Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays fishing spots

Calm mainland bays, mangrove rivers and the island passages of the Whitsundays. Shore anglers chase squid, queenfish and whiting around Shute Harbour, Cannonvale and Conway Beach; boats work the Proserpine River for barra and the channels and fringing reefs for Spanish mackerel, trout and, in spring and summer, billfish. Much of the island fringe is green zone, and this is croc and stinger country.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

7 spots here: 4 fished from land and 3 reached only by boat, plus 4 public boat ramps. Seasons follow our Mackay & Whitsundays species list for Queensland. Positions are a guide only, not for navigation.

Under each spot, "Forecast for this spot" opens the app's forecast worked out for that spot: Go, Marginal or No-go for each day of the week ahead, with the best times, wind, waves and tide. Open the forecast.

Spots at a glance

7 spots: Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Shute Harbour	Jetty	Land-based and boat	Bay, estuary or river	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park / Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park
2. Cannonvale Beach (Pioneer Bay)	Beach	Land-based	Bay, estuary or river	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park / Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park
3. Conway Beach	Beach	Land-based and boat	Bay, estuary or river	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park / Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park
4. Proserpine River	River	Boat	Bay, estuary or river	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park / Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park
5. Dingo Beach	Beach	Land-based and boat	Ocean coast	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park / Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park
6. Molle Channel & Whitsunday Passage	Channel	Boat	Ocean coast	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park / Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
7. Nara Inlet (Hook Island)	Bay	Boat	Bay, estuary or river	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park / Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park

1. Shute Harbour

Type: Jetty · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and boat. Car parks at the marine terminal and ramp; fish only from public areas where signs allow.
What's good here: Peak in October: queenfish, trevally, golden snapper and estuary cod. Also in season: school mackerel. Out of season now: tiger squid.
Best tide: Moving water either side of the top of the tide.
Best wind: A deep, enclosed harbour: fishable in most trade-wind days; strong easterlies push chop in. Faces E.
Note: Pin is the harbour; the public jetty and walls are on its north shore by the ferry terminal. Squid and small reef fish on light gear, plus queenfish and school mackerel when baitfish gather.
Safety: Crocodile habitat: stand well back from the edge, don't wade, and clean fish away from the water. Box jellyfish and Irukandji: highest risk Nov-May (present all year); wear a stinger suit if you wade. Busy ferry, charter and ramp traffic: keep clear of berths and vessels.
Zone: Sits in a habitat protection (dark blue) zone: normal fishing rules. A conservation park (yellow) zone around Shute, Tancred and Repair islands starts about 250 m east (1 rod or handline with 1 hook per person there); the nearest green zone is about 5 km east. Guide only, not for navigation: check elibrary.gbrmpa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -20.29920, 148.78560 · Open in Google Maps (position: Shute Harbour, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Cannonvale Beach (Pioneer Bay)

Type: Beach · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based. Foreshore parking along Cannonvale's beachfront; easy walk on.
What's good here: Peak in October: whiting, dusky flathead, queenfish and trevally. Also in season: yellowfin bream and blue threadfin.
Best tide: Rising tide over the sand and mud flats; low water leaves the flats bare.
Best wind: Sheltered in the usual south-east trades; northerlies blow straight in. Faces NNW.
Note: Pin is the bay. Wade-free bait fishing for whiting and flathead on the run-in; cast small lures for queenfish and trevally when bait shows near the rocks at either end.
Safety: Crocodile habitat: stand well back from the edge, don't wade, and clean fish away from the water. Box jellyfish and Irukandji: highest risk Nov-May (present all year); wear a stinger suit if you wade. Big tides here: the water comes in fast over the flats, so keep an exit route.
Zone: Pioneer Bay is a conservation park (yellow) zone: 1 rod or handline with 1 hook per person. No green zone within 5 km. Guide only, not for navigation: check elibrary.gbrmpa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -20.24560, 148.71080 · Open in Google Maps (position: Pioneer Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Conway Beach

