Offshore fishing marks: Mooloolaba to Caloundra

10 places to fish offshore from Mooloolaba to Caloundra: all reached only by boat. Each has the ramps a boat trip there leaves from, its tide place and what is in season in October.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

Species seasons here follow our Offshore Sunshine Coast guide, which covers Noosa North/Sunshine reefs, Chardons, Double Island Point grounds, Murphys, Gneerings, Caloundra Wide, the Hards and Barwon Banks, Sunshine Coast FADs. Positions are a guide only, not for navigation.

See this week's fishing forecast for Mooloolaba offshore: the app rates each day for small-boat fishing, with the best time of day, wind, tide and what to target.

Spots at a glance

10 spots offshore from Mooloolaba to Caloundra
Spot	Type	Access	Sheltered in	Zone	Tide place
1. Mudjimba (Old Woman) Island	Reef	Boat	Open water	Not in a marine park	Mooloolaba
2. Gneering Shoals	Reef	Boat	Open water	Not in a marine park	Mooloolaba
3. Arkwright Shoal	Reef	Boat	Open water	Not in a marine park	Mooloolaba
4. Bray Rock	Reef	Boat	Open water	Not in a marine park	Mooloolaba
5. Raper Shoal	Reef	Boat	Open water	Not in a marine park	Mooloolaba
6. Barwon Banks	Reef	Boat	Open water	Not in a marine park	Mooloolaba
7. FAD 7 Mooloolaba 10 nm	FAD (fish aggregating device)	Boat	Open water	Not in a marine park	Mooloolaba
8. FAD 8 Mooloolaba east	FAD (fish aggregating device)	Boat	Open water	Not in a marine park	Mooloolaba
9. FAD 18 Wide Caloundra	FAD (fish aggregating device)	Boat	Open water	Not in a marine park	Mooloolaba
10. SFAD 4A Mooloolaba shelf	FAD (fish aggregating device)	Boat	Open water	Not in a marine park	Mooloolaba

1. Mudjimba (Old Woman) Island

Type: Reef
Access: Boat; 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; our forecast plans a 4-hour trip
What's good here: Peak in October: Snapper, Grass sweetlip, Cobia and Pearl perch (9 more in season).
Best tide: Any tide for grass sweetlip, cobia and pearl perch; change of tide for snapper
Best wind: Open water: exposed to every wind
Zone: Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
Note: Island and reef about 1.5 km off Mudjimba Beach; snapper, sweetlip, mackerel and tuna in season. Access: Boat only.
Map: -26.61472, 153.11473 · Open in Google Maps
Tide times here: Mooloolaba (MSQ predictions)
Forecast: Open in the forecast

2. Gneering Shoals

Type: Reef
Access: Boat; 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; our forecast plans a 4-hour trip; about 3.1 nm offshore
What's good here: Peak in October: Snapper, Grass sweetlip, Cobia and Pearl perch (9 more in season).
Best tide: Any tide for grass sweetlip, cobia and pearl perch; change of tide for snapper
Best wind: Open water: exposed to every wind
Zone: Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
Note: Inshore shoals off Mooloolaba; snapper, sweetlip, mackerel in summer. Access: Boat only, via the Mooloolah River bar.
Map: -26.64833, 153.18444 · Open in Google Maps
Tide times here: Mooloolaba (MSQ predictions)
Forecast: Open in the forecast

3. Arkwright Shoal

Type: Reef
Access: Boat; 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; our forecast plans a 4-hour trip; about 0.7 nm offshore
What's good here: Peak in October: Snapper, Grass sweetlip, Cobia and Pearl perch (9 more in season).
Best tide: Any tide for grass sweetlip, cobia and pearl perch; change of tide for snapper
Best wind: Open water: exposed to every wind
Zone: Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
Note: Shallow reef off Point Arkwright. Access: Boat only.
Map: -26.55000, 153.11667 · Open in Google Maps
Tide times here: Mooloolaba (MSQ predictions)
Forecast: Open in the forecast

4. Bray Rock

Type: Reef
Access: Boat; from Caloundra – Tripcony Lane ramp, Golden Beach boat ramp (north) or Golden Beach boat ramp (south, 3 lanes), across the Bribie Island Bar; or from Mooloolaba – Parkyn Pde ramp (The Spit) or Buddina – Harbour Pde ramp (Mooloolah River), across the Mooloolah Bar; our forecast plans a 4-hour trip; about 0.4 nm offshore
What's good here: Peak in October: Snapper, Grass sweetlip, Cobia and Pearl perch (9 more in season).
Best tide: Any tide for grass sweetlip, cobia and pearl perch; change of tide for snapper
Best wind: Open water: exposed to every wind
Zone: Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
Note: Rock and reef off Caloundra Head; snapper, sweetlip and pelagics. Boat only: across the Bribie Island Bar, or from Mooloolaba.
Map: -26.80389, 153.15889 · Open in Google Maps
Tide times here: Mooloolaba (MSQ predictions)
Forecast: Open in the forecast

