Fishing gifts in Townsville

Townsville is a fishing town. The Ross River, the creeks and estuaries, the beaches, Magnetic Island and the reef all have their own fish and their own gear. The first step with a fishing gift is to find out where the person fishes.

How they fish

Ask, or ask someone who fishes with them. Estuary and creek fishing for barra, jacks and bream uses lighter rods and smaller lures. Reef and offshore fishing uses heavier gear and bigger reels. Beach and jetty fishing sits in between. If the person has a boat or a kayak, that changes things again.

Tell the tackle shop what you've found out. They'll point you to gear that suits, and they'll know what's working locally at the time. If you can, take a photo of the person's current rod and reel to show them.

Gifts that suit most anglers

• Lures in a size and style they use
• Leader line in a common weight
• A fillet knife with a good sheath
• Polarised sunglasses, for spotting fish and protecting their eyes
• A long-sleeve fishing shirt and a wide-brim hat
• A tackle box or bag to keep it all together

A rod and reel combo is a good gift if you know what kind of fishing it's for. A quality esky, a cast net, a fish finder for the boat or a new kayak are larger buys. For a fish finder, ask the store whether it suits the size of the boat and who can install it.

Seasons and rules

The barramundi closed season on the Queensland east coast runs over the summer months, from early November to early February. A barra lure is still a good Christmas gift, but it'll get used later in the year. Check the current Fisheries Queensland rules for size and bag limits before planning a trip.

Summer is still a busy time on the water for other species, and the calm days between storms are popular for heading out to the reef. A new esky or a set of rod holders gets used over the Christmas break.

Vouchers and charters

If you can't pick the gear, a voucher from a local tackle shop lets them choose. Ask how long it lasts and whether it can be used on sale items. A charter trip is a gift for someone who doesn't own a boat, or who'd like to try the reef. Our experience gifts page has more on what to ask the operator.