Gladstone, Boyne Island and Tannum Sands fishing spots

A busy port harbour sheltered by Curtis and Facing islands, where tropical and southern species overlap. Land-based anglers fish Auckland Creek's jetties and the Boyne River for bream, jacks and barra, Tannum Sands' beaches and points for whiting and flathead, while boats chase salmon and crabs in The Narrows and the Calliope, and mackerel, tuna and reef fish off the south end of Facing Island.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

8 spots here: 3 fished from land and 5 reached only by boat or kayak, plus 5 public boat ramps. Seasons follow our Gladstone & Capricorn Coast 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: Gladstone, Boyne Island and Tannum Sands
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Auckland Creek (East Shores)	Estuary	Land-based and boat	Bay, estuary or river	–
2. Calliope River mouth	River	Boat	Bay, estuary or river	–
3. The Narrows (Curtis Island)	Channel	Boat	Bay, estuary or river	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park / Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park
4. Facing Island (Gatcombe Head)	Island	Boat	Ocean coast	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park / Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park
5. Boyne River (Boyne Island & Tannum Sands)	River	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
6. Canoe Point (Tannum Sands)	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
7. Wild Cattle Creek & Wild Cattle Island	Estuary	Boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park / Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park
8. Pancake Creek	Estuary	Boat	Bay, estuary or river	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park / Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park

1. Auckland Creek (East Shores)

Type: Estuary · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and boat. Jetties, wharves and walls along the East Shores precinct and the yacht club in central Gladstone.
What's good here: Peak in October: mangrove jack, barramundi, dusky flathead, trevally and javelin / grunter. Also in season: yellowfin bream. Closing soon: barramundi (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January).
Best tide: Incoming tide.
Best wind: Sheltered: fishable in most winds.
Note: The city's handiest estuary: live bait around the jetties and wharves for bream, jacks and barra. A cast net helps when prawn schools move through.
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. Boat traffic around the marina and yacht club.
Zone: Port waters with no marine park zone mapped at this point. Guide only, not for navigation: check elibrary.gbrmpa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -23.83220, 151.25190 · Open in Google Maps (position: Auckland Inlet, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Calliope River mouth

Type: River · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat. Short run from Gladstone's ramps across the harbour.
What's good here: Peak in October: barramundi, mangrove jack, king threadfin, javelin / grunter, dusky flathead and mud crab. Also in season: blue threadfin and yellowfin bream. Closing soon: barramundi (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January).
Best tide: Last of the run-out and early run-in at the mouth and drains.
Best wind: Light to moderate winds.
Note: Estuary on the harbour's north-west side for fishing, crabbing and prawning. Work rock bars and snags for barra and jacks, and the mouth's channel edges for salmon.
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. Shipping channels and port security zones: keep clear of wharves and berthed ships.
Zone: Port waters with no marine park zone mapped at this point. Guide only, not for navigation: check elibrary.gbrmpa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -23.81640, 151.22690 · Open in Google Maps (position: Calliope River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. The Narrows (Curtis Island)

Type: Channel · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat. Boat only, and tide-limited. The state's infrastructure layer marks the old mainland ramp at The Narrows crossing as abandoned, so check locally before towing there or run up from Gladstone on the top of the tide.
What's good here: Peak in October: king threadfin, barramundi, mangrove jack, javelin / grunter, dusky flathead and mud crab. Closing soon: barramundi (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January). Out of season now: banana prawns.
Best tide: Neap tides; the middle of The Narrows dries around low water, so plan around the top half of the tide.
Best wind: Sheltered channel: fishable in most winds.
Note: Mangrove channel between Curtis Island and the mainland, known for crabbing, prawning and salmon. Fish creek junctions and drains on the run-out.
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: Channel is a habitat protection (dark blue) zone: normal fishing rules; no green zone within 5 km. Guide only, not for navigation: check elibrary.gbrmpa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -23.63670, 151.06780 · Open in Google Maps (position: The Narrows, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Facing Island (Gatcombe Head)

