Hervey Bay fishing spots

A broad, shallow bay sheltered from the south-east trades by K'gari. Land-based anglers walk the 868 m Urangan Pier and the town jetties for whiting, bream, flathead and pelagics, fish the rocks at Point Vernon and River Heads, and work the Burrum and Mary river mouths. Boats chase longtail tuna and queenfish in Platypus Bay, reef fish around Woody Island, and winter whiting on the banks.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

9 spots here: 6 fished from land and 3 reached only by boat, plus 5 public boat ramps. Seasons follow our Wide Bay & Bundaberg 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

9 spots: Hervey Bay
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Urangan Pier	Jetty	Land-based	Ocean coast	Great Sandy Marine Park
2. Torquay jetty & beach	Jetty	Land-based	Ocean coast	Great Sandy Marine Park
3. Point Vernon & Gatakers Bay	Rocks	Land-based and boat	Ocean coast	Great Sandy Marine Park
4. Burrum Heads & Burrum River	Estuary	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	Great Sandy Marine Park
5. Toogoom (Beelbi Creek)	Beach	Land-based and boat	Bay, estuary or river	Great Sandy Marine Park
6. River Heads (North Head)	Rocks	Land-based and boat	Bay, estuary or river	Great Sandy Marine Park
7. Mary River mouth	River	Boat	Bay, estuary or river	Great Sandy Marine Park
8. Big Woody Island	Island	Boat	Ocean coast	Great Sandy Marine Park
9. Platypus Bay (K'gari west)	Bay	Boat	Ocean coast	Great Sandy Marine Park

1. Urangan Pier

Type: Jetty · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Off the Esplanade at Urangan; 868 m long and open to the end after restoration. Pin is the seaward end.
What's good here: Peak in October: whiting, dusky flathead, trevally and queenfish. Also in season: yellowfin bream, longtail tuna and school mackerel. Out of season now: tiger squid.
Best tide: Night high tides for whiting along the first 100 m; around high tide at the deep end for bream.
Best wind: Light winds; northerlies blow onto it and fresh south-easterlies chop up the end. Faces NNE.
Note: Hervey Bay's signature land-based spot. Run sinker rigs between the pylons into the tide for bream; whiting near the shore end; tuna, trevally, squid and flathead further out. Sharks over 1.5 m must be released.
Safety: Long walk and exposure: bring water, a hat and a drop net. Marine stingers are less common this far south but can turn up in summer; cover up if you wade.
Zone: The pier itself isn't zoned. The water beside it is habitat protection (dark blue) on one side and a conservation park (yellow) zone on the other: in yellow, up to 2 lines and 2 hooks per person. A green zone (no fishing) lies about 1.7 km east. Guide only, not for navigation: check parks.qld.gov.au.
Map: -25.27626, 152.90822 · Open in Google Maps (position: Urangan Pier, Built features - Queensland series (Marine infrastructure lines))
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Torquay jetty & beach

Type: Jetty · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Esplanade parking at Torquay; the short jetty and the beach either side. Pin is the jetty's seaward end.
What's good here: Peak in October: whiting, dusky flathead, tailor and trevally. Also in season: yellowfin bream. Out of season now: tiger squid.
Best tide: Run-in and high tide.
Best wind: Sheltered in south-easterlies; northerlies onshore. Faces N.
Note: Easy family spot on the Esplanade: whiting and flathead on worms or yabbies, bream around the jetty, and tailor along the beach in season.
Safety: Marine stingers are less common this far south but can turn up in summer; cover up if you wade.
Zone: Jetty end sits in the Hervey Bay foreshore general use (light blue) zone: normal fishing rules. A conservation park (yellow) zone starts about 70 m north (up to 2 lines and 2 hooks per person there), and a green zone lies about 2.4 km west off Pialba. Guide only, not for navigation: check parks.qld.gov.au.
Map: -25.28285, 152.87185 · Open in Google Maps (position: Jetty (unnamed in dataset), Built features - Queensland series (Marine infrastructure lines))
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Point Vernon & Gatakers Bay

