Queensland Fishing Reports

Queensland runs from the subtropical estuaries of the Gold Coast and Moreton Bay through the sand islands and the Sunshine Coast to the dry tropics of Townsville and the wet tropics of Cairns, with the Great Barrier Reef offshore for most of that length. No general licence, a permit for the stocked dams, and a rule book that includes marine parks, the barramundi closed season and the coral reef fin fish rules.

Reports current for Friday 25 September

Is it worth going out in Queensland today?

Every one of the 153 Queensland waters we cover has a live read this morning. 18 are scoring 4 out of 5 or better and 11 are slow. Water runs 13 °C to 26 °C. Pressure is holding steady on most of them, so the day comes down to water temperature and wind. 109 have a better-than-even chance of rain.

Best right now: Annan River at Mount Simon 4/5, Barron River at Mareeba 4/5, Bramston Beach 4/5

· state-wide average 3/5 · scored from live weather and water data, regenerated every half hour

Tap a dot to open that water's report

Today on Queensland’s waters

Live verdicts from this morning's reports.

Moreton Bay

Coast
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Brisbane’s bay: sand islands, shipping channels, artificial reefs and the flats where flathead, bream, whiting and snapper share a tide.

Gold Coast

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Surf beaches, the Seaway, the Broadwater and a network of canals: a city built on water that fishes from the sand, the rocks and the jetty in the same afternoon.

Sunshine Coast

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

From Caloundra to Noosa: surf beaches, the Maroochy and Mooloolah rivers, the Pumicestone Passage and the reefs off Mooloolaba.

Hervey Bay

Coast
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The sheltered water between the mainland and K’gari: whiting flats, the Urangan Pier, and a bay where the tide is the whole story.

Brisbane

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

A river city with the bay at its door: bream and jew in the Brisbane River, snapper on the bay beacons and flathead on the flats within the suburbs.

Noosa

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Noosa River, the headland and the beaches: a river fishery of bream, flathead and jack with the surf and the reef at its mouth.

Bribie Island

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Pumicestone Passage on one side, surf beach on the other: an island you drive to, with bream, flathead, whiting and tailor a short walk apart.

Fraser Island (K'gari)

Coast
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

K’gari: a sand island with a hundred kilometres of surf beach, where the tailor run each winter and the gutters change with every tide.

Cairns

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The tropical north: barramundi in the creeks and the Trinity Inlet, reef fish and pelagics off the Great Barrier Reef, and a wet season that runs the calendar.

Bundaberg

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Burnett River, the Elliott and the Kolan, Bargara’s rocks and the reefs off the coast: the southern gateway to the reef with an estuary at its door.

Townsville

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Cleveland Bay, the Strand, the Ross River and Magnetic Island: the dry-tropics city with the reef offshore and barramundi in the creeks.

Caloundra

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Where the Pumicestone Passage meets the sea: the bar, the beaches and the passage flats at the southern end of the Sunshine Coast.

Rainbow Beach

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The coloured cliffs, Inskip Point and the beach to Double Island Point: tailor gutters, whiting and the barge to K’gari at the top of the Cooloola coast.

Redcliffe

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The peninsula at the top of Moreton Bay: the Redcliffe and Woody Point jetties, the Hornibrook remnants and the bay flats a half-hour from Brisbane.

Tin Can Bay

Coast
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The calm side of the Cooloola coast: mangrove flats, the Great Sandy Strait and the barge to K’gari, with the surf a few kilometres away.

Lake Monduran

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The barramundi impoundment north of Bundaberg: a stocked storage on the Kolan where metre fish are the target and the permit is the ticket.

Mackay

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Pioneer River, the harbour and the islands: a sugar city on the central coast with the reef offshore and barramundi in the creeks.

Noosa River

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

From the lakes of the Great Sandy country to the bar at Noosa Heads: a river of sand flats, rock walls and snags that fishes for tens of kilometres.

North Stradbroke Island

Coast
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Minjerribah: the eastern wall of Moreton Bay, with surf gutters and rock platforms on the ocean side and calm flats, jetties and the Rainbow Channel on the bay side.

Moreton Island

Coast
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Mulgumpin: a sand island of surf beaches, the Tangalooma wrecks and the bay flats, reached by barge and driven on the sand.

Yeppoon

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Capricorn Coast: Keppel Bay, the islands, the creeks and the Causeway Lake, a coast that fishes from the Tropic of Capricorn.

Gladstone

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

A harbour city on the Capricorn coast: the Boyne and Calliope rivers, the harbour islands, Lake Awoonga behind it and the reef offshore.

Brisbane River

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

A tidal river through a capital: bream on the pontoons, threadfin and jew in the deep reaches, jack in the snags, and the port at the mouth.

