K'gari (Fraser Island) east coast fishing spots

More than 100 km of surf beach on the world's largest sand island, broken by the headlands of Waddy Point and Indian Head. Anglers read the gutters for whiting, bream, dart and flathead and, in the August-October run, tailor; the headlands add trevally, snapper and sweetlip. Access is 4WD with permits, dingoes roam, and a fin fish closure applies near Waddy Point and Indian Head each August and September.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

7 spots here, all fished from land. 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

7 spots: K'gari (Fraser Island) east coast
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Orchid Beach	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	Great Sandy Marine Park
2. Waddy Point	Headland	Land-based and boat	Ocean coast	Great Sandy Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
3. Indian Head (Tukkee Wurroo)	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	Great Sandy Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
4. The Cathedrals	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	Great Sandy Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
5. Happy Valley	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	Great Sandy Marine Park
6. Poyungan Rocks	Rocks	Land-based	Ocean coast	Great Sandy Marine Park
7. Eurong	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	Great Sandy Marine Park

1. Orchid Beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. North of Waddy Point via the beach and inland tracks; small settlement.
What's good here: Peak in October: tailor, whiting, dusky flathead and trevally. Also in season: yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Rising tide in the gutters.
Best wind: Light winds; south-easterlies blow along the beach. Faces ENE.
Note: Northern beach that fishes well in the tailor run along with Waddy Point and Indian Head; whiting and bream in the gutters year-round.
Safety: Dingoes: keep bait and catch close to you, don't drag fish up the sand, strip and stow bait when you stop, and never feed them. Beach driving: 4WD only, vehicle access permit needed; travel around low tide and watch for washouts and soft sand. Surf beach with strong rips and sharks: don't swim.
Zone: Beach faces a conservation park (yellow) zone: limited line fishing (2 lines, 2 hooks per person); no green zone within 5 km. Guide only, not for navigation: check parks.qld.gov.au.
Map: -24.91500, 153.28140 · Open in Google Maps (position: Orchid Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Waddy Point

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based and boat. Waddy Point camping areas (permits); boats launch off the beach in the lee of the point.
What's good here: Peak in October: tailor, trevally, grass sweetlip and estuary cod. Also in season: snapper, yellowfin bream and longtail tuna.
Best tide: Run-in and high tide off the rocks.
Best wind: The north side is sheltered in south-easterlies; northerlies and swell wash the ledges. Faces NE.
Note: Rock-ledge spot for trevally, snapper, sweetlip and cod, and a tailor hotspot. The beach from 400 m north of here to 400 m south of Indian Head is closed to fin fish 1 Aug-29 Sep.
Safety: Wave-washed rocks: watch the swell for a while first, wear grippy footwear and a lifejacket. Dingoes: keep bait and catch close to you, don't drag fish up the sand, strip and stow bait when you stop, and never feed them. Beach driving: 4WD only, vehicle access permit needed; travel around low tide and watch for washouts and soft sand.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Point waters are yellow; a green zone (no fishing) covers Middle Rocks about 1.7 km south. Seasonal fin fish closure 1 Aug-29 Sep from here to Indian Head. Guide only, not for navigation: check parks.qld.gov.au.
Map: -24.96500, 153.35110 · Open in Google Maps (position: Waddy Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Indian Head (Tukkee Wurroo)

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Beach drive from Eurong or Happy Valley; the headland walking track is closed until 18 Nov 2026.
What's good here: Peak in October: tailor, trevally, grass sweetlip and estuary cod. Also in season: snapper and yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Run-in and high tide.
Best wind: The north side is tucked away from south-easterlies; swell makes the ledges dangerous. Faces E.
Note: Famous headland with ledge fishing and tailor on the beaches either side. Respect the fin fish closure (1 Aug-29 Sep) between here and Waddy Point.
Safety: Wave-washed rocks: watch the swell for a while first, wear grippy footwear and a lifejacket. Dingoes: keep bait and catch close to you, don't drag fish up the sand, strip and stow bait when you stop, and never feed them. Beach driving: 4WD only, vehicle access permit needed; travel around low tide and watch for washouts and soft sand.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Surrounding waters are yellow; the Middle Rocks green zone is about 1.7 km north. Seasonal fin fish closure 1 Aug-29 Sep north to Waddy Point. Guide only, not for navigation: check parks.qld.gov.au.
Map: -25.00610, 153.35940 · Open in Google Maps (position: Indian Head, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. The Cathedrals

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Coloured sand cliffs on Seventy-Five Mile Beach near Cathedral Beach and Dundubara camping.
What's good here: Peak in October: tailor, whiting, dusky flathead and trevally. Also in season: yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Rising tide in the gutters.
Best wind: Light winds or light westerlies. Faces ESE.
Note: Middle stretch of the eastern beach where the tailor run concentrates; dart, flathead and whiting fill in between schools.
Safety: Dingoes: keep bait and catch close to you, don't drag fish up the sand, strip and stow bait when you stop, and never feed them. Beach driving: 4WD only, vehicle access permit needed; travel around low tide and watch for washouts and soft sand. Don't swim: rips and sharks.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Beach is in a yellow zone. A large offshore green zone (Offshore Dundubara) starts about 600 m out and runs about 9 km north and 9 km south of here, so boat anglers must stay inshore of it. Guide only, not for navigation: check parks.qld.gov.au.
Map: -25.15668, 153.28888 · Open in Google Maps (position: The Cathedrals, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Happy Valley

