Bowen fishing spots

Bowen sits on a knob of land with bays on both sides, so one shore is usually out of the wind. Anglers fish the long town jetty and the rocky bays for queenfish, trevally and winter mackerel, the creeks and the Don River for barramundi, jacks and whiting, and run boats into Edgecumbe Bay and out to the islands. Mackerel peak in the cooler months.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

8 spots here: 6 fished from land and 2 reached only by boat or kayak, plus 3 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

8 spots: Bowen
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Bowen Jetty	Jetty	Land-based	Bay, estuary or river	–
2. Kings Beach	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
3. Horseshoe Bay	Bay	Land-based	Ocean coast	Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park
4. Rose Bay	Bay	Land-based	Ocean coast	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
5. Queens Beach	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park
6. Don River mouth	River	Land-based and boat	Bay, estuary or river	–
7. Edgecumbe Bay	Bay	Boat	Bay, estuary or river	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
8. Gloucester Passage	Channel	Boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

1. Bowen Jetty

Type: Jetty · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based. Town jetty off the Bowen foreshore, short walk from parking.
What's good here: Peak in October: queenfish, trevally, grey mackerel and javelin / grunter. Also in season: school mackerel. Out of season now: tiger squid.
Best tide: Tide changes, and the run-in when bait schools hold on the pylons.
Best wind: Light winds or W to NW; the SE trade wind blows across the jetty. Faces SSE.
Note: The town's main land-based spot. Float baits or cast metal and soft plastics around the pylons for queenfish and trevally; winter brings mackerel; squid under the lights at night.
Safety: Long drop to the water: bring a long gaff or drop net. Crocodile country: stand well back from the edge, never wade, and clean fish away from the water.
Zone: No zone is mapped at this point (port waters); the nearest mapped zone, about 2,150 m away, is a habitat protection (dark blue) zone: normal fishing rules. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -20.02188, 148.25026 · Open in Google Maps (position: Jetty (unnamed in dataset), Built features - Queensland series (Marine infrastructure lines))
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Kings Beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Beachfront parking at Kings Beach; walk to the rocks at the southern end.
What's good here: Peak in October: whiting, dusky flathead, trevally and queenfish. Also in season: yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Run-in, especially around the Sandhills Creek mouth.
Best wind: W to SW (offshore); SE trades make it choppy. Faces E.
Note: Whiting and bream on the sand near the creek mouth; the rocks at the south end give a cast into deeper water for trevally and queenfish at dawn and dusk.
Safety: Box jellyfish and Irukandji: highest risk Oct/Nov to May; wear a stinger suit if you wade or swim. Crocodile country: stand well back from the edge, never wade, and clean fish away from the water. Rocks are slippery and exposed to swell in strong SE winds.
Zone: The water off this spot is a habitat protection (dark blue) zone: normal fishing rules. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -20.00370, 148.26520 · Open in Google Maps (position: Kings Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Horseshoe Bay

Type: Bay · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Sealed road and car park at Horseshoe Bay; rocky headlands either side.
What's good here: Peak in October: trevally, queenfish and grass sweetlip. Out of season now: tiger squid.
Best tide: Higher half of the tide over the rocks.
Best wind: S to SE (the bay faces north). Faces NNE.
Note: Small sheltered bay with granite headlands. Fish the rock edges with baits or small lures; grass sweetlip have no closed season, but coral trout and other coral reef fin fish caught here fall under the spawning closures.
Safety: Box jellyfish and Irukandji: highest risk Oct/Nov to May; wear a stinger suit if you wade or swim. Crocodile country: stand well back from the edge, never wade, and clean fish away from the water. No spearfishing within 50 m of the shore from Greys Bay around Cape Edgecumbe to Horseshoe Bay.
Zone: The water off this spot is a general use (light blue) zone: normal fishing rules. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -19.97900, 148.26160 · Open in Google Maps (position: Horseshoe Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Rose Bay