Port Douglas

Town
4/5 Good. Solid day ahead.

Where the rainforest meets the reef: Dickson Inlet, the Daintree and Mossman rivers, Four Mile Beach and the outer reef an hour offshore.

Maroochy River

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Sunshine Coast’s long sandy estuary: flathead flats, bream on the leases, whiting in summer and the mouth at Cotton Tree.

Logan River

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The river between Brisbane and the Gold Coast: bream and flathead in the tidal reaches, jack in the snags, and the mouth on southern Moreton Bay.

Rockhampton

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Fitzroy River through the beef capital: barramundi below the barrage, the delta creeks and Keppel Bay downstream, and the reef beyond.

Lake Awoonga

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The barramundi lake behind Gladstone: a stocked storage on the Boyne where metre fish are the target, with a level read from the Bureau every day.

Mary River

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

From Gympie to the Great Sandy Strait: the tidal Mary through Maryborough, a river of barramundi, bass, threadfin and mud crabs.

Airlie Beach

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The gateway to the Whitsundays: the marinas, Shute Harbour, the mangrove creeks and seventy-four islands with the reef beyond.

Cooktown

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Endeavour River and the Cape York coast: barramundi in the river, the reef offshore, and a tide that most people search for before the fish.

Karumba

Town
2/5 Slow. Work for them.

The Gulf of Carpentaria’s fishing town: the Norman River mouth, the sandbar, the beach at Karumba Point and the barramundi and salmon of the Gulf.

Weipa

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The mining town on the western Cape: the Embley and Mission rivers, the Gulf beaches and creeks, and barramundi, queenfish and salmon in remote tropical water.

Lake Somerset

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The storage on the Stanley above Wivenhoe: bass and golden perch water an hour from Brisbane, with a level read from the Bureau every day.

Innisfail

Town
4/5 Good. Solid day ahead.

The wet-tropics river town: the Johnstone River and its north and south branches, Flying Fish Point and Etty Bay, and the barramundi, jack and grunter of the cane country.

Lake Tinaroo

Lake
4/5 Good. Solid day ahead.

The Atherton Tableland’s barramundi lake: metre fish in a stocked dam exempt from the closed season, sooty grunter and red claw, with a Bureau gauge and a permit to fish.

Lake Proserpine (Peter Faust Dam)

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Lake Proserpine behind the Whitsundays: the Peter Faust Dam’s big barramundi in a stocked lake exempt from the closure, with a permit, a camp and a Bureau gauge.

Kinchant Dam

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The off-stream barramundi dam behind Mackay: big fish over weed in a stocked lake exempt from the closure, with a permit, a camp and a Bureau gauge.

Teemburra Dam

Lake
4/5 Good. Solid day ahead.

The Teemburra Creek dam in the hills west of Mackay: barramundi and sooty grunter in a timbered lake exempt from the closure, with a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Eungella Dam

Lake
4/5 Good. Solid day ahead.

The high dam on the Broken River above the Eungella range: sooty grunter and barramundi in cool mountain water, exempt from the closure, with a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Burdekin Falls Dam

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Queensland’s largest dam on the Burdekin: barramundi, sooty grunter and the vast timbered lake behind the falls, exempt from the closure, with a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Callide Dam

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Callide Valley dam near Biloela: warm water from the power station, barramundi that feed through winter, exempt from the closure, with a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Lake Maraboon (Fairbairn Dam)

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Lake Maraboon at Emerald: the Fairbairn Dam’s barramundi, saratoga and red claw in the central highlands, exempt from the closure, with a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Lake Lenthall

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Lake Lenthall on the Burrum near Hervey Bay: barramundi and bass in a timbered dam exempt from the closure, with a permit and the Bureau’s headwater gauge.

Paradise Dam

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Burnett River dam above Bundaberg: barramundi and bass in a lake the state is rebuilding, exempt from the closure, with a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Lake Morris (Copperlode Dam)

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Cairns’ water supply in the hills above the city: Lake Morris at the Copperlode Falls Dam, barramundi and sooty grunter from the shore, exempt from the closure, with a Bureau gauge.

Wuruma Dam

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Nogo River dam near Eidsvold: bass, golden perch and saratoga in a quiet North Burnett lake with a camp, a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Cania Dam

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Three Moon Creek dam in Cania Gorge: bass, saratoga and golden perch under sandstone cliffs near Monto, with a camp, a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Lake Boondooma

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Boyne River dam near Proston: bass, golden perch and yellowbelly in the South Burnett’s big lake, with a camp, a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Bjelke-Petersen Dam

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Lake Barambah near Murgon: bass and golden perch in a shallow South Burnett lake with a holiday park, a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Lake Wivenhoe

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Brisbane’s big lake on the Brisbane River: bass, golden perch and cod-stocked water an hour from the city, with a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Lake Samsonvale (North Pine Dam)

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Lake Samsonvale north of Brisbane: bass and golden perch in a suburban water-supply lake with permit-only shore and electric-boat access, and a Bureau gauge.

