Today's Best Fishing & Tide Times for
Mackay, Australia đź‡¦đź‡ş

Solunar
Tides
Weather
7-Day
Spots

How to use the Aussie fishing calendar

Planning your next fishing trip in Mackay, Australia ? Today is a good day for fishing. Our comprehensive fishing almanac combines our popular bite times and moon phases, moon times, sunrise and sunset times, nearby tide timetable, and a 7-day fishing calendar so you always know the best fishing times in your area. We analyse major and minor solunar bite times, rate each day on a five-star scale, and pair it with localized weather forecasts so you can quickly tell whether today is a good day to fish without juggling multiple tabs. Be sure to bookmark this page so you never miss a bite. view bite times...

  • Check our unique Solunar Clock for precise bite times and moon phases and the best moon phases.
  • Use the Tide Clock section to sync bite times with high and low tide timetable.
  • Analyze the forecasted weather conditions, such as wind, barometric pressure and rain to plan your fishing session.
  • Jump to the 7-Day Fishing Calendar for an extended fishing forecast, then explore nearby fishing spots on the interactive map.

Mackay, Queensland is a prime fishing destination on Australia’s central coast, offering serious anglers access to world-class barramundi, offshore reef species and prolific estuary systems. From the Pioneer River and Net Free Zone beaches to the nearby impoundments and coral reefs, Mackay fishing is all about timing the tides, reading the weather and matching techniques to the local habitats. read more...

Some of the best fishing spots near Mackay include: Mackay Harbour, Pioneer River, Shoal Point, Bucasia Beach, Eimeo Beach, Cape Hillsborough, Constant Creek, Lake Kinchant, etc. see full list

Tide Station:

Sun and Moon Times

The sun will be at it's highest point at . Today we have 10:53 hours of daylight. For shallow water fishing the twilight periods are often the most productive fishing times, especially on days when a major or minor time will coincide with twilight. In low light conditions predators have better cover for their ambush and often hunt in shallow water.
  • Nautical Twilight begins:
    Sunrise:
  • Sunset:
    Nautical Twilight ends:
  • Moonrise:
  • Moonset:
  • Moon over:
  • Moon under:
  • Visibility:
    13%
  • Waxing Crescent - 13% illuminated Waxing Crescent
Next Full Moon in ~12 days on 30th June
  • Distance to earth:
    369,519 km
    Proximity:
    84.9 %
We can compare the current moon distance to it's minimum and maximum distance from earth and express that as proximity. A high proximity means the moon is closer to earth. At 50% it would be at it's mean distance. A high proximity causes big tides, currents and has a direct effect on increased bite times. A proximity greater than 90% indicates a super moon.
Moon Phases for Mackay
New Moon
Mon, 15 Jun
Full Moon
Tue, 30 Jun
New Moon
Tue, 14 Jul
Full Moon
Thu, 30 Jul

Solunar Bite Times

Settings
Display Settings:
  • good Day
12 1 2 3 4 5 AM 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
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Best fishing times:
  • major Time:
    01:50 am - 03:50 am
  • minor Time:
    08:32 am - 10:32 am
  • major Time:
    02:12 pm - 04:12 pm
  • minor Time:
    07:53 pm - 09:53 pm
All times are displayed in the Australia/Brisbane timezone and are automatically adjusted to daylight savings. The current timezone offset is +10 hours. Green and yellow areas indicate the best fishing times (major and minor). Blue areas indicate high and low tides. The center shows the current moon phase which is a Waxing Crescent at 13% lumination. According to the Solunar Theory, today is a good day for fishing, but you need to cross check this with the current weather forecast for a final decision. The next best fishing time ( ) starts in -2 hour and -29 minute. The gray time indicator displays the current local time.
Australia/Brisbane • Thu, 18 Jun 12:42 • -21.153, 149.166