Type: Rocks · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based and boat. Esplanade and park access around Point Vernon; ramp at Gatakers Bay.
What's good here: Peak in October: estuary cod, javelin / grunter, coral trout, tuskfish, trevally and grass sweetlip. Also in season: yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Rising tide to high over the rocks.
Best wind: Sheltered from south-easterlies; northerlies make the rocks wash. Faces N.
Note: Rocky foreshore where small trout, cod, grunter and bream come within casting range; an artificial reef sits offshore for boats.
Safety: Wave-washed rocks: watch the swell for a while first, wear grippy footwear and a lifejacket. Marine stingers are less common this far south but can turn up in summer; cover up if you wade.
Zone: Gatakers Bay is a conservation park (yellow) zone: limited line fishing (2 lines, 2 hooks per person) with no-anchoring areas; the nearest green zone is about 3 km south-east. Guide only, not for navigation: check parks.qld.gov.au.
Map: -25.25000, 152.81670 · Open in Google Maps (position: Point Vernon, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Burrum Heads & Burrum River

Type: Estuary · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Two ramps and foreshore parks at Burrum Heads.
What's good here: Peak in October: whiting, dusky flathead, mangrove jack and javelin / grunter. Also in season: yellowfin bream, mud crab and blue swimmer crab.
Best tide: After dark on the run-in for bigger bream; run-in for whiting.
Best wind: Light winds; northerlies roughen the mouth.
Note: Bream and large whiting live in the river all year; flathead come off the beach in front of town. A little berley helps the bream.
Safety: Marine stingers are less common this far south but can turn up in summer; cover up if you wade. Outside the usual crocodile range, but rare sightings happen: stay croc-aware at creek and river edges. Shallow bar at the mouth: check conditions and cross only on a rising tide in light winds.
Zone: River mouth is a conservation park (yellow) zone: limited line fishing (2 lines, 2 hooks per person). A turtle and dugong go-slow area starts about 500 m south-east, and the nearest green zone (Marsh Creek) is about 5 km south-east. Guide only, not for navigation: check parks.qld.gov.au.
Map: -25.17890, 152.61360 · Open in Google Maps (position: Burrum River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Toogoom (Beelbi Creek)

Type: Beach · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and boat. Beachside village with a two-lane ramp on Beelbi Creek; pin is the town point.
What's good here: Peak in October: whiting and dusky flathead. Also in season: yellowfin bream, mud crab and blue swimmer crab.
Best tide: Run-in over the sand near the creek mouth.
Best wind: Sheltered in south-easterlies; northerlies onshore. Faces NNE.
Note: Part of the run of beaches from Burrum Heads to Urangan with easy whiting, bream and flathead fishing.
Safety: Marine stingers are less common this far south but can turn up in summer; cover up if you wade. Outside the usual crocodile range, but rare sightings happen: stay croc-aware at creek and river edges.
Zone: Beelbi Creek is a yellow zone; a green zone lies about 2.5 km north-west. Guide only, not for navigation: check parks.qld.gov.au.
Map: -25.24592, 152.67104 · Open in Google Maps (position: Toogoom, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. River Heads (North Head)

Type: Rocks · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and boat. Barge terminal, ramp and pontoon at River Heads; rocky point beside the ramp.
What's good here: Peak in October: dusky flathead, estuary cod, javelin / grunter and trevally. Also in season: king threadfin, blue threadfin and school mackerel.
Best tide: Around the tide changes and into the night.
Best wind: Light winds; wind against tide makes the heads rough. Faces NNW.
Note: Rocky point at the Mary River mouth that fishes well for big estuary predators, especially at night: salmon, flathead, cod, grunter and trevally. Give way to boats if fishing the pontoon.
Safety: Wave-washed rocks: watch the swell for a while first, wear grippy footwear and a lifejacket. Marine stingers are less common this far south but can turn up in summer; cover up if you wade. Busy barge and ramp area: keep clear of vessels.
Zone: Point is in a conservation park (yellow) zone: limited line fishing (2 lines, 2 hooks per person). The Booral turtle and dugong go-slow area starts about 200 m away; green zones lie about 3.4 km north. Guide only, not for navigation: check parks.qld.gov.au.
Map: -25.43080, 152.92440 · Open in Google Maps (position: North Head, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Mary River mouth