Lake Moogerah

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Scenic Rim dam under Mount Edwards: bass, golden perch and saratoga in a lake ringed by peaks, with a camp, a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Lake Maroon

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Burnett Creek dam near Boonah: a small Scenic Rim lake of bass, saratoga and golden perch with a quiet camp, a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Hinze Dam

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Gold Coast’s dam in the hinterland: bass, saratoga and golden perch at Advancetown, permit-only shore and electric-boat fishing, with a Bureau gauge.

Wyaralong Dam

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The newest dam in the Scenic Rim, on Teviot Brook near Beaudesert: bass and golden perch in a shallow lake for paddlers, with a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Borumba Dam

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Yabba Creek dam near Imbil: bass, saratoga and the protected Mary River cod in a timbered lake behind the Mary Valley, with a camp, a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Lake MacDonald

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Noosa hinterland’s lake at Cooroy: bass and saratoga in a shallow supply lake with a botanic garden on its shore, a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Cressbrook Dam

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Toowoomba’s supply dam in the Brisbane Valley: bass, golden perch and cod-stocked water at Crows Nest, with a camp, a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Leslie Dam

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Sandy Creek dam at Warwick on the Darling Downs: cod and golden perch in Murray-Darling water with a camp, a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Coolmunda Dam

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Macintyre Brook dam near Inglewood: cod, golden perch and yellowbelly in a Murray-Darling lake exempt from the cod closure, with a camp, a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Glenlyon Dam

Lake
4/5 Good. Solid day ahead.

The Pike Creek dam on the border near Texas: cod and golden perch in a deep lake shared with New South Wales, exempt from the cod closure, with a camp, a permit and a Bureau gauge.

Ross River Dam

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Townsville’s big supply lake: barramundi, sooty grunter and the closed season that still applies here, with shore fishing under the council’s rules and a Bureau gauge.

Lake Julius

Lake
2/5 Slow. Work for them.

The Leichhardt River dam north of Mount Isa: barramundi and sooty grunter in a Gulf-country lake exempt from the Gulf closure, with a camp and a Bureau gauge.

Burnett River at Gayndah

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Burnett at Gayndah: bass, golden perch and the protected lungfish in the citrus town’s river, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.

Burnett River at Mundubbera

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The upper Burnett at Mundubbera: bass, golden perch and lungfish in the river between the dams, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.

Mary River at Gympie

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Mary at Gympie: bass, golden perch and the protected Mary River cod in the fresh river through the gold town, with the Bureau’s gauge at the weir.

Dawson River at Baralaba

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Dawson at Baralaba: golden perch, saratoga and barramundi in the Neville Hewitt weir pool of central Queensland, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.

Dawson River at Theodore

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Dawson at Theodore: golden perch and saratoga in the town weir pool of the irrigation district, with the Bureau’s gauge at the weir.

Fitzroy River at Riverslea

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Fitzroy above Rockhampton at Riverslea: barramundi, golden perch and saratoga in the fresh reaches of the big river, with the Bureau’s gauge at the crossing.

Burdekin River at Sellheim

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Burdekin at Sellheim near Charters Towers: barramundi, sooty grunter and the big dry-country river below the falls dam, with the Bureau’s gauge at the bridge.

Burdekin River at Clare

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The lower Burdekin at Clare: barramundi in the weir pool and the delta reaches of the cane country, with the Bureau’s gauge at the Clare weir.

Herbert River at Ingham

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Herbert at Ingham: barramundi, sooty grunter and jungle perch in the wet-tropics river through the cane, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.

Tully River at Euramo

River
4/5 Good. Solid day ahead.

The Tully at Euramo: barramundi and sooty grunter in the wettest river in Australia, below the rafting gorge and above the tide, with the Bureau’s gauge at the bridge.

Barron River at Mareeba

River
4/5 Good. Solid day ahead.

The Barron at Mareeba: sooty grunter and barramundi in the tableland river below Tinaroo, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.

Barron River at Kuranda

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Barron at Kuranda: sooty grunter and jungle perch in the rainforest river above the falls, with the Bureau’s gauge at the village.

Daintree River

River
4/5 Good. Solid day ahead.

The Daintree above the ferry: barramundi, mangrove jack and jungle perch in the rainforest river of the far north, with the Bureau’s gauge at Bairds.

Logan River at Beaudesert

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The upper Logan at Beaudesert: bass and the Scenic Rim’s fresh river above the tide, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.

