Fishing Facts

The protection of the world heritage listested Fraser Island from prevailling winds for most of the year creates some of the world's most ideal fishing conditions.

The interface in the Fraser Coast between warm northern and cooler southern ocean currents offers twice as many target species as are commonly found in other areas.

Hervey Bay's seagrass beds (the second largest on the east coast of Australia) act as a nursery for many larger species as well as a nursery for many larger species as well as supporting a massive resource of bait fish, juvenile prawns and other crustaseans which attract numerous schools of various pelagic as well as demersal specias.

Maryborough and the Mary River is the Southern limit of the great northern sportsfish, the barramundi. It is also the northern limit of the great southern sportsfish, the Australian Bass, which can be found in local creeks and dams.

The Fraser Coast is a fishing paradise that houses almost every fish and fishing experience that anglers dream of. Sunfish the peak state body representing recreational fishers describe Fraser Island as the 'holy grail' of beach fishing, while Fraser Island flats have been well documented by Australia's leading saltwater flyfishers as being the best the country has to offer.

Sunfish also rates the Fraser Coast region as offering some of the best sportfishing, sheltered beach fishing and some of the most magnificent and practically untouched deepsea fishing in Australia, and possibly the world.

The region has a species of fish and a choice of fishing to suit almost every angler, be it whiting along the many beaches, creeks and rivers to red emperor on the off shore reefs, or marlin and sailfish for the big game enthusiasts around the top of Fraser Island.

Fishing Tips

The 800 long Urangan Pier gives shore based anglers the opportunity to fish deep waters for whiting, bream, flathead, tuna and mackerel.

The rock wall at the Urangan Harbour and the groynes and other piers at Hervey Bay, as well as just off the beach are also popular with the local and visiting anglers.

The inshore reefs around Big Woody Island and the Roy Rufus Artificial Reef - the largest in the Southern Hemisphere - are easily accessible from Urangan Harbour. It is here you will find a large variety of reef fish and pelagics.

Maryborough, Tiaro and the townships of Maroom, Boonooroo/Tuan, Poona and Tinnanbar in the Sandy Strait provide good boat launching facilities as well as access for the land based angler to drop a line.

Good fishing spot - The Cod Hole - north of Round Island.

Hire boats are available from Burrum Heads and Torquay and charter boat offer day trips at Burrum Heads and Hervey Bay with extended deep sea trips also available at Hervey Bay.

Local tackle stores offer friendly advice on where and how to fish and have free information guides on all the fishing and boating regulations as well as maps with the new zone restrictions. Make sure you know the rules before you go fishing.

Fishing Competitions

Toogoom Family Fishing Competition - Australia Day Long W/end - Ph: 0417 700 946

Hervey Bay Family Fishing Comp - Thur - Sun, 2nd Weekend in March

Ph: 0407 663 578

Burrum Heads Easter Fishing Classic - Easter Fri - Sun - Ph: 07 4129 5330

Poona Family Fishing Classic - Easter Sat - Sun - Ph: 074129 8908

Fraser Coast Show Fishout - Fri, Late May - Ph: 0407 663 578

Toyota Fraser Island Fishing Expo - Sat - Fri, Late May - Ph: 1800 800 543

Coast Guard Sandy Strait Fishing Comp- Sat-Sun, 2nd w/end July

Ph: 07 4129 8141

Urangan Pier Festival Fishing Comp - Middle Sun of Sept School Holidays

Ph: 0407 663 578

Rounds of the National Bass Circuit are held at Lenthall's Dam

Boat Ramps

Hervey Bay

River Heads - Barge Ramp, North Ramp, South Ramp

Point Vernon - Gatakers Bay, The Gables.

Scarness - Esplanade

Torquay - Esplanade

Toogoom - Moreton Street

Burrum Heads - Caravan Park, Burrum Heads Road, Ross St

Howard - Beelbi Creek, Burrum Barge, Wals Camp

Maryborough

Granville - Raglan Street

Lamington Bridge Aquatic Area - South Street

Beaver Rock - Approx 17km from Maryborough along Beaver Rock Rd

Public Jetty - Mary River Parklands - Near the end of March Street

Costal Areas

Tuan - Big Tuan Creek

Maroom - Maroom Creek

Boonooroo - Adjacent to Bates Street

Poona - Owen Cox Street adjacent to the caravan park

Tinnanbar - Boat Ramp Drive

Tiaro - Petrie Park - Vandoorn Road.

Woocoo

Yengarie - Pleasant View Road

Closures for maintenance and cleaning are advised locally and on Council's website.

Rules & Regulations

• The Mary River is closed to all forms of fishing from 400 metres upstream to 400 metres downstream of the Mary River Barrage.

• Tinana Creek is closed to all forms of fishing from 400 metres upstream to 400 metres downstream of the Tinana Creek Barrage.

• At Fraser Island, from midday 1 September to midday 30 September, the eastern foreshores 400 metres north of Waddy Point to 400 metres south of Indian Head and out to sea for a distance of 400 metres at low tide are closed to all forms of fishing.

• The taking of barramundi is prohibited from midday 1 November to midday 1 February each year (dates can change).

• Platypus Bay off Fraser Island is closed year round to the taking of narrow-barred macherel and barracuda because of the risk of ciguatera poisoning. It is a good idea not to consume any large mackerel or barracuda from Hervey Bay waters.

Spear fishing is prohibited:

• in the vicinity of the Artifical reef off Woodgate, north Hervey Bay.

• near the artificial reef near Woody Island at the northern end of Great Sandy Strait

• No dogs are allowed on Fraser Island.

• A Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish Lake Baramba, Lake.

Source Credit: www.frasercoastholidays.info

Source Credit: Our Fraser Coast 2008 - 2009