Tides Times for Fishing: Thu, 18 Jun

The Tideclock displays the tide status and the hours until the next tide. Currently the tide is rising and the next high tide is in 29 minutes.
Tide Graph
12:50 am 07:25 am 01:11 pm 07:08 pm AM PM 18.27 ft 3.05 ft height hour: 12 2 4 6 8 10 12 2 4 6 8 10 12
Times
Tide Time Height
high 12:50 am 18.27 ft
low 07:25 am 3.18 ft
high 01:11 pm 13.12 ft
low 07:08 pm 3.05 ft
Tide Coefficient at 12:50 am is 111
Tide Coefficient at 01:11 pm is 57
For fishing, stronger tides are often favourable as they cause stronger currents and more motion on the sea bed. The above tidal coefficients give us an indication of how strong the tides are compared to their average. A value over 90 indicates very strong tides, known as spring tides. A low value indicates weak tides, known as neap tides. The tidal coefficient can range from 20 to 120 with a mean value of 70. A higher number usually indicates better fishing.
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Current Fishing Weather

Updating Weather Infos...

7 Day Fishing Weather

The weather plays an important role in fishing. Wind strenght and direction often determine where you can fish and where fish might be holding. Although high pressure is usually good for fishing, steep pressure changes often trigger feeding frenzies and are great times for fishing. Of course temperature has also a strong effect on fishing and comfort on the water. So make sure to cross check the weather forecast with the solunar fishing times to determine the best times to go fishing. The graph below shows you the 3 hourly weather progression over the next 7 days. Scroll the graph left or right to see more.
Selected Weather Station: Mackay, AU
Temperature
Wave Height
Swell Height
Wind
Pressure
Humidity
Cloudcover
Rain Precipitation
UV Index
Retrieving Weather...

7 Day Fishing Forecast Calendar
Date Major Bite Times Minor Bite Times Sun Moon Moonphase Tide Times
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		Waxing Crescent moon phase
Waxing Crescent
high: , 18.96 ft , Coeff: 119
low: , 2.85 ft
high: , 13.65 ft , Coeff: 63
low: , 2.17 ft
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		Waxing Crescent moon phase
Waxing Crescent
high: , 18.27 ft , Coeff: 111
low: , 3.18 ft
high: , 13.12 ft , Coeff: 57
low: , 3.05 ft
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		Waxing Crescent moon phase
Waxing Crescent
high: , 17.32 ft , Coeff: 101
low: , 3.61 ft
high: , 12.7 ft , Coeff: 53
low: , 4.1 ft
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		First Quarter Moon moon phase
First Quarter Moon
high: , 16.24 ft , Coeff: 90
low: , 4.04 ft
high: , 12.5 ft , Coeff: 51
low: , 5.09 ft
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		First Quarter Moon moon phase
First Quarter Moon
high: , 15.16 ft , Coeff: 79
low: , 4.36 ft
high: , 12.66 ft , Coeff: 53
low: , 5.87 ft
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		First Quarter Moon moon phase
First Quarter Moon
high: , 14.24 ft , Coeff: 69
low: , 4.53 ft
high: , 13.16 ft , Coeff: 58
low: , 6.27 ft
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		First Quarter Moon moon phase
First Quarter Moon
high: , 13.52 ft , Coeff: 62
low: , 4.53 ft
high: , 13.88 ft , Coeff: 65
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		Waxing Gibbous moon phase
Waxing Gibbous
low: , 6.17 ft
high: , 12.96 ft , Coeff: 56
low: , 4.4 ft
high: , 14.67 ft , Coeff: 74
*bold times indicate best fishing times around sunrise or sunset

Fishing Overview Mackay

Mackay fishing revolves around three main zones: the Net Free Zone inshore, a string of productive estuaries, and exceptional freshwater impoundments, backed up by quality reef and pelagic action offshore. Success here is all about aligning tides, wind and water clarity with the right techniques for each habitat.

In the estuaries and creeks like the Pioneer River, Constant Creek, Sandy Creek and Victor Creek, barramundi, king threadfin, mangrove jack and grunter are key targets. Focus on the last half of the run-out and the first push of the flood tide. Troll or cast shallow and mid-depth hardbodies along rock bars and mangrove edges, and hop soft vibes or 3–4 inch prawn imitations through deeper bends and eddies. On neap tides, work deeper holes with vibes and live baits; on big spring tides, push further up the creeks and fish drains and pressure points around mangrove roots.