Type: Beach · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and boat. Beachfront park and camping at Conway Beach; the nearest mapped ramp is at Wilson Beach.
What's good here: Peak in October: whiting, dusky flathead, javelin / grunter, king threadfin, barramundi and mud crab. Also in season: yellowfin bream and blue threadfin. Closing soon: barramundi (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January).
Best tide: Last of the run-out and early run-in around the Proserpine River mouth.
Best wind: Light winds; fresh south-easterlies blow onshore here. Faces SSW.
Note: A long sandy beach at the Proserpine River mouth known for crabbing and for salmon, grunter, whiting, flathead and bream; barra move along the mouth on the warmer months' tides.
Safety: Crocodile habitat: stand well back from the edge, don't wade, and clean fish away from the water. Box jellyfish and Irukandji: highest risk Nov-May (present all year); wear a stinger suit if you wade. Big tides here: the water comes in fast over the flats, so keep an exit route.
Zone: Beach faces a general use (light blue) zone: normal fishing rules; a large green zone covers southern Repulse Bay further south (about 7 km away). Guide only, not for navigation: check elibrary.gbrmpa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -20.47950, 148.73970 · Open in Google Maps (position: Conway Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Proserpine River

Type: River · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat. Launch at Wilson Beach and run into the river; no land-based access worth recommending.
What's good here: Peak in October: barramundi, mangrove jack, king threadfin, javelin / grunter, golden snapper and mud crab. Also in season: blue threadfin. Closing soon: barramundi (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January).
Best tide: Last half of the run-out and first of the run-in at drains, snags and the mouth.
Best wind: Light winds; the mouth gets lumpy in fresh south-easterlies.
Note: Mangrove-lined barra river at the head of Repulse Bay. Work snags and drain mouths with lures or live bait; crab pots in the side creeks. Barra closed 1 Nov-31 Jan.
Safety: One of the densest estuarine crocodile populations on this coast: stay in the boat and well off the banks. Box jellyfish and Irukandji: highest risk Nov-May (present all year); wear a stinger suit if you wade. Shallow bar at the mouth: check conditions and cross only on a rising tide in light winds.
Zone: Mouth is in a general use (light blue) zone: normal fishing rules; no green zone within 5 km. Guide only, not for navigation: check elibrary.gbrmpa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -20.48390, 148.72300 · Open in Google Maps (position: Proserpine River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Dingo Beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based and boat. Small beachfront township with a public ramp; pin is the locality reference, the beach is just north.
What's good here: Peak in October: queenfish, trevally, grass sweetlip and golden snapper. Also in season: school mackerel. Closed season now: Spanish mackerel (8 October to 29 October 2026). Out of season now: tiger squid.
Best tide: Run-in and the top of the tide off the beach; tide changes on the nearby reefs.
Best wind: Tucked behind Cape Gloucester in south-easterlies; northerlies blow onshore. Faces N.
Note: Launch point for the northern Whitsunday waters. Shore anglers cast metals and baits for mackerel and queenfish; boats fish the reef between the small islands off the beach for sweetlip and fingermark.
Safety: Crocodile habitat: stand well back from the edge, don't wade, and clean fish away from the water. Box jellyfish and Irukandji: highest risk Nov-May (present all year); wear a stinger suit if you wade.
Zone: Inshore waters are habitat protection (dark blue) zone: normal fishing rules; check Map 10 before fishing the island reefs. Guide only, not for navigation: check elibrary.gbrmpa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -20.09120, 148.50200 · Open in Google Maps (position: Dingo Beach, ABS suburbs and localities)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Molle Channel & Whitsunday Passage

Type: Channel · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Boat. Short run from Shute Harbour or Abel Point.
What's good here: Peak in October: cobia, trevally, queenfish and marlin and sailfish. Also in season: school mackerel and longtail tuna. Closed season now: Spanish mackerel (8 October to 29 October 2026); coral trout (8 October to 12 October 2026).
Best tide: Tide changes on reef edges; neap tides are easier in the strong passage currents.
Best wind: Light to moderate winds; wind against tide stands the channel up.
Note: The main pelagic highway between the mainland and the Molle group: troll or float baits for Spanish mackerel (best late autumn to early spring) and fish island reef edges for trout. Billfish in spring and summer.
Safety: Box jellyfish and Irukandji: highest risk Nov-May (present all year); wear a stinger suit if you wade. Strong tidal streams and heavy charter and ferry traffic in the passage. Coral reef fin fish closed 8-12 Oct and 6-10 Nov 2026; Spanish mackerel closed 8-29 Oct and 6-27 Nov 2026.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Channel is a habitat protection (dark blue) zone: normal fishing rules; a green zone (no fishing) surrounds parts of South Molle Island about 4 km south-east. Many island fringes are green: check Map 10A. Guide only, not for navigation: check elibrary.gbrmpa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -20.26670, 148.80000 · Open in Google Maps (position: Molle Channel, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Nara Inlet (Hook Island)