Albert River at Kerry

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Albert at Kerry under the Lamington ranges: bass in the clear pools of a Scenic Rim river, with the Bureau’s gauge at the crossing.

Nerang River

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Nerang below Hinze at Nerang: bass in the fresh reaches and the weir pools of the Gold Coast hinterland, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.

Coomera River

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The upper Coomera at Witheren: bass in the clear pools under the Lamington ranges, with the Bureau’s gauge at the crossing.

Condamine River at Warwick

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Condamine through Warwick: cod and golden perch in the Darling Downs town’s river, under the Queensland cod closure, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.

Condamine River at Chinchilla

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Condamine at Chinchilla: cod and golden perch in the weir pool of the western Downs, under the Queensland cod closure, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.

Balonne River at St George

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Balonne at St George: cod and golden perch in the weir pool of the cotton town on the Queensland side of the Darling basin, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.

Russell River

River
4/5 Good. Solid day ahead.

The Russell south of Cairns: barramundi, jungle perch and sooty grunter in a clear wet-tropics river under the Bellenden Ker range, with the Bureau’s gauge at Mirriwinni.

Flinders River at Hughenden

River
2/5 Slow. Work for them.

The Flinders at Hughenden: golden perch and the inland fishing of the Gulf country’s longest river, in the pools when it holds water, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.

Agnes Water

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The last surf beach going north and the town of 1770: whiting and dart on the beach, bream and mangrove jack in Round Hill Creek, and the reef of the Bunker Group outside.

Tannum Sands

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Gladstone’s beach: the Boyne River mouth, the Tannum beach and the Wild Cattle Creek, with whiting, bream, flathead and the barra of the river.

Bowen

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The mango town between the Whitsundays and Townsville: the harbour, Queens Beach and the Don River mouth, with mackerel, barra, whiting and the reef.

Lucinda

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The sugar jetty and the Hinchinbrook Channel: the world’s longest jetty, the channel’s barra and jacks, and the reef beyond Hinchinbrook Island.

Cardwell

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The town on the Hinchinbrook Channel: the jetty, the creeks and the mangroves, with barra, jacks and grunter, and the island across the water.

Mission Beach

Town
4/5 Good. Solid day ahead.

The Cassowary Coast beaches and Dunk Island: whiting and dart on the beach, barra and jacks in the creeks, mackerel and reef fish from Clump Point.

Mossman

Town
4/5 Good. Solid day ahead.

The Mossman and Daintree rivers and the Newell and Wonga beaches: barra, jacks and sooty grunter, with the reef off Port Douglas.

Ayr

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Burdekin delta from Ayr: the creeks and mouths of the Burdekin, Alva Beach and Cape Bowling Green, with barra, jacks, grunter and mackerel.

Magnetic Island

Coast
2/5 Slow. The wind owns today.

Townsville’s island: the jetties of Picnic Bay and Nelly Bay, the bays and headlands, with mackerel, queenfish, trevally and the reef around the island.

Sarina Beach

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The beaches south of Mackay: Sarina Beach, Grasstree and Campwin, the creeks and the Cape Palmerston coast, with whiting, barra and mackerel.

Seaforth

Town
4/5 Good. Solid day ahead.

The beaches and creeks north of Mackay: Seaforth, Halliday Bay and the Cape Hillsborough coast, with barra, grunter, whiting and mackerel off the islands.

Bargara

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Bundaberg’s beach: the Bargara rocks and beaches, the turtle coast of Mon Repos, with whiting, bream, tailor and the mackerel of the reef.

Elliott Heads

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Elliott River mouth south of Bundaberg: whiting and bream in the river, tailor on the beach and the rocks, with the flats that dry at low water.

Woodgate

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The long beach between Bundaberg and Hervey Bay: whiting and dart on the sand, the Theodolite Creek mouth and the Burrum coast, with tailor in winter.

Burrum Heads

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Burrum River mouth on Hervey Bay: whiting, bream and flathead in the river, the flats and the bay, with the sand banks at the mouth and mud crabs in the mangroves.

Jacobs Well

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The southern Moreton Bay channels: the Pimpama and Logan mouths, Jumpinpin bar and the Stradbroke back channels, with whiting, bream, flathead and the jew of the Pin.

Toorbul

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Pumicestone Passage from the mainland: the Toorbul flats and jetty, the Bribie channels and the Glass House creeks, with whiting, bream, flathead and crabs.

Coolum Beach

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Sunshine Coast’s surf town under Mount Coolum: the beach, Point Perry and Point Arkwright rocks, with whiting, tailor, bream and the reef outside.