5. Raper Shoal

Type: Reef
Access: Boat; from Caloundra – Tripcony Lane ramp, Golden Beach boat ramp (north) or Golden Beach boat ramp (south, 3 lanes), across the Bribie Island Bar; or from Mooloolaba – Parkyn Pde ramp (The Spit) or Buddina – Harbour Pde ramp (Mooloolah River), across the Mooloolah Bar; our forecast plans a 4-hour trip; about 0.8 nm offshore
What's good here: Peak in October: Snapper, Grass sweetlip, Cobia and Pearl perch (9 more in season).
Best tide: Any tide for grass sweetlip, cobia and pearl perch; change of tide for snapper
Best wind: Open water: exposed to every wind
Zone: Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
Note: Inshore reef off Currimundi. Access: Boat only.
Map: -26.75346, 153.15253 · Open in Google Maps
Tide times here: Mooloolaba (MSQ predictions)
Forecast: Open in the forecast

6. Barwon Banks

Type: Reef
Access: Boat; 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; our forecast plans a 6-hour trip; about 23.3 nm offshore
What's good here: Peak in October: Snapper, Grass sweetlip, Cobia and Pearl perch (9 more in season).
Best tide: Any tide for grass sweetlip, cobia and pearl perch; change of tide for snapper
Best wind: Open water: exposed to every wind
Zone: Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
Note: Deep reef and banks about 22 nm off Mooloolaba; snapper, pearl perch, amberjack, kingfish. Access: Offshore boats only.
Map: -26.50444, 153.53500 · Open in Google Maps
Tide times here: Mooloolaba (MSQ predictions)
Forecast: Open in the forecast

7. FAD 7 Mooloolaba 10 nm

Type: FAD (fish aggregating device)
Access: Boat; 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; our forecast plans a 6-hour trip; about 11.3 nm offshore
What's good here: In season in October: Mahi mahi and Wahoo.
Best tide: Any tide for mahi mahi and wahoo
Best wind: Open water: exposed to every wind
Zone: Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
Note: Surface FAD cluster 10 nm off Mooloolaba; mahi mahi, small tuna. Access: Offshore boats only.
Map: -26.59847, 153.32810 · Open in Google Maps
Tide times here: Mooloolaba (MSQ predictions)
Forecast: Open in the forecast

FADs move: check it's deployed on the qld.gov.au FAD list (list last updated 31 Aug 2026, checked 8 Oct 2026).

8. FAD 8 Mooloolaba east

Type: FAD (fish aggregating device)
Access: Boat; 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; our forecast plans a 6-hour trip; about 23.7 nm offshore
What's good here: In season in October: Mahi mahi and Wahoo.
Best tide: Any tide for mahi mahi and wahoo
Best wind: Open water: exposed to every wind
Zone: Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
Note: Surface FAD 24 nm off Mooloolaba. Access: Offshore boats only.
Map: -26.57098, 153.56327 · Open in Google Maps
Tide times here: Mooloolaba (MSQ predictions)
Forecast: Open in the forecast

FADs move: check it's deployed on the qld.gov.au FAD list (list last updated 31 Aug 2026, checked 8 Oct 2026).

9. FAD 18 Wide Caloundra

Type: FAD (fish aggregating device)
Access: Boat; 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; our forecast plans a 6-hour trip; about 13.9 nm offshore
What's good here: In season in October: Mahi mahi and Wahoo.
Best tide: Any tide for mahi mahi and wahoo
Best wind: Open water: exposed to every wind
Zone: Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
Note: Surface FAD 18 nm from Mooloolaba. Access: Offshore boats only.
Map: -26.74597, 153.45315 · Open in Google Maps
Tide times here: Mooloolaba (MSQ predictions)
Forecast: Open in the forecast

FADs move: check it's deployed on the qld.gov.au FAD list (list last updated 31 Aug 2026, checked 8 Oct 2026).