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat. Boat only; a popular overnight anchorage on Hook Island's south side.
What's good here: Peak in October: golden snapper, estuary cod, mangrove jack, trevally, queenfish and grass sweetlip. Out of season now: tiger squid.
Best tide: Last of the run-out and first of the run-in along the mangrove edges.
Best wind: One of the best trade-wind anchorages: sheltered in south-easterlies.
Note: Deep, steep-sided inlet with mangroves at its head. Fish the rocky edges for cod, fingermark and sweetlip and the mangrove end for jacks; squid around the moorings.
Safety: Crocodile habitat: stand well back from the edge, don't wade, and clean fish away from the water. Box jellyfish and Irukandji: highest risk Nov-May (present all year); wear a stinger suit if you wade.
Zone: Inlet is a conservation park (yellow) zone: 1 rod or handline with 1 hook per person; green zones lie around other parts of Hook Island: check Map 10A. Guide only, not for navigation: check elibrary.gbrmpa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -20.14780, 148.90780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Nara Inlet, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

4 public boat ramps are listed for Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays, with positions from Built features - Queensland series (Marine infrastructure lines). Lanes, parking and tide access are as the data says: check them on the day.

Boat ramps: Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays
Ramp	Notes	Position
Shute Harbour boat ramp	Ramp lanes beside the Shute Harbour marine terminal (the dataset maps three adjoining ramp lines). Shortest run to the Whitsunday Passage.	-20.29318, 148.78516 Google Maps
Abel Point Marina boat ramp	Ramp at Abel Point Marina, Shingley Drive, Airlie Beach (two adjoining one-lane lines in the dataset).	-20.26620, 148.71205 Google Maps
Dingo Beach boat ramp	Two-lane beachfront ramp for the northern Whitsunday waters and Gloucester Passage.	-20.09010, 148.49902 Google Maps
Wilson Beach boat ramp	Access to Repulse Bay and the Proserpine River; very tide-affected flats out front.	-20.47390, 148.72497 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays in October: queenfish, trevally, golden snapper, barramundi and 12 more. Of the 31 species our Mackay & Whitsundays list has for this part of the coast, 16 peak in October 2026 and 6 more are in season.

Peak in October: queenfish, trevally, golden snapper, barramundi, king threadfin, mangrove jack, estuary cod, javelin / grunter, whiting, dusky flathead, mud crab, grass sweetlip, cobia, marlin and sailfish, black jewfish and grey mackerel.

Also in season: blue threadfin, school mackerel, yellowfin bream, longtail tuna, blue swimmer crab and spotted mackerel.

In closed season now (no take): Spanish mackerel (8 October to 29 October 2026); coral trout (8 October to 12 October 2026); red emperor (8 October to 12 October 2026); nannygai (8 October to 12 October 2026); spangled emperor (8 October to 12 October 2026); redthroat emperor (8 October to 12 October 2026); tuskfish (8 October to 12 October 2026).

Closing soon: barramundi (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January); black jewfish (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January).

Out of season in October: tiger squid (best May–Aug); banana prawns (best Feb–May).

Seasons are closure-aware: a species is never listed as in season, for the area or at a spot, while it is closed there; a closure for part of the area says where. Species links go to our South East Queensland species guides, with Queensland's limits: Queensland's own size and bag limits are on the official rules page.

Can you fish here? Rules and safety

No licence or fee for recreational fishing in Queensland tidal waters, including the Gulf and Torres Strait (as at 9 Oct 2026). Licence details. Size and bag limits and closed seasons apply: Queensland's limits (checked 9 Oct 2026).

Rules at Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays

Great Barrier Reef zoning applies to almost all waters here: no fishing in green (marine national park) or pink zones; yellow zones allow 1 rod or handline with 1 hook per person. Check GBRMPA Maps 10 and 10A.
Spanish mackerel (north of 22°S) closed 8-29 Oct and 6-27 Nov 2026.
Coral reef fin fish closed 8-12 Oct and 6-10 Nov 2026.
Barramundi closed on the east coast from 1 Nov to 31 Jan.
Closed waters: no fishing within 100 m of the Hook Island observatory; no spearfishing on set sides of Hayman, Hook, Lindeman, Long, South Molle and Daydream islands.

