiction.

A short 75-minute ferry ride from Brisbane’s doorstep, here you can unpack your campsite a stone’s throw from the white silica sand and crystal clear blue water, and don’t forget to BYO footy, snorkel kit, fishing rod and cricket set.

Set aside some time to witness an unforgettable sunset from the sand dunes. The journey up is tough – but still less heart pumping than the seven second sand surf back down.

If epic 4WD quests are your kind of thing, take the path less travelled and follow 420km of unsealed island tracks, revealing secluded shorelines skirted by rock walls.

 

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