The Net Free Zone beaches around Town Beach, Harbour Beach and north toward Shoal Point produce blue and king threadfin, salmon, queenfish, trevally, flathead and whiting. Fish the first drop-off and any subtle gutters. At night or during low light, slow-roll 4–5 inch plastics or sinking stickbaits along the edges of current lines for threadfin and queenies. During the day, lightly weighted prawns or yabbies wafted along the sand for whiting and flathead are reliable. Work the making tide when bait pushes tight to the shore, and look for dirty-water edges after rain where predators ambush.

Mackay’s impoundments – particularly Peter Faust Dam (Kinchant and Teemburra nearby) – are renowned for trophy barramundi and sooty grunter. In the warmer months, concentrate on wind-blown points, weed edges and shallow flats late afternoon into night. Slow-roll large soft plastics, paddle-tail swimbaits and suspending jerkbaits over weed tops, and switch to soft plastics or vibes in 15–25 ft timbered areas when the sun is high. Sooties patrol rocky points, timber and inflow creeks; small spinnerbaits, 3-inch grubs and beetle-spins worked tight to structure are deadly.

Offshore from Mackay, the islands and reefs hold coral trout, red emperor, nannygai, spangled emperor, sweetlip, cobia, Spanish mackerel and tuna. Plan trips around stable weather windows with light to moderate winds. On the reefs, anchor or use a spot-lock electric over pressure edges, pinnacles and rubble patches in 15–40 m. Drop flesh baits or live baits on simple paternoster or running rigs, and keep a jigging rod ready with metal jigs or soft vibes for nannygai and trevally. For mackerel and tuna, work current lines and bait schools with high-speed metal slugs, trolled hardbodies or live baits staggered at different depths.

Across all Mackay fishing, water clarity and bait presence are critical. If you’re not seeing bait flicking, birds working or life on the sounder, shift quickly. Keep a small selection of proven lures – prawn imitations, paddle-tail plastics, hardbody minnows, vibes and metal slugs – and rotate through them until you find what matches the local forage and mood of the fish that day.

The Best Fishing Spots around Mackay

Mackay Harbour

The sheltered waters and rock walls of Mackay Harbour consistently produce school and Spanish mackerel, giant trevally, queenfish, and fingermark, with bait schools drawing predators on dawn and dusk tides; working metal slugs around the leads or live baits along the marina wall is reliable, and it’s a prime staging point for runs out toward Flat Top Island and the inshore reefs.

Pioneer River

Running through the city, the Pioneer River offers barramundi, threadfin salmon, mangrove jack, flathead, and bream from the bridges to the mouth; casting hardbodies and soft plastics around rock bars and mangrove edges after wet-season flows is productive, while live-baiting drains on the making tide near Forgan Bridge and River Street is a local staple.

Shoal Point

The flats and headland of Shoal Point are renowned for summer whiting, flathead, and bream on the sand gutters, with queenfish and small GTs harassing bait along the pressure edges; walk the flats on a falling tide with surface walkers and prawn imitations, or soak worms and yabbies, and shift to metals when bait pushes past toward Bucasia Beach.

Bucasia Beach

A long, accessible surf beach, Bucasia Beach produces elbow-slapper whiting, dart, flathead, bream, and the odd tailor; target the outer gutters at first light with worms and small poppers for whiting, then work soft plastics for flathead as the tide ebbs, with baitfish schools at times drawing mackerel and queenfish along the northern end toward Shoal Point.

Eimeo Beach

Flanked by rocky headlands, Eimeo Beach fishes well for whiting and bream across the sand and for fingermark, coral trout, and trevally around the stones; dawn and dusk sessions with light metals, prawn plastics, or live baits near the southern rocks can be electric when bait pushes around from Sunset Bay.

Cape Hillsborough

The rugged headlands and beaches at Cape Hillsborough offer access to deeper ledges and bait-filled gutters that hold queenfish, trevally, mackerel, and reef species; work stickbaits and jigs along the points on the flood tide, then comb the adjacent flats for flathead and whiting, with scenic options to hop south toward Ball Bay and Haliday Bay.

