Sandfly Creek

Saltwater
Estuary

Sandfly Creek

Saltwater
Estuary

Sq. miles: 2.2
Boat Ramps: 0
Access Points: 0
Species: 3

Sandfly Creek is a tidal estuary flowing into Corio Bay, situated within the urban area of Townsville City. It is one of four major creeks feeding into the bay, forming part of a complex estuarine system. The creek's mouth is characterized by a sewage outfall, and the broader area between Sandfly Creek and Alligator Creek is subject to conservation investigation and wetland management considerations.

Queensland licenses and regulations4 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Sandfly Creek and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Barramundi

Lates calcarifer

Mangrove Jack

Lutjanus argentimaculatus

Queenfish

Scomberoides commersonnianus

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Sandfly Creek. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

The most popular areas are near the creek's confluence with Corio Bay. The mouth of Sandfly Creek, along with the mouths of the adjacent Fishing Creek, Deep Creek, and Waterpark Creek, each form their own distinct fishing complexes with channels, drop-offs, and mangrove stands. These areas provide structure that holds fish. The deeper holes and bends within the creek itself are also key spots, especially on low tide when fish concentrate.

Know where you can legally fish on Sandfly Creek

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Queensland licenses and regulations

Queensland Boating Regulations

Official Queensland Government boating and marine hub (Maritime Safety Queensland), covering recreational marine and PWC licences, boat registration, safety equipment, speed limits, and the general safety obligation.

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Queensland Fishing License

Queensland has no general recreational fishing licence - most saltwater and freshwater fishing needs no licence. The exception is line fishing in stocked dams/weirs: anyone 18 or over needs a Stocked Impoundment Permit, which this official Fisheries Queensland page explains.

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Queensland Fishing Regulations

Official Queensland Government recreational fishing rules hub, covering size and possession limits (tidal and fresh waters), closed seasons and waters, regulated and no-take species, and permitted gear.

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Queensland Stream Access Laws

Queensland has no single dedicated stream-access page; this is the closest official page for anglers, listing which state-owned dams and weirs allow public recreational access for fishing, camping and boating, with per-site restrictions.

Learn more

Take Sandfly Creek with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Sandfly Creek to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Sandfly Creek to find where and when fish are biting for you.

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