Kawana

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Kawana Waters and the Mooloolah River: the canals, the river mouth and the Point Cartwright rocks, with bream, whiting, flathead and mulloway a walk from the beach.

Boyne Island

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Boyne River from the island side: the river’s barra, bream and whiting, the Lilley’s Beach coast and the Awoonga fish downstream of the dam.

Emu Park

Town
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Capricorn Coast south of Yeppoon: Emu Park’s rocks and beaches, Kinka and Zilzie, and the Keppel islands, with whiting, bream, mackerel and the reef.

Stanage Bay

Coast
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The end of the road on the Shoalwater coast: Stanage Bay’s creeks, flats and islands, with barra, grunter, mud crabs and the reef, and a ramp that dries on the tide.

Bramston Beach

Town
4/5 Good. Solid day ahead.

The quiet beach between Innisfail and Cairns: the beach, the Russell and Mulgrave mouths and the creek, with whiting, barra, jacks and the reef off Frankland Islands.

Baroon Pocket Dam

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Blackall Range lake below Montville and Maleny: stocked Australian bass among the drowned timber, a Stocked Impoundment Permit water with a Bureau gauge at the dam.

Ben Anderson Barrage

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Burnett River barrage at Bundaberg: stocked barramundi in the town’s freshwater pool, open through the closed season, with a Bureau gauge at the barrage.

Ben Dor Weir

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

A weir pool on Macintyre Brook in the border country: Murray cod, golden perch and silver perch, a Stocked Impoundment Permit water with a Bureau gauge.

Bill Gunn Dam

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Lake Dyer at Laidley in the Lockyer Valley: bass, golden perch, Mary River cod and silver perch, a Stocked Impoundment Permit water with a Bureau gauge.

Cecil Plains Weir

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Condamine at Cecil Plains on the western Darling Downs: yellowbelly, Murray cod and silver perch in a stocked weir pool with a Bureau gauge.

Claude Wharton Weir

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Burnett at Gayndah: stocked bass, barramundi and golden perch in the weir pool, open through the barra closure, with a Bureau gauge.

Cooby Dam

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The stocked dam north of Toowoomba: golden perch, Murray cod and silver perch, exempt from the cod closure, a Stocked Impoundment Permit water.

Enoggera Reservoir

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Brisbane’s old reservoir in the forest at The Gap: a new stocked impoundment for bass and Mary River cod, paddle access, and a Bureau gauge.

Ewen Maddock Dam

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Sunshine Coast hinterland lake at Landsborough: bass, golden perch, Mary River cod and saratoga among the lilies, a permit water with a Bureau gauge.

Jones Weir

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Burnett near Mundubbera: bass, golden perch and silver perch in a stocked weir pool, a permit water with a Bureau watercourse gauge.

Lake Gregory

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Isis Balancing Storage near Childers: stocked barramundi, bass and saratoga, open through the barra closure, with a Bureau gauge.

Lemon Tree Weir

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

A Condamine weir pool on the Darling Downs: golden perch, Murray cod and silver perch, a Stocked Impoundment Permit water with a Bureau gauge.

Mount Morgan No. 7 Dam

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The old town dam at Mount Morgan above Rockhampton: a new stocked impoundment for golden perch, saratoga and sleepy cod, with a Bureau gauge.

Lake Kurwongbah

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Sideling Creek Dam at Petrie: bass, golden perch, Mary River cod and saratoga in Moreton Bay’s suburban lake, a permit water with a Bureau gauge.

Talgai Weir

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The weir near Allora on the southern Darling Downs: golden perch, Murray cod and silver perch in a stocked pool, with a Bureau gauge.

Whetstone Weir

Lake
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

Macintyre Brook at Whetstone in the border country: golden perch, Murray cod and silver perch in a stocked weir pool with a Bureau gauge.

Macintyre River at Goondiwindi

River
2/5 Slow. Work for them.

The Macintyre at Goondiwindi on the border: Murray cod and golden perch, with the stocked weir pool at the town and a Bureau gauge.

Mary River at Miva

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Mary River at Miva between Gympie and Maryborough: Australian bass in a river of protected cod and lungfish, with a Bureau gauge.

Proserpine River at the Bruce Highway

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Proserpine River at the Bruce Highway: barramundi and jacks in a Whitsunday river of crocodiles, with a Bureau gauge at the highway.

Haughton River near Giru

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Haughton River near Giru south of Townsville: barramundi and sooty grunter in the sugar country, with a Bureau gauge on the river.

North Johnstone River at Goondi

River
4/5 Good. Solid day ahead.

The North Johnstone at Goondi above Innisfail: barramundi, jungle perch and sooty grunter in a rainforest river, with no current Bureau level series.