Type: Bay · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Car park at Rose Bay; walk to the rocks at either end.
What's good here: Peak in October: trevally, queenfish, grass sweetlip and whiting. Out of season now: tiger squid.
Best tide: Run-in to high tide.
Best wind: SW to SE (offshore or side-shore). Faces NE.
Note: Another north-east facing bay with rocky ends. Whiting on the sand at the top of the tide, trevally and sweetlip off the rocks.
Safety: Box jellyfish and Irukandji: highest risk Oct/Nov to May; wear a stinger suit if you wade or swim. Crocodile country: stand well back from the edge, never wade, and clean fish away from the water.
Zone: The water off this spot is a general use (light blue) zone: normal fishing rules. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -19.98980, 148.26610 · Open in Google Maps (position: Rose Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Queens Beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Long beach with parking along Horseshoe Bay Road and the Esplanade.
What's good here: Peak in October: whiting, dusky flathead and trevally. Also in season: blue threadfin and yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Run-in; work the gutters and the Don River end at low light.
Best wind: S to SW (offshore); NE winds blow straight in. Faces NE.
Note: Long north-facing beach. Live worms and yabbies for whiting; blue salmon and flathead toward the Don River end after rain.
Safety: Box jellyfish and Irukandji: highest risk Oct/Nov to May; wear a stinger suit if you wade or swim. Crocodile country: stand well back from the edge, never wade, and clean fish away from the water.
Zone: In a general use (light blue) zone: normal fishing rules. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -19.97730, 148.23250 · Open in Google Maps (position: Queens Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Don River mouth

Type: River · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and boat. Don River boat ramp at the western end of Queens Beach; sand access to the mouth.
What's good here: Peak in October: barramundi, king threadfin, mangrove jack, javelin / grunter and mud crab. Also in season: blue threadfin. Closing soon: barramundi (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January).
Best tide: Last of the run-out and first of the run-in at the mouth.
Best wind: Light winds; S to SW is offshore.
Note: Fish the mouth and the drop-offs after a fresh for barra and salmon. Nearby creeks are reached by boat around the top of the tide only.
Safety: Crocodile country: stand well back from the edge, never wade, and clean fish away from the water. Shallow, shifting sand at the mouth; easy to be stranded on a falling tide.
Zone: No zone is mapped at this point in the river; the nearest mapped zone, about 600 m away, is a general use (light blue) zone: normal fishing rules. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -19.96670, 148.21670 · Open in Google Maps (position: Don River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Edgecumbe Bay

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat. Boat from the Bowen Boat Harbour ramp.
What's good here: Peak in October: grey mackerel, golden snapper, javelin / grunter and queenfish. Also in season: school mackerel. Closed season now: Spanish mackerel (8 October to 29 October 2026).
Best tide: Tide changes over rubble and the shoals; mackerel on the run-in.
Best wind: N to NW is calmest; the bay is open to strong SE.
Note: Large shallow bay south of town. Troll or spin for mackerel in the cooler months; anchor on rubble and wrecks for fingermark and grunter.
Safety: Spanish mackerel closures (Oct-Nov) apply here. Crocodiles: keep hands and legs inside the boat and never clean fish at the ramp.
Zone: In a habitat protection (dark blue) zone: normal fishing rules. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -20.11370, 148.39020 · Open in Google Maps (position: Edgecumbe Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Gloucester Passage

Type: Channel · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat and kayak. Boat from Hideaway Bay or Dingo Beach, north-east of Bowen by road.
What's good here: Peak in October: trevally, queenfish and grass sweetlip. Also in season: longtail tuna. Closed season now: coral trout (8 October to 12 October 2026); Spanish mackerel (8 October to 29 October 2026).
Best tide: Run-in and the change; the passage runs hard on springs.
Best wind: Sheltered from most winds except strong N.
Note: Narrow passage between Cape Gloucester and Gloucester Island. Cast lures along the reef edges and troll the points; yellow zone, so one line and one hook each.
Safety: Strong tidal current in the passage. Box jellyfish and Irukandji: highest risk Oct/Nov to May; wear a stinger suit if you wade or swim.
Zone: In a conservation park (yellow) zone: 1 rod or line with 1 hook per person. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -20.05560, 148.45780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Gloucester Passage, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