Marine parks and no-take zones

The zone notes here name Great Barrier Reef Marine Park / Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park. A no-take zone starts close to Molle Channel & Whitsunday Passage: its zone note says where. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays

Estuarine crocodiles live throughout this area, in rivers, creeks, beaches and around islands; extra care Sep-Apr (breeding season).
Box jellyfish and Irukandji: present all year, highest risk Nov-May. Carry vinegar and call 000 if stung.
Large tides and strong currents in the passages; plan runs to the islands around the forecast.
Crocodile country: saltwater crocodiles live in rivers, estuaries, beaches and around islands here. Stay well back from the water's edge, never clean fish at the water, and don't stand on logs or overhanging banks. More.
Marine stingers (box jellyfish and irukandji) can be in these waters, mostly in the warmer months: cover up if you wade or swim, and carry vinegar. More.

Queensland: official links

Read the official forecast and warnings in the Bureau of Meteorology's own words: Qld coastal and local waters forecast map and current warnings.

Boating: Queensland boating safety, crossing coastal bars and lifejacket rules. Lifejackets: Must wear: crossing a designated bar in an open boat or open area (any length); open boat <4.8m underway alone or at night; children 1-11 in open boat/area underway. AS 4758 only.

Heading out on the water? Log on and off with Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ). Until MRQ is fully operational, log on with your local marine rescue unit by boat radio or by phoning the unit. Channels and hours differ by unit.

Marine parks and closed areas: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Commonwealth) - GBRMPA zoning maps, GBRMPA - interpreting zones, Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park (State) and all Qld state marine parks, Moreton Bay Marine Park - app and maps, Great Sandy Marine Park - app and maps and Australian Marine Parks (Commonwealth waters, e.g. Coral Sea).

Help on the water (non-emergency): MRQ unit pages list 131 MRQ (131 677). More.

Queensland's official rules: size and bag limits and closed seasons and areas (checked 9 Oct 2026).

Emergency: 000 (112 from mobiles) · VHF channel 16 for distress.

Nearby fishing areas

Bowen (about 61 km north-west)
Mackay, Seaforth and Cape Hillsborough (about 91 km south-east)
Townsville and Magnetic Island (about 236 km north-west)
Lucinda and the Herbert River (about 322 km north-west)

Distances are between the middle of each area. Every area in Queensland · all fishing spot guides.

Sources and checked dates

Spot and ramp positions: Composite Gazetteer of Australia (Geoscience Australia and the state and territory naming authorities), CC BY 4.0, ABS Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 (2021) (Australian Bureau of Statistics), CC BY 4.0 and Built features - Queensland series (Marine infrastructure lines) (State of Queensland), CC BY 4.0; gazetteer and ABS positions through our place index. Guide only, not for navigation.
Spot research checked 9 Oct 2026 and fact-checked 9 Oct 2026; species seasons and rules checked 9 Oct 2026; safety links checked 9 Oct 2026. Text in our own words.
Research sources: queensland.com (Conway Beach at the Proserpine River mouth: crabbing, barra, king and blue salmon, grunter, whiting, flathead, bream; crocodiles (Tourism and Events Queensland)); queensland.com (Dingo Beach and Hydeaway Bay on Edgecumbe Bay: fishing, beachfront ramp); big4.com.au (Shute Harbour fishing jetty: squid and small tropical species; busy working harbour); sailing-whitsundays.com (Mainland land-based options: Shute Harbour jetty, Cannonvale Beach (summary via search; page blocked to direct fetch)); 100magicmiles.com (Whitsunday island fishing: reef edges, mangrove inlets on Whitsunday and Hook islands, estuary tide timing, Spanish mackerel season, billfish); gbrmpa.gov.au (GBRMPA zoning maps (Maps 10 and 10A cover this area); zones checked against the eAtlas GBRMP zoning layer and Qld GBR Coast Marine Park zones layer); gbrmpa.gov.au (What each zone allows (green no fishing, yellow 1 line 1 hook)); dpi.qld.gov.au (Spanish mackerel and coral reef fin fish closures 2026); dpi.qld.gov.au (Closed waters: Hook Island observatory, spearfishing closures); qld.gov.au (Barramundi closed season and limits); qld.gov.au (Crocodile habitat from near Gladstone north); qld.gov.au (Marine stingers all year, higher risk Nov-May; croc breeding season Sep-Apr); data.qld.gov.au (Boat ramp and jetty positions (Marine infrastructure lines, CC BY 4.0)).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.