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It's hot and cramped on the light plane, but the flight is smooth, and as we begin to descend we peer out the window, to marvel at the view and take pictures with our phones. It's worth it. The view of Palm Island from the air is stunning. Clear blue water and green hills of tropical rainforest. The island is off the north Queensland coast, just a 20-minute flight from Townsville. Indigenous people first began living on Palm Island in 1918, when it was set up as a mission. For years, Aborigines were sent there from across Australia. They came from different tribes and places, spoke different languages, and had different customs. Now, nearly 100 years after it was first established, more than four thousand people live on the Island. Palm Islanders are known as the 'Bwgcolman People', meaning 'many tribes, one people. It's an acknowledgment that Palm Islanders share a history with over forty different clans. Source: www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2014-03-14/life-on-palm/5318920

Isisford Located in ‘The Outer Barcoo’ Isisford was established in 1877 by William and James Whitman who were travelling through the country. When crossing the Barcoo River, they broke an axle on their wagon and decided to stay nearby. They built a store, hotel, butchery, saddlery, and blacksmith shops. The establishment was called Whittown but the name was changed in 1878 to 1879 to Isisford after the ford in the river and proximity of Isis Downs Station homestead. ‘Isis Downs’ was named after the Isis River in England. The Barcoo River was once called the Victoria River but changed to the Aboriginal name Barcoo meaning ‘Ice on Water’. Source: wikiaustralia.com/destination/isisford/

Queensland’s Mary River marks the barramundi’s southern limit on the East Coast, with regular catches in the river and occasional fish from the labyrinth of channels, flats, and tidal creeks that make up the Great Sandy Strait into which the river flows. Though the Mary River flows through Maryborough, fishing access is generally done from Beaver Rocks ramp or River Head at the mouth, 35km from Maryborough. Barramundi prefers the turbid water of the river to the clearer water found in sandy creeks of the strait. There is a chance of catching a trophy saltwater barramundi or threadfin salmon in the Mary River, along with hordes of blue salmon, bream, prawns, and crabs. Though barramundi are present, the main saltwater catch is whiting (summer, tin can, and diver species), flathead, southern and pikey bream, tailor, blue and threadfin salmon, mangrove jacks, northern and southern jewfish, perch (which look like a small jewfish), cod, mud and blue swimmer crabs, and prawns. Source: www.wikifishingspots.com.au/maryborough-queensland-fishin...

Mary river runs through Maryborough and provides access to some great fishing spots around Maryborough. The Mary River is usually dirty water, upstream is freshwater which makes it the perfect environment for Barramundi and Crocodiles. In fact, Maryborough marks the start of Barramundi fishing. Source: www.fishingspots.com.au/s/maryborough/