Type: River · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat. Launch at River Heads.
What's good here: Peak in October: barramundi, mangrove jack, dusky flathead and javelin / grunter. Also in season: king threadfin, yellowfin bream and mud crab. Closing soon: barramundi (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January).
Best tide: Last of the run-out and early run-in.
Best wind: Light winds.
Note: Big tidal estuary feeding the Great Sandy Strait: salmon and barra along the channel edges, jacks and crabs in the side creeks.
Safety: Outside the usual crocodile range, but rare sightings happen: stay croc-aware at creek and river edges. Marine stingers are less common this far south but can turn up in summer; cover up if you wade.
Zone: Mouth is a conservation park (yellow) zone: limited line fishing (2 lines, 2 hooks per person). The Booral turtle and dugong go-slow area starts about 600 m away, and a green zone lies about 2.9 km north. Guide only, not for navigation: check parks.qld.gov.au.
Map: -25.42480, 152.93800 · Open in Google Maps (position: Mary River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Big Woody Island

Type: Island · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Boat. Short run from Urangan Boat Harbour.
What's good here: Peak in October: coral trout, tuskfish, estuary cod, grass sweetlip and trevally. Also in season: school mackerel.
Best tide: Tide changes on the ledges and artificial reefs.
Best wind: Light winds; fish the lee shore.
Note: Rocky reefs, ledges and nearby artificial reefs hold trout, tuskfish and cod. Queensland groper (no take) live here too.
Safety: Marine stingers are less common this far south but can turn up in summer; cover up if you wade. Strong currents between the island and K'gari.
Zone: No zone mapped at the island point; a green zone lies about 2.7 km north-west: check the map before anchoring. Guide only, not for navigation: check parks.qld.gov.au.
Map: -25.30080, 152.96860 · Open in Google Maps (position: Big Woody Island, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

9. Platypus Bay (K'gari west)

Type: Bay · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Boat. Long run from Urangan (about 40 km).
What's good here: Peak in October: queenfish, trevally and marlin and sailfish. Also in season: longtail tuna, spotted mackerel and school mackerel.
Best tide: Any tide; follow bird and bait activity.
Best wind: Sheltered by K'gari in south-easterlies; northerlies and westerlies blow straight in.
Note: Hervey Bay's sportfishing ground: longtail tuna, queenfish, golden trevally and, in season, juvenile black marlin. Spanish mackerel and barracuda may not be taken here.
Safety: Long open-water run: check the forecast and carry safety gear. Marine stingers are less common this far south but can turn up in summer; cover up if you wade.
Zone: The pin is in a habitat protection (dark blue) zone: normal fishing rules. The marine park's Platypus Bay Area (no motorised water sports) starts about 2.3 km north-east and a small no-anchoring area lies about 5 km west. Separately, fisheries rules ban taking Spanish mackerel and barracuda in the Platypus Bay regulated waters. Guide only, not for navigation: check parks.qld.gov.au.
Map: -24.93200, 153.20130 · Open in Google Maps (position: Platypus Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

5 public boat ramps are listed for Hervey Bay, 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: Hervey Bay
Ramp	Notes	Position
Urangan Boat Harbour ramp	Multi-lane ramp in the Urangan Boat Harbour (several adjoining lines in the dataset).	-25.29638, 152.90863 Google Maps
River Heads boat ramp	Ramp and pontoon beside the K'gari barge terminal; suits a wide range of craft, with large car and trailer parking.	-25.43042, 152.92319 Google Maps
Gatakers Bay boat ramp	Two-lane ramp at Point Vernon.	-25.24547, 152.81222 Google Maps
Burrum Heads boat ramp	Two-lane ramp on the Burrum River.	-25.18337, 152.60986 Google Maps
Toogoom boat ramp (Beelbi Creek)	Two-lane ramp on Beelbi Creek.	-25.24724, 152.66572 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Hervey Bay in October: dusky flathead, trevally, javelin / grunter, whiting and 10 more. Of the 33 species our Wide Bay & Bundaberg list has for this part of the coast, 14 peak in October 2026 and 13 more are in season.

