Weipa fishing spots

Weipa sits on Albatross Bay where the Embley, Mission and Hey rivers meet the Gulf. The rivers hold barramundi, jacks, fingermark and threadfin, the bay and its bait schools bring queenfish, trevally, mackerel and tuna, and a few shore spots work around the town. The dry season (May to October) is the main fishing time. Gulf rules apply: barramundi are closed from 7 October.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

7 spots here: 3 fished from land and 4 reached only by boat, plus 2 public boat ramps. Seasons follow our Gulf of Carpentaria (QLD) 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: Weipa
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Evans Landing wharf	Wharf	Land-based	Bay, estuary or river	–
2. Embley River	River	Boat	Bay, estuary or river	–
3. Mission River	River	Land-based and boat	Bay, estuary or river	–
4. Hey River	River	Boat	Bay, estuary or river	–
5. Gonbung Point & beach	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
6. Mangrove Island	Island	Boat	Bay, estuary or river	–
7. Albatross Bay	Bay	Boat	Ocean coast	–

1. Evans Landing wharf

Type: Wharf · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based. Evans Landing, beside the public ramp and pontoon.
What's good here: Peak in October: queenfish, trevally, golden snapper and javelin / grunter. Also in season: blue threadfin. Also: tiger squid.
Best tide: Run-in and the change; night sessions.
Best wind: Sheltered from E to SE. Faces S.
Note: Wharf next to the main ramp on the Embley River mouth. Night baits for fingermark and grunter; lures for queenfish and trevally when bait is around.
Safety: Ramp and pontoon traffic. Crocodile country: stand well back from the edge, never wade, and clean fish away from the water.
Zone: No marine park zoning here; the nearest Australian Marine Park (West Cape York) is about 105 km offshore. Guide only, not for navigation: check parksaustralia.gov.au.
Map: -12.66493, 141.85018 · Open in Google Maps (position: Jetty (unnamed in dataset), Built features - Queensland series (Marine infrastructure lines))
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Embley River

Type: River · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat. Boat from Evans Landing.
What's good here: Peak in October: king threadfin, golden snapper, mangrove jack and mud crab. Also in season: blue threadfin. Closed season now: barramundi (7 October to 31 January).
Best tide: Run-out at drains and creek mouths; neaps for the deep holes.
Best wind: Sheltered upstream; the mouth is open to W.
Note: Big river with rock bars, snags and deep holes. Fingermark and jacks on the rock bars; threadfin on the flats. Barra season is closed 7 Oct to 31 Jan in Gulf waters.
Safety: Crocodiles: keep hands and legs inside the boat and never clean fish at the ramp. Large tides and strong currents.
Zone: No marine park zoning here; the nearest Australian Marine Park (West Cape York) is about 105 km offshore. Guide only, not for navigation: check parksaustralia.gov.au.
Map: -12.66700, 141.82190 · Open in Google Maps (position: Embley River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Mission River

Type: River · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and boat. Boat from Rocky Point ramp; the road bridge upstream is a known land-based spot.
What's good here: Peak in October: mangrove jack, king threadfin, golden snapper, javelin / grunter and mud crab. Closed season now: barramundi (7 October to 31 January).
Best tide: Run-out at creek mouths.
Best wind: Sheltered.
Note: Mangrove river north-east of town. Small hire boats can reach the feeder creeks; cast lures at snags for barra and jacks.
Safety: Crocodile country: stand well back from the edge, never wade, and clean fish away from the water.
Zone: No marine park zoning here; the nearest Australian Marine Park (West Cape York) is about 100 km offshore. Guide only, not for navigation: check parksaustralia.gov.au.
Map: -12.58670, 141.96330 · Open in Google Maps (position: Mission River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Hey River

Type: River · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat. Boat from Evans Landing across the Embley mouth.
What's good here: Peak in October: mangrove jack, king threadfin, golden snapper and mud crab. Closed season now: barramundi (7 October to 31 January).
Best tide: Run-out to low at snags and drains.
Best wind: Sheltered.
Note: Smaller river south-east of town. Quieter water for jacks and barra on snags; crabs in the side creeks.
Safety: Crocodiles: keep hands and legs inside the boat and never clean fish at the ramp.
Zone: No marine park zoning here; the nearest Australian Marine Park (West Cape York) is about 115 km offshore. Guide only, not for navigation: check parksaustralia.gov.au.
Map: -12.75890, 141.90080 · Open in Google Maps (position: Hey River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Gonbung Point & beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Near Evans Landing on the Embley mouth.
What's good here: Peak in October: queenfish, trevally and javelin / grunter. Also in season: blue threadfin. Now and then: whiting.
Best tide: Tide changes.
Best wind: N to E (off the land); SE trades blow side-on. Faces SSW.
Note: Shore spot listed by Weipa locals. Cast lures when bait schools push in; bait the gutters for salmon and grunter.
Safety: Crocodile country: stand well back from the edge, never wade, and clean fish away from the water. Big tidal range: watch your exit.
Zone: No marine park zoning here; the nearest Australian Marine Park (West Cape York) is about 105 km offshore. Guide only, not for navigation: check parksaustralia.gov.au.
Map: -12.66830, 141.84060 · Open in Google Maps (position: Gonbung Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Mangrove Island

