Biggest crocodiles captured from Fitzroy River in Rockhampton region

From huge crocs of iconic status to beasts displaying dangerous behaviour. These are some of the biggest crocodiles to ever be caught in the Rockhampton region.

Being part of croc country, Central Queensland sees its fair share of monster crocs, with some big beasts caught over the years.

Here are some of the biggest crocodiles that have been captured by wildlife officers in the Fitzroy and surrounding waterways.

Monster 100-year-old croc found dead in river

The body of a monstrous 5.2m saltwater crocodile was discovered in the Fitzroy River in September 2017 after it was shot in the head and killed.

The ‘iconic’ croc was estimated to be between 80 and 100 years old.

After investigations into the shooting of the beast, Etna Creek man Luke Stephen Orchard was charged and later pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court to killing the croc.

The Belmont Research Station farmhand made admissions to police about the shooting of the 5.26 metre male crocodile on the banks of the Fitzroy River on September 13, 2017.

Images of a 5.2m crocodile found shot in the Fitzroy River, Rockhampton on Thursday, September 21. Police and the EHP are appealing for public assistance in their investigations to find the culprit.

He told officers the croc had been taking cattle.

Orchard was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.

It is an offence under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 to take an estuarine crocodile without authority and there are greater penalties in place for the unlawful take of an ‘iconic’ crocodile, defined as 5 metres or greater in length.

The maximum penalty for the unlawful take of an ‘iconic’ crocodile is $28,383.75.

Boat ramp snacker

In January 2020, wildlife officers from the Department of Environment and Science successfully trapped a crocodile that was seen eating a shark carcass near the North Rockhampton Boat Ramp.

The crocodile, which was more than 4m in length, posed a threat to the public as it had started associating boat ramps and people with food.

Under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 the maximum penalty for deliberately or inadvertently feeding a crocodile is $5222.

The crocodile was trapped and taken to the Koorana Crocodile Farm due to its ‘icon’ status.

Under the Queensland Crocodile Management Plan, the Fitzroy River is in Zone E (General Management Zone).

In this area, crocodiles displaying dangerous behaviour are targeted for removal.

Pink Lily croc

A crocodile that was trapped by the Department of Environment and Science at Pink Lily in 2020.

In January 2020, a 2.5m crocodile was trapped and removed from the Fitzroy River at Pink Lily.

The croc was found to be in Zone C of the Fitzroy River.

In this part of the river, any crocodile that is two metres or greater in length, or any crocodile displaying dangerous behaviour, is targeted for removal.

Alligator Creek - 2016

In November 2016 a 2.7 metre crocodile from Alligator Creek at Rockhampton.

In 2016 a large crocodile was removed from Alligator Creek, near Rockhampton, after it was seen swimming towards a boat ramp.

The 2.7m croc had been seen by two members of the public.

Emu Park

In June 2021 wildlife officers from DES put out a warning to Emu Park locals after a small crocodile was removed from a pond on Hill St near Emu Park State School.

The juvenile croc was about 1.63m in size and was reported to the department by a member of the public.

Moores Creek croc

In 2016 a crocodile that was about two metres in length was targeted for removal by the DES.

The croc was spotted by locals hanging around the Moores Creek area.

The animal was the first crocodile that was targeted for removal by the department for 10 years after a monster croc was captured in 2006.

Rocky the croc

Rocky, a huge 3.1 metre saltwater croc, was captured in December 2005.

Wildlife officers captured the monster croc in the Fitzroy River near Laurel Banks.

Rocky the croc was eventually caught 8.5km upstream from the Rockhampton Water Ski and Powerboat Club at Laurel Banks after evading traps set by rangers.

Because the reptile was so big, 90 to 100kg to be exact, he had to be transported back tied to the side of the boat.

Rocky was relocated to the Cairns Crocodile Farm where he was named by then owner Keith Cook.

1960s Port Alma croc

In 1963 a huge crocodile measuring more than 6m was caught at Port Alma after it swam past wharves.

At the same time three men, who happened to be crocodile hunters arriving from Sydney in their yacht, had pulled into the port for much-needed repairs to their vessel's keel.

Snap! Crocodile culture ....Hugo Schmidt skinning a crocodile at Port Alma 1963.

“At that time we stayed in Port Alma for a month fixing a new keel on our boat,“ said Hugo Schmid who was one of the monster croc’s hunters.

Mr Schmid, who was also a photographer, shot the croc after he heard a man shouting from the main wharf that there was a crocodile in the water.

“I jumped up and grabbed my .303 rifle and shot the animal in the head,” Mr Schmid said.