Mulgrave River at Peets Bridge

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Mulgrave River at Peets Bridge near Gordonvale: jungle perch, sooty grunter and barramundi below the rainforest, with a Bureau gauge.

Norman River at Glenore Weir

River
2/5 Slow. Work for them.

The Norman River at Glenore Weir above Normanton: Gulf barramundi in the fresh water, under the Gulf closure, with a Bureau gauge.

Gregory River at Gregory

River
2/5 Slow. Work for them.

The spring-fed Gregory River at Gregory in the Gulf country: sooty grunter and barramundi in a clear, running river, with a Bureau gauge.

Annan River at Mount Simon

River
4/5 Good. Solid day ahead.

The Annan River at Mount Simon south of Cooktown: barramundi and jungle perch in a Cape York river, with no current Bureau level series.

Endeavour River at Flaggy

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Endeavour River at Flaggy, upstream of Cooktown: barramundi and mangrove jack in Cook’s river, with no current Bureau level series.

Pioneer River at Pinevale

River
4/5 Good. Solid day ahead.

The Pioneer River at Pinevale west of Mackay: sooty grunter and barramundi in the cane-valley river, with no current Bureau level series.

Brisbane River at Savages Crossing

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Brisbane River at Savages Crossing below Wivenhoe: Australian bass in the fresh river, with a Bureau gauge at the crossing.

Brisbane River at Linville

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The upper Brisbane River at Linville: bass in the quiet upper valley above Somerset, with a Bureau gauge at the town.

Stanley River at Woodford

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Stanley River at Woodford: bass and the stocked Woodford Weir pool, with a Bureau gauge at the town.

Kolan River at Springfield

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Kolan River at Springfield below Lake Monduran: barramundi in the river toward Bundaberg, with a Bureau gauge.

Dawson River at Taroom

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Dawson at Taroom: golden perch and saratoga in the central Queensland river, with a Bureau gauge at the town.

Balonne River at Surat

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Balonne at Surat: cod and yellowbelly in the stocked Surat Weir pool, with a Bureau gauge and the Murray-Darling cod closure.

Maranoa River at Mitchell

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Maranoa at Mitchell: yellowbelly and cod in the Maranoa town’s river, with a Bureau gauge and the Murray-Darling cod closure.

Warrego River at Cunnamulla

River
2/5 Slow. Work for them.

The Warrego at Cunnamulla: yellowbelly and cod below the Allan Tannock Weir, with a Bureau gauge and the Murray-Darling cod closure.

Moonie River at Nindigully

River
2/5 Slow. Work for them.

The Moonie at Nindigully, beside the historic Nindigully pub: cod and yellowbelly in a quiet western river, with a Bureau gauge.

Severn River at Ballandean

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Severn at Ballandean in the Granite Belt: Murray cod in the granite pools of Queensland’s high country, with a Bureau gauge.

Gilbert River at the Burke Developmental Road

River
2/5 Slow. Work for them.

The Gilbert River at the Burke Developmental Road: Gulf barramundi in the savanna country, with a Bureau gauge and the Gulf closure.

Brisbane River at Gregors Creek

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The upper Brisbane River at Gregors Creek: bass in a clear valley river north of Somerset, with a Bureau gauge.

Balonne River at Warroo

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Balonne at Warroo between Surat and St George: cod and yellowbelly in the western river, with a Bureau gauge.

Balonne River at Weribone

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The Balonne at Weribone above St George: cod and yellowbelly in the red gum river, with a Bureau gauge.

Moonie River at Fenton

River
2/5 Slow. Work for them.

The Moonie at Fenton upstream of Nindigully: cod and yellowbelly in the remote Moonie country, with a Bureau gauge.

Warrego River at Augathella

River
3/5 Fair. Fish the windows.

The upper Warrego at Augathella: yellowbelly in the outback river north of Charleville, with a Bureau gauge.

Herbert River at Abergowrie

River
4/5 Good. Solid day ahead.

The Herbert at Abergowrie above Ingham: barramundi and sooty grunter in the rainforest-edged river, with a Bureau gauge.

The Queensland season, at a glance

Species activity across the covered waters, written for the southern year. Peak of the year: March.

Species activity by month

1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Bream
Flathead
Mulloway
Tailor
Yellowtail kingfish
Australian salmon
SlowPeak

Typical water temperature

Seasonal surface curve for the dominant water type here, in degrees Celsius (estimated, not a reading).

2030JanMarMayJulSepNovSep, ~26 F now

Closed seasons in Queensland

Read from the agency page named on each row, on the date shown, and calculated for 2026 from the rule as written: a date written as a day of the week is computed, not copied. Species with no published closure are not listed, which is not the same as open.

