Fish aggregating devices (FADs) off South East Queensland
Positions of the 20 fish aggregating devices (FADs) off Noosa, the Sunshine Coast, Moreton and Stradbroke islands and the Gold Coast, from the qld.gov.au FAD list (last updated 31 Aug 2026). FADs move or go missing: check the list before you go.
Updated
FADs move: check it's deployed. The qld.gov.au FAD list was last updated 31 Aug 2026 (checked 8 Oct 2026). Positions are a guide only, not for navigation.
FAD GPS positions
| FAD | Position (decimal, DMS, DDM) | Offshore | Launch from | Trip length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAD 20 Noosa | -26.37833, 153.2383326°22′42″S 153°14′18″E26°22.700′S 153°14.300′E | 6.4 nm | From Noosaville – Albert St ramp or Tewantin – Doonella St ramp, across the Noosa Bar | 6 h |
| FAD 9 Noosa | -26.25930, 153.3292326°15′33″S 153°19′45″E26°15.558′S 153°19.754′E | 13.4 nm | From Noosaville – Albert St ramp or Tewantin – Doonella St ramp, across the Noosa Bar | 6 h |
| FAD 7 Mooloolaba 10 nm | -26.59847, 153.3281026°35′54″S 153°19′41″E26°35.908′S 153°19.686′E | 11.3 nm | From Mooloolaba – Parkyn Pde ramp (The Spit) or Buddina – Harbour Pde ramp (Mooloolah River), across the Mooloolah Bar; or from Picnic Point boat ramp (Maroochydore) or Maroochydore – Bradman Ave ramp (Cod Hole), across the Maroochy Bar | 6 h |
| FAD 8 Mooloolaba east | -26.57098, 153.5632726°34′16″S 153°33′48″E26°34.259′S 153°33.796′E | 23.7 nm | From Mooloolaba – Parkyn Pde ramp (The Spit) or Buddina – Harbour Pde ramp (Mooloolah River), across the Mooloolah Bar; or from Picnic Point boat ramp (Maroochydore) or Maroochydore – Bradman Ave ramp (Cod Hole), across the Maroochy Bar | 6 h |
| FAD 18 Wide Caloundra | -26.74597, 153.4531526°44′45″S 153°27′11″E26°44.758′S 153°27.189′E | 13.9 nm | From Mooloolaba – Parkyn Pde ramp (The Spit) or Buddina – Harbour Pde ramp (Mooloolah River), across the Mooloolah Bar; or from Picnic Point boat ramp (Maroochydore) or Maroochydore – Bradman Ave ramp (Cod Hole), across the Maroochy Bar | 6 h |
| SFAD 4A Mooloolaba shelf | -26.67485, 153.6685226°40′29″S 153°40′07″E26°40.491′S 153°40.111′E | 20.5 nm | From Mooloolaba – Parkyn Pde ramp (The Spit) or Buddina – Harbour Pde ramp (Mooloolah River), across the Mooloolah Bar; or from Picnic Point boat ramp (Maroochydore) or Maroochydore – Bradman Ave ramp (Cod Hole), across the Maroochy Bar | 6 h |
| FAD 6 Bribie offshore | -26.92892, 153.5295826°55′44″S 153°31′46″E26°55.735′S 153°31.775′E | 3.6 nm | From Bongaree – Welsby Pde ramp, Sandstone Point – Kal Ma Kuta Dr ramp or Scarborough Boat Harbour walls, through the Moreton Bay northern entrance (open water, no bar) | 7 h |
| FAD 17 Cape Moreton offshore | -26.99423, 153.5597526°59′39″S 153°33′35″E26°59.654′S 153°33.585′E | 4 nm | From Bongaree – Welsby Pde ramp, Sandstone Point – Kal Ma Kuta Dr ramp or Scarborough Boat Harbour walls, through the Moreton Bay northern entrance (open water, no bar) | 7 h |
| FAD 16 Moreton offshore | -27.18495, 153.6149027°11′06″S 153°36′54″E27°11.097′S 153°36.894′E | 10.1 nm | From Dunwich – Yabby St ramp, across the South Passage Bar | 6 h |
| FAD 4 Stradbroke offshore | -27.28382, 153.6278727°17′02″S 153°37′40″E27°17.029′S 153°37.672′E | 8.9 nm | From Dunwich – Yabby St ramp, across the South Passage Bar | 6 h |
| FAD 15 Point Lookout offshore | -27.39080, 153.6770527°23′27″S 153°40′37″E27°23.448′S 153°40.623′E | 6.7 nm | From Dunwich – Yabby St ramp, across the South Passage Bar | 6 h |
| SFAD 2A Point Lookout shelf | -27.42867, 153.8294027°25′43″S 153°49′46″E27°25.720′S 153°49.764′E | 14.6 nm | From Dunwich – Yabby St ramp, across the South Passage Bar | 6 h |
| SFAD 3A Cape Moreton shelf | -27.01790, 153.7653027°01′04″S 153°45′55″E27°01.074′S 153°45.918′E | 15 nm | From Bongaree – Welsby Pde ramp, Sandstone Point – Kal Ma Kuta Dr ramp or Scarborough Boat Harbour walls, through the Moreton Bay northern entrance (open water, no bar) | 7 h |