10. SFAD 4A Mooloolaba shelf

Type: FAD (fish aggregating device)
Access: Boat; 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; our forecast plans a 6-hour trip; about 20.5 nm offshore
What's good here: In season in October: Mahi mahi and Wahoo.
Best tide: Any tide for mahi mahi and wahoo
Best wind: Open water: exposed to every wind
Zone: Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
Note: Subsurface FADs on the continental shelf, 29 nm out; marlin and tuna. Access: Offshore boats only.
Map: -26.67485, 153.66852 · Open in Google Maps
Tide times here: Mooloolaba (MSQ predictions)
Forecast: Open in the forecast

FADs move: check it's deployed on the qld.gov.au FAD list (list last updated 31 Aug 2026, checked 8 Oct 2026).

Reefs and offshore marks

10 boat-only marks offshore from Mooloolaba to Caloundra: Mudjimba (Old Woman) Island, Gneering Shoals, Arkwright Shoal, Bray Rock, Raper Shoal, Barwon Banks, FAD 7 Mooloolaba 10 nm, FAD 8 Mooloolaba east, FAD 18 Wide Caloundra and SFAD 4A Mooloolaba shelf. FAD 7 Mooloolaba 10 nm, FAD 8 Mooloolaba east, FAD 18 Wide Caloundra and SFAD 4A Mooloolaba shelf are also on the FAD GPS marks page, with GPX and CSV downloads.

Reefs and marks offshore from Mooloolaba to Caloundra: positions (WGS84)
Mark	Position (decimal, DMS, DDM)	Launch from	Restrictions
Mudjimba (Old Woman) Island	-26.61472, 153.1147326°36′53″S 153°06′53″E26°36.883′S 153°06.884′E	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	Not in a marine park
Gneering Shoals	-26.64833, 153.1844426°38′54″S 153°11′04″E26°38.900′S 153°11.066′E	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	Not in a marine park
Arkwright Shoal	-26.55000, 153.1166726°33′00″S 153°07′00″E26°33.000′S 153°07.000′E	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	Not in a marine park
Bray Rock	-26.80389, 153.1588926°48′14″S 153°09′32″E26°48.233′S 153°09.533′E	From Caloundra – Tripcony Lane ramp, Golden Beach boat ramp (north) or Golden Beach boat ramp (south, 3 lanes), across the Bribie Island Bar; or from Mooloolaba – Parkyn Pde ramp (The Spit) or Buddina – Harbour Pde ramp (Mooloolah River), across the Mooloolah Bar	Not in a marine park
Raper Shoal	-26.75346, 153.1525326°45′12″S 153°09′09″E26°45.208′S 153°09.152′E	From Caloundra – Tripcony Lane ramp, Golden Beach boat ramp (north) or Golden Beach boat ramp (south, 3 lanes), across the Bribie Island Bar; or from Mooloolaba – Parkyn Pde ramp (The Spit) or Buddina – Harbour Pde ramp (Mooloolah River), across the Mooloolah Bar	Not in a marine park
Barwon Banks	-26.50444, 153.5350026°30′16″S 153°32′06″E26°30.266′S 153°32.100′E	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	Not in a marine park
FAD 7 Mooloolaba 10 nm	-26.59847, 153.3281026°35′54″S 153°19′41″E26°35.908′S 153°19.686′E	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	Not in a marine park; FAD: check it's deployed (list 31 Aug 2026)
FAD 8 Mooloolaba east	-26.57098, 153.5632726°34′16″S 153°33′48″E26°34.259′S 153°33.796′E	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	Not in a marine park; FAD: check it's deployed (list 31 Aug 2026)
FAD 18 Wide Caloundra	-26.74597, 153.4531526°44′45″S 153°27′11″E26°44.758′S 153°27.189′E	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	Not in a marine park; FAD: check it's deployed (list 31 Aug 2026)
SFAD 4A Mooloolaba shelf	-26.67485, 153.6685226°40′29″S 153°40′07″E26°40.491′S 153°40.111′E	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	Not in a marine park; FAD: check it's deployed (list 31 Aug 2026)

Positions are a guide only, not for navigation: check your chart and the official zoning maps.

What's biting here in October?

In peak season offshore from Mooloolaba to Caloundra in October: snapper, grass sweetlip, cobia, pearl perch and 6 more. Of the 17 species in our Offshore Sunshine Coast guide that these spots reach, 10 peak in October 2026 and 4 more are in season.

SnapperPeak · best May–Jun and Sep–Oct
Grass sweetlipPeak · best all year
CobiaPeak · best Sep–Jan
Pearl perchPeak · best Sep–Jan

Also in season: Tuskfish, Moses perch, Yellowtail kingfish, Amberjack and samsonfish, School mackerel, Teraglin, Mahi mahi, Wahoo, Longtail tuna and Spanner crab.