Peak in October: dusky flathead, trevally, javelin / grunter, whiting, estuary cod, mangrove jack, queenfish, coral trout, grass sweetlip, tuskfish, barramundi, tailor, marlin and sailfish and Spanish mackerel.

Also in season: yellowfin bream, school mackerel, mud crab, king threadfin, blue swimmer crab, longtail tuna, blue threadfin, spotted mackerel, cobia, red emperor, spangled emperor, redthroat emperor and snapper.

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

Closed now in part of the area: mud crab in Eurimbula Creek (near Agnes Water): no take of mud crabs (all year); Spanish mackerel in Platypus Bay (K'gari, Hervey Bay): no take by recreational fishers (all year).

Out of season in October: tiger squid (best Jun–Jul and Dec–Feb); winter whiting (best May–Aug); banana prawns (best Feb–May).

Seen now and then, so not rated: black jewfish, grey mackerel and nannygai.

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 Hervey Bay

Great Sandy Marine Park zoning (2024): green zones are no fishing; yellow zones allow limited lines and hooks. Check the map before fishing near Woody Island, Pialba or the strait.
No recreational netting, including cast nets, from Point Vernon to Urangan Boat Harbour.
Platypus Bay: no Spanish mackerel or barracuda may be taken.
Moon Point seasonal shorebird closure: no public access 1 Sep-31 Oct and 1 Mar-30 Apr.
No spearfishing near the Woody Island artificial reefs; Queensland groper are no take. Snapper closed 15 Jul-15 Aug.

Marine parks and no-take zones

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

Safety at Hervey Bay

Marine stingers are less common here than further north but can occur in summer; cover up if you wade.
Big tidal flats: water returns quickly over the sand.
South of the usual crocodile range; sightings are rare.

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

K'gari (Fraser Island) east coast (about 42 km east)
Great Sandy Strait and Tin Can Bay (about 47 km south)
Bundaberg and Burnett Heads (about 68 km north-west)
Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy (about 150 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 (Urangan Pier (868 m), Kingfisher Bay jetty, Torquay and Coonarr beach fishing, tailor); en.wikipedia.org (Urangan Pier history and restored length); fishostackleworld.com.au (Urangan Pier whiting, bream tactics, restoration; Burrum River bream; River Heads rocks); fishostackleworld.com.au (Recent Urangan Pier report (herring, bream, flathead)); weekendnotes.com (Point Vernon and River Heads rocks: trout, cod, grunter; beaches Burrum Heads to Urangan); queensland.com (River Heads ramp, parking and rock fishing at the point); tradeaboat.com.au (Woody Island reefs and ledges; Platypus Bay area sportfishing context); queensland.com (Hervey Bay sportfishing species incl. longtail tuna, queenfish, juvenile black marlin); parks.qld.gov.au (Great Sandy Marine Park 2024 zoning maps; zones checked against the Qld spatial layers); parks.qld.gov.au (Seasonal shorebird closure areas (Moon Point) and dates); dpi.qld.gov.au (Point Vernon-Urangan netting closure; Woody Island spearfishing); legislation.qld.gov.au (Platypus Bay: no Spanish mackerel or barracuda); qld.gov.au (Shark and ray maximum size, groper no take, snapper closure); services.ga.gov.au (Toogoom position (Composite Gazetteer of Australia, CC BY 4.0)); data.qld.gov.au (Urangan Pier, Torquay jetty and boat ramp positions (Marine infrastructure lines, CC BY 4.0)).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.