Hinchinbrook Channel
Estuary·Queensland·Australia·
Field notes
Long mangrove-lined channel between Hinchinbrook Island and the mainland. Iconic barramundi water — fish the creek mouths on the run-out, with mangrove jack and fingermark in the snags and threadfin salmon on the open flats.
Current conditions
Wind
1 kt SSW
Gusts 4.3 kt
Waves
0.4 m
Period 4 s
Swell
0.3 m
Period 2.7 s
Sea temp
27.7°C
Air 20.8°C
Next 12 hours
01:00
1 SSW
0.4m
02:00
1.3 SSW
0.4m
03:00
1.2 SSW
0.4m
04:00
2.7 SSE
0.4m
05:00
1.7 SW
0.4m
06:00
1.6 SW
0.4m
07:00
1.5 SW
0.4m
08:00
3 E
0.4m
09:00
4.4 ENE
0.3m
10:00
5.1 ENE
0.3m
11:00
5.5 ENE
0.3m
12:00
5.7 ENE
0.3m
Tides
Nearest BOM tide station: Lucinda (Offshore) ↗ (19.6 km · primary)
We don't predict tides on-site — BOM's published tables are authoritative.
BOM · Cairns CoastIssued at 3:00 am EST on Wednesday 21 October 2026
Situation. A ridge of high pressure extends over the northern Queensland waters from a high [1035 hPa] centred over the southern Tasman Sea. This pattern will persist over coming days as the high slowly weakens.
Wednesday 21 October until midnight. Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy.
Thursday 22 October. Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Mostly sunny.
Friday 23 October. Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny. Peninsula Coast: Sharp Point to Cape Melville
Wednesday 21 October until midnight. Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: East to southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Mostly sunny.
Source: Open-Meteo Marine + ECMWF (15-min cache) · BOM (1-hr cache). Not for navigation.
Sun & moon
Today
Sun↑ 05:43↓ 18:18
Moon↑ 13:51↓ 02:46
PhaseWaxing gibbous 73%
Best windows
- Dawn05:20 – 06:43
- Dusk17:18 – 18:40
Tomorrow
Sun↑ 05:42↓ 18:18
Moon↑ 14:42↓ 03:20
PhaseWaxing gibbous 81%
Best windows
- Dawn05:20 – 06:42
- Dusk17:18 – 18:41
Best windows combine civil twilight with the hour either side of sun transit — the universal low-light feeding window most species respond to. Moon phase influence is folkloric; full and new moons coincide with the strongest tide swings.
What's biting
Recent reports from the community. Sign in to log your own catches.
Access & logistics
Spot type
Estuary
Region
Queensland, Australia
Fishing style
estuary fishing and land-based fishing
Structure
Typically holds drop-offs, flats and holes — work the structure for holding fish.
Licence
Recreational fishing licence may apply — check the Queensland fisheries regulator before fishing.
Closures
Always confirm current marine park / closure status and seasonal bag limits.
Saved.
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