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Small settlement with a store selling bait; pin is the settlement point behind the beach.
What's good here: Peak in October: tailor, whiting, dusky flathead and trevally. Also in season: yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Rising tide in the gutters.
Best wind: Light winds or light westerlies. Faces ESE.
Note: Popular base for beach anglers; reports often single out the Happy Valley-Cathedrals stretch for tailor, dart, whiting and flathead.
Safety: Dingoes: keep bait and catch close to you, don't drag fish up the sand, strip and stow bait when you stop, and never feed them. Beach driving: 4WD only, vehicle access permit needed; travel around low tide and watch for washouts and soft sand.
Zone: Beach faces a yellow zone; no green zone within 5 km. Guide only, not for navigation: check parks.qld.gov.au.
Map: -25.33751, 153.20055 · Open in Google Maps (position: Happy Valley, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Poyungan Rocks

Type: Rocks · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Coffee rock outcrop on the beach between Eurong and Happy Valley, with an inland bypass track.
What's good here: Peak in October: tailor, trevally, whiting and dusky flathead. Also in season: yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Rising tide; vehicles must use the inland bypass around high tide.
Best wind: Light winds or light westerlies. Faces ESE.
Note: Rated among the island's top tailor areas; bream and trevally hang around the rock.
Safety: Dingoes: keep bait and catch close to you, don't drag fish up the sand, strip and stow bait when you stop, and never feed them. Beach driving: 4WD only, vehicle access permit needed; travel around low tide and watch for washouts and soft sand. Wave-washed rocks: watch the swell for a while first, wear grippy footwear and a lifejacket.
Zone: Beach faces a yellow zone; no green zone within 5 km. Guide only, not for navigation: check parks.qld.gov.au.
Map: -25.41501, 153.16777 · Open in Google Maps (position: Poyungan Rocks, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Eurong

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Southern beach settlement with bait and supplies; pin is the settlement point.
What's good here: Peak in October: whiting, tailor, dusky flathead and trevally. Also in season: yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Rising tide in the gutters.
Best wind: Light winds or light westerlies. Faces ESE.
Note: Handy base for the southern beach: beach worms and pipis for whiting and dart, pilchards for tailor.
Safety: Dingoes: keep bait and catch close to you, don't drag fish up the sand, strip and stow bait when you stop, and never feed them. Beach driving: 4WD only, vehicle access permit needed; travel around low tide and watch for washouts and soft sand.
Zone: Beach faces a yellow zone; no green zone within 5 km. Guide only, not for navigation: check parks.qld.gov.au.
Map: -25.51140, 153.12610 · Open in Google Maps (position: Eurong, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

No public boat ramp here has a position in the open data we use, so none is listed.

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at K'gari (Fraser Island) east coast in October: tailor, trevally, whiting, dusky flathead 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: tailor, trevally, whiting, dusky flathead, estuary cod, grass sweetlip, barramundi, mangrove jack, javelin / grunter, queenfish, Spanish mackerel, coral trout, tuskfish and marlin and sailfish.

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

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

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 K'gari (Fraser Island) east coast

K'gari eastern beach fin fish closure: 1 Aug-29 Sep each year, no taking fin fish from the beach and 400 m out to sea, from 400 m north of Waddy Point to 400 m south of Indian Head (worms and pipis may still be collected by hand).
Great Sandy Marine Park zoning (2024): the beach is yellow (limited lines and hooks); Middle Rocks (Champagne Pools) between Waddy Point and Indian Head is a green zone, and a large green zone (Offshore Dundubara) starts about 600 m offshore along roughly 18 km of beach centred on the Cathedrals.
No fishing or bait collecting in K'gari's freshwater lakes and streams.
Vehicle access permits and camping permits must be bought before arrival.

Marine parks and no-take zones

The zone notes here name Great Sandy Marine Park. A no-take zone starts close to Waddy Point, Indian Head (Tukkee Wurroo) and The Cathedrals: each one's zone note says where. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at K'gari (Fraser Island) east coast

Dingoes (wongari): keep bait and catch within reach, don't drag fish across the sand, bury frames knee-deep away from camps, strip bait and cover hooks when you stop, and never feed them (fines apply).
Beach driving: vehicle access and camping permits needed; drive around low tide and check the K'gari conditions report.
Don't swim on the eastern beach: strong rips and sharks.
Rock ledges at Waddy Point and Indian Head have caused serious injuries when swell washes over them.

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

Hervey Bay (about 42 km west)
Great Sandy Strait and Tin Can Bay (about 62 km south-west)
Bundaberg and Burnett Heads (about 96 km north-west)
Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy (about 173 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 and ABS Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 (2021) (Australian Bureau of Statistics), 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 (Tailor run August-October, gutters and tides, bait at Eurong and Happy Valley); tradeaboat.com.au (75 Mile Beach gutters and species; rock ledges at Waddy Point and Indian Head; no fishing in freshwater lakes and streams; permits); allaboutfraser.com (Top tailor areas: Indian Head, Poyungan Rocks, the Cathedrals, Waddy Point); coastwatch.com.au (Tailor from Indian Head to Waddy Point and Orchid Beach); coastwatch.com.au (Dart, flathead and whiting from Happy Valley to the Cathedrals); fishostackleworld.com.au (Inland bypass tracks at Poyungan and Yidney rocks); parks.qld.gov.au (Beach fishing allowed; check marine park boundaries; night fishing advice); detsi.qld.gov.au (Dingo rules for anglers: keep catch close, strip bait, move dingoes on, feeding fines); parks.qld.gov.au (Conditions report, beach driving, swimming hazards; Indian Head walking track alert); dpi.qld.gov.au (K'gari eastern beach fin fish closure); parks.qld.gov.au (Great Sandy Marine Park 2024 zoning maps; zones checked against the Qld spatial layers (MNP08 Middle Rocks, MNP12 offshore)); services.ga.gov.au (Cathedrals, Happy Valley, Poyungan Rocks and Eurong positions (Composite Gazetteer of Australia, CC BY 4.0)).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.