Fishery2026RuleSource
Barramundi, east coastClosed 2026-11-01 to 2027-01-31Closed 1 November to 31 January on the east coast, tidal and fresh, except in the stocked dams the Queensland Government lists. No catch and release in the closure.Queensland Department of Primary Industries, closed seasons in tidal waters, read 2026-09-23
Murray cod, Murray-Darling watersClosed 2026-08-01 to 2026-10-31Closed 1 August to 31 October in Queensland’s Murray-Darling fresh waters, except Connolly, Cooby, Coolmunda, Glenlyon, Leslie and Storm King dams.Queensland Department of Primary Industries, closed seasons in freshwaters, read 2026-09-23
Barramundi, Gulf of CarpentariaClosed 2026-10-07 to 2027-01-31Closed 7 October to 31 January in the Gulf of Carpentaria, tidal and fresh. No catch and release in the closure.Queensland Department of Primary Industries, closed seasons in tidal waters, read 2026-09-23
Snapper and pearl perch, east coastClosed 2026-07-15 to 2026-08-15Closed 15 July to 15 August in east coast tidal waters.Queensland Department of Primary Industries, closed seasons in tidal waters, read 2026-09-23

Waters at a glance

WaterTypeLive dataPeak month
Moreton BayCoastmodelled tideMar
Gold CoastTownmodelled tideMar
Sunshine CoastTownmodelled tideMar
Hervey BayCoastmodelled tideMar
BrisbaneTownmodelled tideMar
NoosaTownmodelled tideMar
Bribie IslandTownmodelled tideMar
Fraser Island (K'gari)Coastmodelled tideApr
CairnsTownmodelled tideApr
BundabergTownmodelled tideMar
TownsvilleTownmodelled tideApr
CaloundraTownmodelled tideMar
Rainbow BeachTownmodelled tideApr
RedcliffeTownmodelled tideMar
Tin Can BayCoastmodelled tideMar
Lake MonduranLakeBoM gaugeApr
MackayTownmodelled tideApr
Noosa RiverRivermodelledMar
North Stradbroke IslandCoastmodelled tideApr
Moreton IslandCoastmodelled tideApr
YeppoonTownmodelled tideApr
GladstoneTownmodelled tideApr
Brisbane RiverRivermodelledMar
Port DouglasTownmodelled tideApr
Maroochy RiverRivermodelledMar
Logan RiverRivermodelledMar
RockhamptonTownmodelled tideApr
Lake AwoongaLakeBoM gaugeApr
Mary RiverRivermodelledMar
Airlie BeachTownmodelled tideApr
CooktownTownmodelled tideApr
KarumbaTownmodelled tideApr
WeipaTownmodelled tideApr
Lake SomersetLakeBoM gaugeJan
InnisfailTownmodelled tideApr
Lake TinarooLakeBoM gaugeApr
Lake Proserpine (Peter Faust Dam)LakeBoM gaugeApr
Kinchant DamLakeBoM gaugeApr
Teemburra DamLakeBoM gaugeApr
Eungella DamLakeBoM gaugeApr
Burdekin Falls DamLakeBoM gaugeApr
Callide DamLakeBoM gaugeApr
Lake Maraboon (Fairbairn Dam)LakeBoM gaugeApr
Lake LenthallLakeBoM gaugeApr
Paradise DamLakeBoM gaugeApr
Lake Morris (Copperlode Dam)LakeBoM gaugeApr
Wuruma DamLakeBoM gaugeJan
Cania DamLakeBoM gaugeJan
Lake BoondoomaLakeBoM gaugeJan
Bjelke-Petersen DamLakeBoM gaugeJan
Lake WivenhoeLakeBoM gaugeJan
Lake Samsonvale (North Pine Dam)LakeBoM gaugeJan
Lake MoogerahLakeBoM gaugeJan
Lake MaroonLakeBoM gaugeJan
Hinze DamLakeBoM gaugeJan
Wyaralong DamLakeBoM gaugeJan
Borumba DamLakeBoM gaugeJan
Lake MacDonaldLakeBoM gaugeJan
Cressbrook DamLakeBoM gaugeJan
Leslie DamLakeBoM gaugeMar
Coolmunda DamLakeBoM gaugeMar
Glenlyon DamLakeBoM gaugeMar
Ross River DamLakeBoM gaugeApr
Lake JuliusLakeBoM gaugeApr
Burnett River at GayndahRiverBoM gaugeJan
Burnett River at MundubberaRiverBoM gaugeJan
Mary River at GympieRiverBoM gaugeJan
Dawson River at BaralabaRiverBoM gaugeJan
Dawson River at TheodoreRiverBoM gaugeJan
Fitzroy River at RiversleaRiverBoM gaugeApr
