Have just booked a winter escape to Port Douglas late August. Any paddling to be had there amongst the crocs and stingers?

Will be there in July. Will let you know what I find. Not too hopeful though except for maybe some wing-ding foiling.

stingers are not an issue in July or August.

but don't expect flat water or waves - you'll most likely be paddling the wind chop at that time of year. the reef blocks the swell.

Irakanji can turn up all year. Box Jellys mostly in the warmer months.
Crocs are another matter. Crocs have even been turning up on Townsville beachs and even in the Fitzroy river ( Rockhampton). They seem to dislike paddles as in Townsville and Rocky the crocs were getting annoyed by outrigger paddlers.

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gregjet said..
Irakanji can turn up all year. Box Jellys mostly in the warmer months.
Crocs are another matter. Crocs have even been turning up on Townsville beachs and even in the Fitzroy river ( Rockhampton). They seem to dislike paddles as in Townsville and Rocky the crocs were getting annoyed by outrigger paddlers.

How exactly were crocs getting annoyed, did they have a go at people or do you mean the people were having a go at them.

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micksmith said..

gregjet said..
Irakanji can turn up all year. Box Jellys mostly in the warmer months.
Crocs are another matter. Crocs have even been turning up on Townsville beachs and even in the Fitzroy river ( Rockhampton). They seem to dislike paddles as in Townsville and Rocky the crocs were getting annoyed by outrigger paddlers.

How exactly were crocs getting annoyed, did they have a go at people or do you mean the people were having a go at them.

Yeah, I'd be keen to hear your thoughts on this one Gregjet.
We've had a few crocs turn up in the line up over the last wet season and thankfully no one was bothered by them.
Some of the salty dogs who've been paddling, windsurfing here in Darwin for decades reckon the crocs have never bothered too much with people on boards of any description.
But I'm not so sure - I reckon complacency is asking for trouble.

Maybe there's something in it - maybe the crocs just aren't that interested in planks with parallel outlines bobbing around on the surface.

Or is it just dumb luck that no one north of the tropic of Capricorn has been bitten by a croc while on a SUP?

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MangoDingo said..

micksmith said..

gregjet said..
Irakanji can turn up all year. Box Jellys mostly in the warmer months.
Crocs are another matter. Crocs have even been turning up on Townsville beachs and even in the Fitzroy river ( Rockhampton). They seem to dislike paddles as in Townsville and Rocky the crocs were getting annoyed by outrigger paddlers.

How exactly were crocs getting annoyed, did they have a go at people or do you mean the people were having a go at them.

Yeah, I'd be keen to hear your thoughts on this one Gregjet.
We've had a few crocs turn up in the line up over the last wet season and thankfully no one was bothered by them.
Some of the salty dogs who've been paddling, windsurfing here in Darwin for decades reckon the crocs have never bothered too much with people on boards of any description.
But I'm not so sure - I reckon complacency is asking for trouble.

Maybe there's something in it - maybe the crocs just aren't that interested in planks with parallel outlines bobbing around on the surface.

Or is it just dumb luck that no one north of the tropic of Capricorn has been bitten by a croc while on a SUP?

Don't tempt fate MD, pretty sure I'm more scareda of crocs than sharks

Agreed Mick.

Surfed last September/October off the point in front of the sugar wharf in town.(mouth of inlet) Nice little clean waves when the wind has been blowing consistentsly. Little right hander.
Also good rides before or when wind drops on the reef at the south of Four Mile Beach if the swells up.
Few crocs in the inlet so locals will look at you funny. Three crocs further south of Four Mile Beach in the creek there and one at least ate someone a few years ago.

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Freogeezer said..
Have just booked a winter escape to Port Douglas late August. Any paddling to be had there amongst the crocs and stingers?

ya driving up the Bruce ?, plenty of opportunities north of Rocky for a SUP wave, Just need the trades to blow and happy days. This time of the year until about August, Offshore winds in the morning are common in some spots. PD in August, fair chance it will be blowin a dog of a chain.

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ladfromsnowy said..

Freogeezer said..
Have just booked a winter escape to Port Douglas late August. Any paddling to be had there amongst the crocs and stingers?

ya driving up the Bruce ?, plenty of opportunities north of Rocky for a SUP wave, Just need the trades to blow and happy days. This time of the year until about August, Offshore winds in the morning are common in some spots. PD in August, fair chance it will be blowin a dog of a chain.

Thanks for the tip but flying into Cairns. There is a local business that rents boards. I'll hook up with him on arrival and see what the weather's doing. Fingers crossed. Not holding my breath but you never know.

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Freogeezer said..

ladfromsnowy said..

Freogeezer said..
Have just booked a winter escape to Port Douglas late August. Any paddling to be had there amongst the crocs and stingers?

ya driving up the Bruce ?, plenty of opportunities north of Rocky for a SUP wave, Just need the trades to blow and happy days. This time of the year until about August, Offshore winds in the morning are common in some spots. PD in August, fair chance it will be blowin a dog of a chain.

Thanks for the tip but flying into Cairns. There is a local business that rents boards. I'll hook up with him on arrival and see what the weather's doing. Fingers crossed. Not holding my breath but you never know.

No worries, FYI then , Elliss beach north of cairns with 25 knots up it will be worth a look on the low to mid. Have fun

Freo . Mate take advice from people that don't know what their talking about at your own peril
I grew up in north QLD , between the 60s and 80s way before the numbers recovered as they have now even back then I had a friend eaten by one in the Daintree river just north of port , my advice would be DONT think the danger from crocks is just scary stories..... they are there in numbers even if you don't see them ..... but if you do happen to have a close encounter albeit unlucky % wise , it will do its best to try and eat you. Plenty of other cool things to do up there

www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-03/crocodile-sighting-yeppoon/100188632?utm_campaign=news-article-share-control&utm_content=mail&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web

& this is a long, long way south of Port Douglas

I have seen an interesting conference on crocs on Youtube some time ago. They said that although their body shape did not seem to change much in the last 100 million years, their internals evolved quite a lot, and especially their brains, which now, for some species like the marine OZ ones, have some advanced structures not unlike the mammals cortex. They are much more intelligent than previously thought, they are not big lizards.

They gave examples of crocs observing casually the whereabouts of campers for one week, so that they could determine the best time to go raid the tent, grab a person and drown her in the water.

So it seems that just because a croc doesn't attack you does not mean it is not intensely planning to do it in the most efficient (less risky) way...

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colas said..
I have seen an interesting conference on crocs on Youtube some time ago.

Ah here it is. Very interesting, like a lot of talks by researchers on YouTube.

Stingers are manageable with a suit if you're concerned. Crocs definitely are around but don't seem to have a taste for fibreglass just yet! In front of Cropp's/Sugar Wharf can be fun if the wind is right, alternatively you can wait for the reef boats to come in and ride their wake like we did as kids. Stonefish hang around there as well though...
Double Island off palm cove is a sweet paddle and a nice snorkel first thing in the morning before it gets choppy. What Sup and Windswell also do some pretty cool Sup tours both in salt and freshwater.
It's a beautiful place up here and there's a heap to see both on water and on land!

Dorries' Rights today.

And a few little ones at Oak Beach.

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Casso said..
Dorries' Rights today.

Why you calling this Dorries right

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ladfromsnowy said..
Why you calling this Dorries right

See post above by petedorries

Ye na its not referred to as that so refrain pls , thanks ,plenty of waves had before his visit