3 public boat ramps are listed for Bowen, 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: Bowen
Ramp	Notes	Position
Bowen Boat Harbour boat ramp	Two double-lane ramps in the state boat harbour (TMR plan C4-97-2). Most direct access to Edgecumbe Bay.	-20.01686, 148.25476 Google Maps
Queens Bay boat ramp (Horseshoe Bay Road)	Double-lane ramp at Greys Bay, east end of Queens Bay (TMR facility BW11, Whitsunday Regional Council). Exposed to strong N to NE winds.	-19.98176, 148.25733 Google Maps
Don River boat ramp	Single ramp near the Don River mouth; local creeks reached around the top of the tide. Name from a Tourism and Events Qld listing; not in the TMR plan list.	-19.96721, 148.22546 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

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

Also in season: blue threadfin, yellowfin bream, school mackerel, 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 Bowen

Barramundi closed season on the east coast: no take from 1 Nov to 31 Jan (min 58 cm, max 120 cm otherwise).
Coral reef fin fish (trout, cods, emperors, tropical snappers, tuskfish, sweetlips) closed 8-12 Oct and 6-10 Nov 2026.
Spanish mackerel north of 22S: no take 8-29 Oct and 6-27 Nov 2026.
Black jewfish on the east coast: closed 1 Nov-31 Jan; otherwise min 75 cm, 2 per person.
Great Barrier Reef zoning applies to every saltwater spot here: green, pink and orange (scientific research) zones are no-fishing; yellow zones allow 1 rod or line with 1 hook per person.
No spearfishing at Port Denison wharf (Bowen), or within 50 m of the shore from the Greys Bay boat ramp around Cape Edgecumbe to Horseshoe Bay.

Marine parks and no-take zones

The zone notes here name Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Bowen

Estuarine crocodiles live in every creek, river and beach here.
Stinger season (box jellyfish, Irukandji) is roughly October/November to May.
The SE trade wind blows much of the year; the north-facing bays and the harbour are the lee shores.
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

Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays (about 61 km south-east)
Mackay, Seaforth and Cape Hillsborough (about 146 km south-east)
Townsville and Magnetic Island (about 175 km north-west)
Lucinda and the Herbert River (about 261 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: fishandboat.com.au (Bowen land-based spots: the jetty, Kings Beach rocks, Horseshoe, Greys and Rose bays, creek mouths for whiting); qld2032.com (Bowen creeks, the Don River boat ramp and tide-limited creek access (ATDW listing)); gbrmpa.gov.au (Spearfishing closure from Greys Bay around Cape Edgecumbe to Horseshoe Bay); publications.qld.gov.au (Queens Bay, Horseshoe Bay Road ramp (BW11)); publications.qld.gov.au (Bowen state boat harbour plan C4-97-2); qld.gov.au (Size, bag and Gulf vs east coast limits (via the repo species file, checked 9 Oct 2026)); dpi.qld.gov.au (Barramundi, coral reef fin fish, Spanish mackerel and black jewfish closed seasons); dpi.qld.gov.au (Closed waters (no fishing / no spearfishing) by region); qld.gov.au (Crocodile habitat and safety); qld.gov.au (Marine stinger safety); gbrmpa.gov.au (Official GBR Marine Park zoning maps); legislation.qld.gov.au (Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park zoning plan: estuarine conservation zone allows line fishing, trapping and netting); maps.eatlas.org.au (GBRMPA zoning polygons (layer ea:GBR_GBRMPA_Zoning-2003) used to test every coordinate); spatial-gis.information.qld.gov.au (Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park zone polygons (QSpatial layer 63) used to test every coordinate); data.qld.gov.au (Marine infrastructure lines (boat ramps, jetties), CC BY 4.0, for ramp and jetty coordinates); publications.qld.gov.au (TMR boating infrastructure plans: official ramp names and facility IDs).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.