Type: Island · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Boat. Boat from Boyne Island or Gladstone; Curtis Ferry Services runs to Facing Island.
What's good here: Peak in October: Spanish mackerel, grass sweetlip, black jewfish, whiting, dusky flathead and barramundi. Also in season: longtail tuna. Closed season now: coral trout (8 October to 12 October 2026). Closing soon: black jewfish (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January); barramundi (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January).
Best tide: Tide changes around the head and reefs.
Best wind: Light winds; exposed to south-easterlies at the head.
Note: Coral and rocky outcrops off the island hold mackerel, tuna, sweetlip and trout; the harbour side has whiting, flathead, black jew and barra. The south end is the popular reef-fishing area.
Safety: Box jellyfish and Irukandji: highest risk Nov-May (present all year); wear a stinger suit if you wade. Crocodile habitat: stand well back from the edge, don't wade, and clean fish away from the water. Strong tidal streams through Gatcombe and South channels.
Zone: Island and surrounding waters show no green zone within 5 km of this point; check Map 17 for reefs further out. Guide only, not for navigation: check elibrary.gbrmpa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -23.88080, 151.37420 · Open in Google Maps (position: Gatcombe Head, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Boyne River (Boyne Island & Tannum Sands)

Type: River · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Two-lane ramp and foreshore parks at Boyne Island; Benaraby Bridge upstream is another land-based spot.
What's good here: Peak in October: barramundi, mangrove jack, dusky flathead, whiting, queenfish, mud crab and javelin / grunter. Also in season: yellowfin bream. Closing soon: barramundi (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January).
Best tide: Last of the run-out and early run-in near the mouth.
Best wind: Light winds; most of the river is sheltered.
Note: The local favourite. Bream, flathead and barra downstream of Benaraby Bridge, jacks and queenfish upstream; whiting and flathead on the sand near the mouth.
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: No marine park zone mapped at this point. Guide only, not for navigation: check elibrary.gbrmpa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -23.93700, 151.35580 · Open in Google Maps (position: Boyne River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Canoe Point (Tannum Sands)

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Canoe Point Beach and Parklands at the north end of Tannum Sands' main beach: parking, toilets, barbecues.
What's good here: Peak in October: whiting, dusky flathead, trevally and queenfish. Also in season: yellowfin bream and school mackerel.
Best tide: Run-in to high tide; rock flats appear on the main beach at low tide.
Best wind: Light winds; south-easterlies blow side-on. Faces NE.
Note: Family land-based spot at the Boyne mouth end of the beach: baits for whiting, bream and flathead, metal lures off the point when mackerel and queenfish push in.
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. Wave-washed rocks: watch the swell for a while first, wear grippy footwear and a lifejacket.
Zone: No marine park zone mapped at this point. Guide only, not for navigation: check elibrary.gbrmpa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -23.93830, 151.36690 · Open in Google Maps (position: Canoe Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Wild Cattle Creek & Wild Cattle Island

Type: Estuary · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat and kayak. Kayak or small boat. The state's infrastructure layer marks the ramp at the end of Wild Cattle Creek Road as abandoned; the nearest operational ramps are on the Boyne River at Tannum Sands and Boyne Island. Wild Cattle Island National Park beach by boat.
What's good here: Peak in October: whiting, dusky flathead, mangrove jack, mud crab and trevally. Also in season: yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Run-in for whiting on the sand; last of the run-out at the creek mouth.
Best wind: Light winds; sheltered inside the creek.
Note: Sandy creek between Tannum Sands and Wild Cattle Island: whiting and flathead on the banks, crabs and jacks up the mangrove arms, and a long island beach for a walk-and-cast session.
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: Creek is 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: -23.94973, 151.37805 · Open in Google Maps (position: Wild Cattle Creek, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Pancake Creek

Type: Estuary · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat. Boat only, from Turkey Beach, 1770 or Gladstone; a favourite cruising anchorage.
What's good here: Peak in October: whiting, dusky flathead, trevally, queenfish, mangrove jack and mud crab. Also in season: yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Run-in on the sand banks; last of the run-out in the channels.
Best wind: Very sheltered anchorage once inside; the run around Bustard Head is exposed to south-easterlies.
Note: Clear-water creek behind Bustard Head with sand flats and mangrove arms: whiting and flathead on the banks, trevally and queenfish in the channel, crabs up the creeks.
Safety: Crocodile habitat begins around Gladstone and sightings this far south are uncommon: stay croc-aware in the creeks. Marine stingers are less common this far south but can turn up in summer; cover up if you wade. Exposed coastal run: check the wind and swell before rounding Bustard Head.
Zone: Creek mouth is a habitat protection (dark blue) zone: normal fishing rules. A conservation park (yellow) zone starts about 1.8 km west at Richards Point, and the nearest green zone is about 5 km west-north-west. Guide only, not for navigation: check elibrary.gbrmpa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -24.02065, 151.73493 · Open in Google Maps (position: Pancake Creek, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

