Mission Beach fishing spots

Mission Beach is a string of beaches and rocky points facing Dunk and the Family Islands, with the Hull and Tully rivers to the south. Anglers fish the rivers for barramundi, salmon and jacks, the points and Clump Point for queenfish and trevally, and run boats to the islands for reef fish and mackerel. Green and yellow zones are close to many beaches, so check before casting.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

8 spots here: 6 fished from land and 2 reached only by boat or kayak, plus 5 public boat ramps. Seasons follow our Cairns & Far North 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: Mission Beach
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Clump Point	Headland	Land-based and boat	Ocean coast	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
2. Bingil Bay	Bay	Land-based	Ocean coast	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
3. Mission Beach (main beach)	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park
4. Tam O'Shanter Point	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
5. Hull River	River	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	no-take zone nearby
6. Tully River mouth	River	Boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
7. Dunk Island	Island	Boat	Offshore	Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
8. Kurrimine Beach & Murdering Point	Flats	Land-based and boat	Ocean coast	Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park

1. Clump Point

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based and boat. Clump Point Road; car park at the boating facility.
What's good here: Peak in October: queenfish, trevally and golden snapper. Also in season: school mackerel. Now and then: tiger squid.
Best tide: Run-in and high tide.
Best wind: S to SE (the point shelters the boat harbour). Faces E.
Note: Rocky finger of land with the area's main ramp, jetty and breakwater. Cast lures off the rocks for queenies and trevally; boats leave here for Dunk and the outer reef.
Safety: Boating facility: keep clear of the ramp and jetty traffic. Crocodile country: stand well back from the edge, never wade, and clean fish away from the water. Box jellyfish and Irukandji: highest risk Oct/Nov to May; wear a stinger suit if you wade or swim.
Zone: In a habitat protection (dark blue) zone: normal fishing rules. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -17.85580, 146.12000 · Open in Google Maps (position: Clump Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Bingil Bay

Type: Bay · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Bingil Bay Road; small parking areas.
What's good here: Peak in October: trevally, queenfish, grass sweetlip and whiting. Now and then: tiger squid.
Best tide: Run-in to high over the rocks.
Best wind: S to SW. Faces E.
Note: Rocky bay north of Clump Point. Sweetlip and trevally off the rocks; whiting on the sand. A green zone starts toward Garners Beach to the north.
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 habitat protection (dark blue) zone: normal fishing rules; green zone (Garners Beach) about 1,900 m away: no fishing there. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -17.83310, 146.10280 · Open in Google Maps (position: Bingil Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Mission Beach (main beach)

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Beachside parking along Mission Beach.
What's good here: Peak in October: whiting, dusky flathead, trevally and queenfish. Also in season: blue threadfin.
Best tide: Run-in, especially early morning.
Best wind: W to SW (offshore); SE side-shore. Faces ESE.
Note: Long beach facing Dunk Island. Whiting and flathead in the gutters; salmon at creek mouths after rain. A yellow zone lies a few hundred metres off the beach.
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 habitat protection (dark blue) zone: normal fishing rules; yellow zone about 550 m away (1 line, 1 hook there). Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -17.87110, 146.10690 · Open in Google Maps (position: Mission Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Tam O'Shanter Point

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. South Mission Beach; short walk from Kennedy Esplanade or the Lugger Bay track.
What's good here: Peak in October: queenfish, trevally and grass sweetlip. Now and then: tiger squid.
Best tide: Top half of the tide.
Best wind: W to NW. Faces E.
Note: Rocky point at South Mission Beach in a yellow zone (one line, one hook). Kennedy Bay, just south, is a green zone: no fishing there.
Safety: Green zone in Kennedy Bay south of the point. 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: No-take zone nearby. In a conservation park (yellow) zone: 1 rod or line with 1 hook per person; green zone (Rockingham Bay) about 800 m away: no fishing there. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -17.96670, 146.10000 · Open in Google Maps (position: Tam O'Shanter Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Hull River

Type: River · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Hull Heads; ramp at Hull Heads Road.
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: Run-out to low at the mouth; snags on the turn.
Best wind: Sheltered in the river.
Note: Mangrove river at Hull Heads. Barra and jacks on the snags; salmon and grunter at the mouth. The bar is shallow and breaks in swell. The coast north of the mouth is the Kennedy Bay green zone: no fishing there.
Safety: Hull River bar: shallow and breaking in onshore swell. Crocodile country: stand well back from the edge, never wade, and clean fish away from the water.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. No zone is mapped at the river's gazetted point. The Kennedy Bay green zone (MNP-17-1074) starts on the coast just north of the river mouth, about 1.2 km from the Hull Heads ramp, and runs north to Tam O'Shanter Point: no fishing there. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -17.97000, 146.06280 · Open in Google Maps (position: Hull River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Tully River mouth

Type: River · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat and kayak. Boat from Tully Heads (Mosquito Creek ramp).
What's good here: Peak in October: barramundi, king threadfin, mangrove jack, javelin / grunter and mud crab. Closing soon: barramundi (closes 1 Nov; closed 1 November to 31 January).
Best tide: Run-out after rain; the first of the run-in at the mouth.
Best wind: Light winds; the mouth is open to E.
Note: One of the wettest catchments in Australia, so the mouth fires after a fresh. Troll and cast the bank edges for barra and salmon.
Safety: River bar and floods after heavy rain. Crocodiles: keep hands and legs inside the boat and never clean fish at the ramp.
Zone: No zone is mapped at this point in the river; the nearest mapped zone, about 250 m away, is a habitat protection (dark blue) zone: normal fishing rules. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -18.02780, 146.05330 · Open in Google Maps (position: Tully River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Dunk Island