Type: Island · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat. Boat from Evans Landing or Rocky Point, across the mouth of the Mission River.
What's good here: Peak in October: estuary cod, golden snapper, mangrove jack and queenfish. Closed season now: barramundi (7 October to 31 January).
Best tide: Run-out along the rock edges; troll on the run-in.
Best wind: Sheltered from E.
Note: Rocky, mangrove-fringed island in the inner bay. Troll deep divers past the rocks for cod, fingermark and jacks, and flick lures at the edges for barra in season.
Safety: Crocodiles: keep hands and legs inside the boat and never clean fish at the ramp.
Zone: No marine park zoning here; the nearest Australian Marine Park (West Cape York) is about 100 km offshore. Guide only, not for navigation: check parksaustralia.gov.au.
Map: -12.58700, 141.79520 · Open in Google Maps (position: Mangrove Island, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Albatross Bay

Type: Bay · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Boat. Boat from Evans Landing or Rocky Point.
What's good here: Peak in October: queenfish, trevally, Spanish mackerel, golden snapper and cobia. Also in season: longtail tuna.
Best tide: Neaps for bottom fishing; pelagics on any tide.
Best wind: E to SE (offshore) mornings; afternoon sea breeze from W.
Note: Big shallow bay off the river mouths. Birds working bait often mean queenfish, mackerel and tuna; reefs and rubble hold fingermark and jewfish.
Safety: Afternoon sea breezes make the bay rough. Gulf black jewfish limit: 1 per person.
Zone: No marine park zoning here; the nearest Australian Marine Park (West Cape York) is about 110 km offshore. Guide only, not for navigation: check parksaustralia.gov.au.
Map: -12.71560, 141.66330 · Open in Google Maps (position: Albatross Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

2 public boat ramps are listed for Weipa, 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: Weipa
Ramp	Notes	Position
Evans Landing boat ramp	Double-lane ramp and pontoon on the Embley mouth (TMR WP55, Weipa Town Authority).	-12.66488, 141.85005 Google Maps
Rocky Point boat ramp (Marina Road)	Single ramp on the Mission River side of town (TMR WP53).	-12.61949, 141.87692 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Weipa in October: golden snapper, mangrove jack, queenfish, king threadfin and 9 more. Of the 24 species our Gulf of Carpentaria (QLD) list has for this part of the coast, 13 peak in October 2026 and 4 more are in season.

Peak in October: golden snapper, mangrove jack, queenfish, king threadfin, javelin / grunter, mud crab, trevally, estuary cod, cobia, Spanish mackerel, black jewfish, grey mackerel and tuskfish.

Also in season: blue threadfin, longtail tuna, red emperor and nannygai.

In closed season now (no take): barramundi (7 October to 31 January).

Out of season in October: banana prawns (best Feb–May).

Seen now and then, so not rated: whiting, dusky flathead, school mackerel, coral trout and marlin and sailfish.

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 Weipa

Gulf of Carpentaria waters: barramundi closed each year from 7 Oct to 31 Jan (check the official dates); other Gulf limits differ from the east coast (king threadfin 60 cm, black jewfish 60 cm, 1 per person).
No Great Barrier Reef or state marine park zoning here; fisheries rules and closed waters still apply.
Pine River (north of Weipa): no fin fish may be taken by recreational fishers.

Marine parks and no-take zones

Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Weipa

Crocodiles live in every river, creek and beach around Weipa.
Large tidal range: plan launches and retrievals around the tide.
Remote area: carry water, fuel and communications.
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

Cooktown and the Endeavour River (about 482 km south-east)
Karumba and the Norman River (about 548 km south)
Gove (Nhulunbuy) (NT) (about 555 km west)
Port Douglas and Daintree (about 571 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: daiwafishing.com.au (Weipa rivers and Albatross Bay species; winter as the best season); mycommunitydirectory.com.au (Shore spots (Gonbung Beach, Evans Landing, Kerr Point, Red Beach, Wallaby Island) and ramp list); fishandboat.com.au (Mission River bridge barra reputation; Mangrove Island trolling for cod, fingermark, jacks); publications.qld.gov.au (Evans Landing (WP55) and Rocky Point (WP53) ramps; wharf beside the ramp); parksaustralia.gov.au (West Cape York Marine Park (about 100 km offshore)); 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); gis.environment.gov.au (Australian Marine Parks zones used to confirm the nearest Commonwealth park is far offshore); 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.