Out of season in October: Spotted mackerel (best Dec–Mar); Spanish mackerel (best Jan and Apr–Jun); Marlin (best Dec–Feb).

Seen now and then here, so not rated: Yellowfin tuna.

Every species and its size and bag limits: species guides. Seasons are closure-aware: a species in its closed season is never listed as in season, and its best months leave out any month with a closed day.

Species photos are used under Creative Commons or public-domain terms; see photo credits for each photographer and licence.

Can you fish here? Rules and safety

You don't need a licence to fish Queensland's tidal waters (licence rules), but size and possession limits and closed seasons apply. No fishing at Ex-HMAS Brisbane (dive wreck).

Size and bag limits: Queensland tidal size and possession limits (our species guides were checked 8 Oct 2026). Fishing rules for South East Queensland.

No fishing here

No fishing at Ex-HMAS Brisbane (dive wreck): Restricted access area: fishing and general boating permits are not issued; stand off at least 400 m. Public access is closed after Cyclone Alfred until 31 Jan 2027.

Bars and open water

Trips to sea from here cross the Mooloolah Bar, the Maroochy Bar or the Bribie Island 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). We never call a crossing safe: check the conditions yourself.

Marine rescue

Log on and off with MRQ Mooloolaba (ask the unit for log-on details) and MRQ Caloundra (ask the unit for log-on details). Emergency: 000 (112 from mobiles) · VHF 16 for distress (checked 8 Oct 2026).

Weather

Read the official forecast and warnings in the Bureau of Meteorology's own words: Sunshine Coast Waters forecast and Current warnings.

Other rules in parts of South East Queensland

Each rule's text says where it applies.

White spot disease movement area (Caloundra to the NSW border, 100 m off Bribie, Moreton and Stradbroke, inland to Ipswich): prawns, saltwater yabbies, marine worms and other crustaceans must not leave it unless cooked; decontaminate gear and boats when leaving. Exempt: spanner, three-spotted, blue swimmer and mud crabs, bugs, lobsters, red claw. Never use raw supermarket prawns as bait. Official page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
Prawn-farm channels: Biosecurity Area 2 near Logan-area prawn farms (e.g. Jacobs Well, Pimpama, Steiglitz, Woongoolba, Southern Moreton Bay Islands): no line fishing in farm intake/drainage channels or within 100 m of them; crab pots, cast nets and yabby pumps are allowed. Follow the signs. Official page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
Bivalves: pipis only: Bivalves and gastropods are no take in Moreton Bay and all tidal waters flowing into it, except pipis (30). Official page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
Coombabah Lake and Creek: Coombabah Lake and the tidal waters of Coombabah Creek upstream of the lake (Gold Coast): all fishing prohibited. Official page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
Spearfishing: No spearfishing within 100 m of any public jetty from the Noosa River south; also banned in Lake Weyba/lower Noosa River, the lower Maroochy (incl. the Cod Hole), the Mooloolah below Nicklin Way, parts of Pumicestone Passage, Jumpinpin and the Southport Broadwater/Seaway (south of 27°42′S), Tallebudgera Creek and the artificial reef off Cowan Cowan. Official page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
Lota–Wynnum worm digging: No worm digging on the Wynnum foreshore (Lota Creek to the Wynnum North Esplanade groyne); hand pumps only in Fish Habitat Areas. Official page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
NSW waters: South of Point Danger (Tweed, Kingscliff, Cook Island) is NSW: NSW rules apply and a NSW recreational fishing licence is required (not covered here). Official page, checked 8 Oct 2026.

Nearby fishing areas

Mooloolaba, Maroochydore and Coolum (about 23 km west)
Caloundra and Pumicestone Passage (about 28 km south-west)
Laguna Bay and Noosa offshore (about 36 km north)
Noosa River and Noosa Heads (about 37 km north-west)

Distances are between the middle of each area's spots.

Sources and checked dates

Marine park zones: Moreton Bay Marine Park zoning, © State of Queensland (Department of Environment and Science) 2021, CC BY 4.0, simplified; guide only, not for navigation (zones checked 8 Oct 2026).
Spot data checked 8 Oct 2026; area details checked 8 Oct 2026; bars checked 8 Oct 2026; marine rescue units checked 8 Oct 2026.
Species seasons: our South East Queensland guide (Offshore Sunshine Coast), rules checked 8 Oct 2026. Tide places name the Maritime Safety Queensland predictions each spot uses (CC BY 4.0).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.