Town of 1770 (Round Hill Creek)

The Town of 1770 sits on the sandy point where Round Hill Creek meets Bustard Bay, and the creek in front of town is one of the prettiest estuaries on the coast: clear channels, big sand flats at low tide and mangrove banks upstream. Shore anglers fish the foreshore along the point and the channel edges for whiting, flathead and bream, while golden trevally cruise the sand flats and queenfish chase bait along the drop-offs. Upstream, mangrove jack, grunter, estuary cod and barramundi live in the snags. The town is named for Captain Cook's 1770 landing, and the fishing has had a few centuries' head start on the tourism.

Fish the run-in tide along the foreshore and channel edges: yabbies or worms on a long-shank hook drifted over the sand catch whiting, and soft plastics hopped down the drop-offs find the flathead. Golden trevally and queenfish on the flats respond to small plastics, metal slices and flies cast ahead of cruising fish in clear water. Bream take peeled prawn around any rock or structure. For jacks and grunter, fish live or fresh baits near the mangrove snags on the top of the tide — the upper creek is mostly a kayak or boat proposition.

Whiting, flathead and bream are the regular catch, with golden trevally, queenfish, grunter, mangrove jack and the occasional barramundi. 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, limit 5. Trevally share a combined limit of 20; giant queenfish are 50 cm, limit 5. Grunter (barred javelin) are 40 cm, limit 10, and mangrove jack 35 cm, limit 5. Barramundi are a 58–120 cm slot, limit 5, closed from 1 November to 31 January.

Round Hill Creek is a declared Fish Habitat Area, so the only digging tool allowed for bait is a hand-held yabby pump. Mud crabs are no take in Eurimbula Creek across the bay. The waters off Round Hill Head in Bustard Bay include a marine park Conservation Park (yellow) zone, where the limit is one rod or line with one hook per person. The 1770 marina has a public boat ramp, a small public wharf for short tie-ups, bins for fish remains, and a store selling bait and ice. Low tide drains the flats — plan around the run-in.

The Town of 1770 is a few kilometres north of Agnes Water on Captain Cook Drive. Park along the foreshore or at the marina; there are public toilets near the foreshore park and campground. The beach along the point is flat sand, easy for kids and walkers; the marina area is the most accessible for wheelchairs.

The creek mouth opens north into Bustard Bay, and the foreshore is sheltered from the south-easterly trade wind, which makes it a reliable calm-water option when the Agnes Water surf is blown out. Clear water on the run-in is ideal for sight fishing the flats. Big spring tides run hard through the channels; neap tides are gentler for bait fishing.

Channels at the creek mouth run hard on big tides and the sand drops away suddenly — don't try to cross channels on a rising tide. The Town of 1770 is in box jellyfish and Irukandji waters; marine stingers are most likely November to May, so carry vinegar. Crocodiles are rare this far south, but report any sighting on 1300 130 372. Watch for stingrays on the flats and shuffle your feet, and keep clear of boats using the marina ramp.

Whiting, flathead and bream along the foreshore, golden trevally and queenfish on the sand flats, and mangrove jack, grunter, estuary cod and barramundi up Round Hill Creek. Barramundi are closed from 1 November to 31 January.

Yes, with a hand-held yabby pump only. Round Hill Creek is a Fish Habitat Area, where a hand pump is the only digging tool allowed for bait.

Male mud crabs of 15 cm or more can be taken in Round Hill Creek (7 per person), but mud crabs are no take in Eurimbula Creek, and female mud crabs are always no take.