Constant Creek

A classic Mackay estuary, Constant Creek is known for barramundi, threadfin salmon, grunter (javelin), mangrove jack, and bream across its rock bars, drains, and mangrove edges; fish prawn imitations and vibes on the neaps, troll shallow divers along color changes, and explore side-creeks toward Seaforth when the main channel runs hard.

Lake Kinchant

Stocked impoundment Lake Kinchant is famed for big barramundi and sooty grunter; focus on wind-blown points, weed edges, and timber with swimbaits and suspending hardbodies in the warmer months, and slow-roll plastics at night around lit areas, with easy access from Kinchant Dam facilities just west of Mackay.

Interactive Fishing Map for the greater Mackay area

Beaches and Bays are ideal places for land-based fishing. If the beach is shallow and the water is clear then twilight times are usually the best times, especially when they coincide with a major or minor fishing time. Often the points on either side of a beach are the best spots. Or if the beach is large then look for irregularities in the breaking waves, indicating sandbanks and holes. We found 9 beaches and bays in this area.

Town Beach - 3.59951208668km , Far Beach - 4.87365320172km , Lamberts Beach - 10.94295853779km , Slade Bay - 10.94948511355km , Sandringham Bay - 12.16990209743km , Sunset Bay - 13.35726769174km , Dalrymple Bay - 17.00325719499km , Neils Beach - 17.81216831473km , Williamsons Beach - 19.85409630041km

Harbours and Marinas can often times be productive fishing spots for land based fishing as their sheltered environment attracts a wide variety of bait fish. Similar to river mouths, harbour entrances are also great places to fish as lots of fish will move in and out with the rising and falling tides. There are 2 main harbours in this area.

Port of Mackay - 7.39977884129km, Mackay Outer Harbour - 8.13449251693km

We found a total of 40 potential fishing spots nearby Mackay. Below you can find them organized on a map. Points, Headlands, Reefs, Islands, Channels, etc can all be productive fishing spots. As these are user submitted spots, there might be some errors in the exact location. You also need to cross check local fishing regulations. Some of the spots might be in or around marine reserves or other locations that cannot be fished. If you click on a location marker it will bring up some details and a quick link to google search, satellite maps and fishing times. Tip: Click/Tap on a new area to load more fishing spots.

Fursden Creek - 2.2307542183km , Goosepond Creek - 2.89431831951km , Pioneer River - 3.59951208668km , Town Beach - 3.59951208668km , South Head - 3.59951208668km , Bassett Creek - 4.21598139129km , Barnes Creek - 4.21598139129km , Bassett Basin - 4.62526633581km , Far Beach - 4.87365320172km , Janes Creek - 5.27047669658km , Fishermans Point - 5.75919119275km , Port of Mackay - 7.39977884129km , Bakers Creek - 7.86132315268km , Mackay Outer Harbour - 8.13449251693km , Flat Top Island - 8.35868796666km , McCreadys Creek - 8.54924411959km , MacLennan Creek - 8.64572655313km , Bagley Point - 8.76169268011km , Forgan Smith Point - 8.81484149538km , Slade Point - 9.7428516904km , Slade Island - 10.23471088092km , Round Top Island - 10.60618335132km , Lamberts Beach - 10.94295853779km , Slade Bay - 10.94948511355km , Orphanage Swamp - 11.93271361329km , Sandringham Bay - 12.16990209743km , Eimeo Creek - 12.3346057881km , Denmans Creek - 12.52883403119km , Sunset Bay - 13.35726769174km , Dudgeon Point - 13.82677174589km , Leila Creek - 14.23589680523km , Amhurst Creek - 14.28806421114km , Tin-pot Creek - 14.32455070385km , Kanakas Release Creek - 15.37564195629km , Sandringham Creek - 16.33077760475km , Shoal Point - 16.80725396371km , Dalrymple Bay - 17.00325719499km , Reliance Creek - 17.3162587824km , Neils Beach - 17.81216831473km , Williamsons Beach - 19.85409630041km

Harbours and Marinas Beaches Bays Wharfs Points,Reefs,etc
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