Keppel Sands Beach & Groyne

Keppel Sands is a small beach village at the end of the road south of Emu Park, facing Keppel Bay across a beach that drains to enormous sand flats at low tide. At the north end a rock groyne runs about 180 m out from the beach toward the deep channel at the mouth of Coorooman Creek, and that groyne plus the main beach either side of it are the land-based spots. The fishing is simple: whiting, bream, flathead and grunter on the top half of the tide; mud crabs come out of Pumpkin Creek at the southern end, but in croc water that is crabbing from a boat, not from the mangrove bank. The village motto could fairly be "check the tide chart", because at low water the sea is a long walk away.

Fish the last two hours of the run-in and the first of the run-out. On the beach, don't cast too far — the better whiting and flathead are often right at your feet in the gutter along the shoreline, so a lightly weighted yabby or worm cast a short distance and slowly retrieved does the job — cast from well back up the sand, not from the water's edge. From the groyne, fish prawn or yabby baits along the rocks for bream and grunter, and work a small soft plastic down the edge toward the channel for flathead.

Sand whiting and yellowfin bream are the staples, with dusky flathead and grunter in the mix. Sand whiting are 23 cm minimum and yellowfin bream 25 cm, each in a combined possession limit of 30. Dusky flathead are a 40–75 cm slot with a possession limit of 5. Grunter (barred javelin) are 40 cm, limit 10. Mud crabs from Pumpkin Creek are males only, 15 cm across the shell, 7 per person; female mud crabs are no take.

The tide decides everything here: at low water the flats run hundreds of metres out and the channel is out of reach, so plan around the high. Bought prawns or yabbies save time spent at the water's edge in croc country. Crab pots and dillies are limited to four per person and must be tagged with your surname and address — set them from a boat, not by wading the creek edges. Keppel Sands is quiet outside holidays, which is much of the appeal. Take your scraps home or put them in a bin.

Keppel Sands is at the end of its own road south of Emu Park, under an hour's drive from Rockhampton. Park along the foreshore; there are public toilets near the north end of the beach and at the Pumpkin Creek boat ramp at the south end. The beach is flat, firm sand and fine for kids; the groyne is loose rock with no rail and isn't suitable for prams or wheelchairs.

The beach faces east into Keppel Bay, so the south-easterly trade wind blows across it from the right and is fishable in light to moderate strength; a strong north-easterly makes the shoreline choppy and sandy. Clear water on a rising tide is best for whiting. Big spring tides cover the most ground and push the fish highest up the beach; small neap highs barely reach the groyne tip.

Keppel Sands is in crocodile habitat, including the beach and the creeks either side. Stay at least 5 m back from the water's edge where you can, never stand in the water to cast, and only throw a cast net from a boat or jetty. Reel fish in quickly and step back, and cut the line if a crocodile takes interest in your catch. The incoming tide moves quickly across the flats — don't walk out to the channel at low tide. Marine stingers, including box jellyfish and Irukandji, occur here, typically November to May; carry vinegar. The groyne rocks are slippery and uneven. A lifejacket is strongly recommended on the groyne (AS 4758 level 50S or higher for adults).

The top half of the tide, especially the last couple of hours of the run-in. At low tide the sand flats run a long way out and the fish move with the water.

Whiting, bream, flathead and grunter from the beach and the rock groyne, plus mud crabs in Pumpkin Creek for anyone potting from a boat. Sand whiting are 23 cm minimum and bream 25 cm.

Keppel Sands is inside Queensland's crocodile habitat, and crocodiles use the creeks and the sea. Stay back from the water's edge and don't wade.