5 public boat ramps are listed for Gladstone, Boyne Island and Tannum Sands, 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: Gladstone, Boyne Island and Tannum Sands
Ramp	Notes	Position
Gladstone boat ramp (Auckland Inlet)	Four-lane ramp on Auckland Inlet in central Gladstone.	-23.83767, 151.25213 Google Maps
Gladstone Boat Harbour ramp	Two-lane ramp by the Gladstone Boat Harbour (marina).	-23.82905, 151.24089 Google Maps
Boyne River boat ramp (Boyne Island)	Two-lane ramp on the lower Boyne River.	-23.94192, 151.35451 Google Maps
Tannum Sands boat ramp (Boyne River)	One-lane ramp on the Tannum Sands bank of the Boyne River, off Riverside Drive, opposite Boyne Island.	-23.95575, 151.36117 Google Maps
Turkey Beach boat ramp	One-lane ramp at Turkey Beach on Rodds Bay; the nearest ramp to Pancake Creek and Bustard Head.	-24.07479, 151.65277 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Gladstone, Boyne Island and Tannum Sands in October: dusky flathead, mangrove jack, barramundi, whiting and 13 more. Of the 34 species our Gladstone & Capricorn Coast list has for this part of the coast, 17 peak in October 2026 and 6 more are in season.

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

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

In closed season now (no take): 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: banana prawns (best Feb–May); tiger squid (best May–Aug).

Seen now and then, so not rated: golden snapper, winter whiting and tailor.

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 Gladstone, Boyne Island and Tannum Sands

Most of the harbour is port waters outside the marine park, but the outer coast and islands are under Great Barrier Reef zoning (GBRMPA Map 17).
Spanish mackerel (south of 22°S) closed 1-21 Feb and 1-21 Mar each year; 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 (Lake Awoonga, a stocked dam, is exempt).
No recreational netting in Rodds Harbour.

Marine parks and no-take zones

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

Safety at Gladstone, Boyne Island and Tannum Sands

Crocodile habitat starts near Gladstone: treat every creek, river and beach as croc country.
Box jellyfish and Irukandji can occur, mainly Nov-May.
Working port: stay out of shipping channels and away from LNG and coal wharves and berthed ships.
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

Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy (about 74 km south-east)
Yeppoon and Keppel Bay (about 87 km north-west)
Bundaberg and Burnett Heads (about 154 km south-east)
Hervey Bay (about 223 km south-east)

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: gladstoneregion.info (Auckland Creek jetties (incoming tide, bream, jacks, barra), Benaraby Bridge on the Boyne, Lilley's Beach); gladstoneregion.info (Gladstone harbour estuaries: The Narrows and Calliope River mouth for fishing, crabbing and prawning); gladstoneregion.info (Facing Island reef and inshore species; ferry access); queensland.com (Boyne Island and Tannum Sands: Boyne River, south end of Facing Island reef fishing); queensland.com (Canoe Point Beach and Parklands: fishing, facilities); gladstoneregion.info (Wild Cattle Creek and Wild Cattle Island National Park access from the Millennium Esplanade); gladstoneregion.info (Pancake Creek among the estuaries fished from 1770; species on the flats and in the creeks); gladstoneregion.info (Pancake Creek anchorage); gbrmpa.gov.au (GBRMPA Map 17; zones checked against eAtlas GBRMP and Qld GBR Coast Marine Park layers); dpi.qld.gov.au (Rodds Harbour netting closure); dpi.qld.gov.au (Spanish mackerel and coral reef fin fish closures); qld.gov.au (Crocodile habitat starts near Gladstone); qld.gov.au (Marine stingers); services.ga.gov.au (Wild Cattle Creek and Pancake Creek positions (Composite Gazetteer of Australia, CC BY 4.0)); data.qld.gov.au (Boat ramp positions (Marine infrastructure lines, CC BY 4.0)).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.