| FAD 1 Gold Coast 24s | -27.98780, 153.5291227°59′16″S 153°31′45″E27°59.268′S 153°31.747′E | 5.2 nm | From The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar; or from Tallebudgera Creek – Awoonga Ave ramp or Palm Beach – Murlong Cres ramp, across the Tallebudgera Bar; or from Currumbin – Thrower Dr ramp or Currumbin – Duringan St ramp, across the Currumbin Bar | 6 h |
| FAD 12 Gold Coast 36s | -27.93400, 153.6388527°56′02″S 153°38′20″E27°56.040′S 153°38.331′E | 10.9 nm | From The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar | 6 h |
| FAD 3 Gold Coast 36s | -27.80680, 153.6245327°48′24″S 153°37′28″E27°48.408′S 153°37.472′E | 9.9 nm | From The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar | 6 h |
| FAD 14 Gold Coast 36s | -27.68797, 153.6138727°41′17″S 153°36′50″E27°41.278′S 153°36.832′E | 8.3 nm | From The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar | 6 h |
| FAD 2 Gold Coast 50s | -27.92983, 153.7533027°55′47″S 153°45′12″E27°55.790′S 153°45.198′E | 17 nm | From The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar | 6 h |
| FAD 13 Gold Coast 50s | -27.73947, 153.7385727°44′22″S 153°44′19″E27°44.368′S 153°44.314′E | 15.2 nm | From The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar | 6 h |
| SFAD 1A Gold Coast shelf | -27.92570, 153.8960727°55′33″S 153°53′46″E27°55.542′S 153°53.764′E | 23.2 nm | From The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar | 6 h |
"Offshore" is the distance from the nearest coast in nautical miles. "Trip length" is the time out and back (6 or 7 hours) that we allow for when checking the bar and the open water for that FAD.
FADs by area
- Laguna Bay and Noosa offshore: FAD 20 Noosa and FAD 9 Noosa, 6.4 to 13.4 nm offshore, reached by crossing the Noosa Bar. Open in the app: FAD 20 and FAD 9.
- Mooloolaba and Caloundra offshore: FAD 7 Mooloolaba 10 nm, FAD 8 Mooloolaba east, FAD 18 Wide Caloundra and SFAD 4A Mooloolaba shelf, 11.3 to 23.7 nm offshore, reached by crossing the Mooloolah Bar or the Maroochy Bar. SFAD 4A is a shelf FAD, well out on the continental shelf. Open in the app: FAD 7, FAD 8, FAD 18 and SFAD 4A.
- Cape Moreton and Point Lookout offshore: FAD 6 Bribie offshore, FAD 17 Cape Moreton offshore, FAD 16 Moreton offshore, FAD 4 Stradbroke offshore, FAD 15 Point Lookout offshore, SFAD 2A Point Lookout shelf and SFAD 3A Cape Moreton shelf, 3.6 to 15 nm offshore, reached by crossing the South Passage Bar, or going out through the Moreton Bay northern entrance (open water, no bar). SFAD 2A and SFAD 3A are shelf FADs, well out on the continental shelf. Open in the app: FAD 6, FAD 17, FAD 16, FAD 4, FAD 15, SFAD 2A and SFAD 3A.
- Gold Coast offshore: FAD 1 Gold Coast 24s, FAD 12 Gold Coast 36s, FAD 3 Gold Coast 36s, FAD 14 Gold Coast 36s, FAD 2 Gold Coast 50s, FAD 13 Gold Coast 50s and SFAD 1A Gold Coast shelf, 5.2 to 23.2 nm offshore, reached by crossing the Gold Coast Seaway Bar, the Tallebudgera Bar or the Currumbin Bar. SFAD 1A is a shelf FAD, well out on the continental shelf. Open in the app: FAD 1, FAD 12, FAD 3, FAD 14, FAD 2, FAD 13 and SFAD 1A.
Every trip to a FAD is open water, and most cross a bar. MSQ: only experienced skippers with local knowledge should cross. Lifejackets must be worn crossing a designated bar in an open boat, or in an open area of any boat (the law since 1 Dec 2024, enforced from 1 Jul 2025; MSQ, checked 9 Oct 2026).
Sources and checked dates
- FAD positions: qld.gov.au FAD list, © State of Queensland, CC BY 4.0 (list last updated 31 Aug 2026, checked 8 Oct 2026).
- Distances offshore worked out by Catch Signal from Queensland topographic data (QTopo). The downloads are shared under CC BY 4.0 with the same credit.
- Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.