Type: Island · offshore (boat)
Access: Boat. About 7 km by boat from South Mission Beach, 11 km from Clump Point.
What's good here: Peak in October: grass sweetlip, trevally, queenfish and golden snapper. Also in season: school mackerel. Closed season now: coral trout (8 October to 12 October 2026).
Best tide: Neap tides on the reef edges.
Best wind: Light winds; the western side is sheltered from SE.
Note: Island national park. The southern shores are a green zone (no fishing) and the rest is yellow zone (one line, one hook); check the map before you anchor. No spearfishing on the north-western and western sides.
Safety: Green zone off Dunk's southern shores: no fishing there. Box jellyfish and Irukandji: highest risk Oct/Nov to May; wear a stinger suit if you wade or swim.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. A green zone (MNP-17-1073) takes in the waters off Dunk's south-east, south and south-west shores: no fishing there. The north and east sides, including Brammo Bay, are a conservation park (yellow) zone: 1 rod or line with 1 hook per person. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -17.94530, 146.15780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Dunk Island, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Kurrimine Beach & Murdering Point

Type: Flats · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based and boat. Kurrimine Beach township; ramps at Bramble Street and Maria Creek.
What's good here: Peak in October: whiting, javelin / grunter, trevally, queenfish and grass sweetlip.
Best tide: Big low tides expose the reef flats; fish the run-in.
Best wind: W to SW (offshore). Faces ESE.
Note: Wide reef flats run out from Kurrimine at low tide. Fish the edges on the run-in for whiting, grunter and trevally. A green zone (no fishing) covers the coast from about the Maria Creek mouth south to Garners Beach, about 2.5 km south of Murdering Point.
Safety: The tide floods the flats fast. Crocodile country: stand well back from the edge, never wade, and clean fish away from the water. Box jellyfish and Irukandji: highest risk Oct/Nov to May; wear a stinger suit if you wade or swim.
Zone: The water off this spot is a habitat protection (dark blue) zone: normal fishing rules; green zone (Garners Beach) about 2,500 m away: no fishing there. Guide only, not for navigation: check gbrmpa.gov.au.
Map: -17.77140, 146.11140 · Open in Google Maps (position: Murdering Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

5 public boat ramps are listed for Mission Beach, 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: Mission Beach
Ramp	Notes	Position
Clump Point boat ramp	Two double-lane ramps with breakwater, pontoons and walkways (TMR JS22, JS30), upgraded 2020. Main access to Dunk and the reef.	-17.85349, 146.11653 Google Maps
South Mission Beach boat ramp (Kennedy Esplanade)	Single beach ramp (TMR CW41). Exposed to E and SE swell; best at higher tides.	-17.95101, 146.09158 Google Maps
Hull Heads boat ramp	Double-lane ramp on the Hull River (TMR CW33). Cross the bar with care. The Kennedy Bay green zone (no fishing) starts on the coast just north of the river mouth.	-17.99033, 146.06653 Google Maps
Tully Heads boat ramp (Mosquito Creek)	Single ramp on Mosquito Creek at The Esplanade (TMR CW22). Creek access is tide dependent.	-18.01876, 146.05166 Google Maps
Kurrimine Beach boat ramp (Bramble Street)	Single tidal ramp (TMR JS31). Launch around high tide; the flats dry at low water.	-17.77611, 146.10985 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Mission Beach in October: queenfish, trevally, grass sweetlip, javelin / grunter and 12 more. Of the 30 species our Cairns & Far North list has for this part of the coast, 16 peak in October 2026 and 4 more are in season.

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

Also in season: blue threadfin, school mackerel, spotted mackerel and longtail tuna.

In closed season now (no take): coral trout (8 October to 12 October 2026); Spanish mackerel (8 October to 29 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).

Seen now and then, so not rated: tiger squid, blue swimmer crab and redthroat emperor.

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 Mission Beach

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 on the north-western and western sides of Dunk Island, or the north-western and northern sides of Bedarra (Richards) Island.
Green zones at Kennedy Bay, Garners Beach, the Barnard Islands and around parts of the Family Islands: no fishing.

Marine parks and no-take zones

The zone notes here name Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park. A no-take zone starts close to Tam O'Shanter Point, Hull River and Dunk Island: each one's zone note says where. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Mission Beach

Crocodiles live in all the rivers and creeks and are seen on the beaches.
Stinger season roughly October/November to May; use the netted swimming areas in season.
River bars at Hull Heads and Tully Heads can break in onshore swell.
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

Hinchinbrook Channel and Cardwell (about 45 km south)
Lucinda and the Herbert River (about 74 km south)
Cairns and Trinity Inlet (about 114 km north)
Townsville and Magnetic Island (about 165 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: aboutthenorth.au (Clump Point description and ramp/jetty access to the islands); tmr.qld.gov.au (Clump Point boating facility upgrade (2020)); fishabout.com.au (Cassowary Coast target species (barra, queenfish, jacks, trevally, reef fish)); publications.qld.gov.au (Ramp names and facility IDs (JS/CW codes)); 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); gbrmpa.gov.au (What each GBR zone allows (line fishing, yellow-zone limits, crabbing, spearfishing)); 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.