Burdekin River at SellheimRiverBoM gaugeApr
Burdekin River at ClareRiverBoM gaugeApr
Herbert River at InghamRiverBoM gaugeApr
Tully River at EuramoRiverBoM gaugeApr
Barron River at MareebaRiverBoM gaugeApr
Barron River at KurandaRiverBoM gaugeApr
Daintree RiverRiverBoM gaugeApr
Logan River at BeaudesertRiverBoM gaugeJan
Albert River at KerryRiverBoM gaugeJan
Nerang RiverRiverBoM gaugeJan
Coomera RiverRiverBoM gaugeJan
Condamine River at WarwickRiverBoM gaugeMar
Condamine River at ChinchillaRiverBoM gaugeMar
Balonne River at St GeorgeRiverBoM gaugeMar
Russell RiverRiverBoM gaugeApr
Flinders River at HughendenRiverBoM gaugeJan
Agnes WaterTownmodelled tideMar
Tannum SandsTownmodelled tideMar
BowenTownmodelled tideApr
LucindaTownmodelled tideApr
CardwellTownmodelled tideApr
Mission BeachTownmodelled tideApr
MossmanTownmodelled tideApr
AyrTownmodelled tideApr
Magnetic IslandCoastmodelled tideApr
Sarina BeachTownmodelled tideApr
SeaforthTownmodelled tideApr
BargaraTownmodelled tideMar
Elliott HeadsTownmodelled tideMar
WoodgateTownmodelled tideMar
Burrum HeadsTownmodelled tideMar
Jacobs WellTownmodelled tideMar
ToorbulTownmodelled tideMar
Coolum BeachTownmodelled tideMar
KawanaTownmodelled tideMar
Boyne IslandTownmodelled tideMar
Emu ParkTownmodelled tideApr
Stanage BayCoastmodelled tideApr
Bramston BeachTownmodelled tideApr
Baroon Pocket DamLakeBoM gaugeJan
Ben Anderson BarrageLakeBoM gaugeApr
Ben Dor WeirLakeBoM gaugeMar
Bill Gunn DamLakeBoM gaugeJan
Cecil Plains WeirLakeBoM gaugeMar
Claude Wharton WeirLakeBoM gaugeApr
Cooby DamLakemodelledMar
Enoggera ReservoirLakeBoM gaugeJan
Ewen Maddock DamLakeBoM gaugeJan
Jones WeirLakeBoM gaugeJan
Lake GregoryLakeBoM gaugeApr
Lemon Tree WeirLakeBoM gaugeMar
Mount Morgan No. 7 DamLakeBoM gaugeJan
Lake KurwongbahLakeBoM gaugeJan
Talgai WeirLakeBoM gaugeMar
Whetstone WeirLakeBoM gaugeMar
Macintyre River at GoondiwindiRiverBoM gaugeMar
Mary River at MivaRiverBoM gaugeJan
Proserpine River at the Bruce HighwayRiverBoM gaugeApr
Haughton River near GiruRiverBoM gaugeApr
North Johnstone River at GoondiRivermodelledApr
Mulgrave River at Peets BridgeRiverBoM gaugeApr
Norman River at Glenore WeirRiverBoM gaugeApr
Gregory River at GregoryRiverBoM gaugeApr
Annan River at Mount SimonRivermodelledApr
Endeavour River at FlaggyRivermodelledApr
Pioneer River at PinevaleRivermodelledApr
Brisbane River at Savages CrossingRiverBoM gaugeJan
Brisbane River at LinvilleRiverBoM gaugeJan
Stanley River at WoodfordRiverBoM gaugeJan
Kolan River at SpringfieldRiverBoM gaugeApr
Dawson River at TaroomRiverBoM gaugeJan
Balonne River at SuratRiverBoM gaugeMar
Maranoa River at MitchellRiverBoM gaugeMar
Warrego River at CunnamullaRiverBoM gaugeMar
Moonie River at NindigullyRiverBoM gaugeMar
Severn River at BallandeanRiverBoM gaugeMar
Gilbert River at the Burke Developmental RoadRiverBoM gaugeApr
Brisbane River at Gregors CreekRiverBoM gaugeJan
Balonne River at WarrooRiverBoM gaugeMar
Balonne River at WeriboneRiverBoM gaugeMar
Moonie River at FentonRiverBoM gaugeMar
Warrego River at AugathellaRiverBoM gaugeMar
Herbert River at AbergowrieRiverBoM gaugeApr

Fishing Queensland: the long view

How the state fishes

The south-east is estuary and bay country: Moreton Bay, the Brisbane River, the Gold Coast Seaway and the Sunshine Coast rivers, fishing for bream, flathead, whiting, tailor and mulloway with snapper on the bay reefs in winter. North of Noosa the coast changes to sand islands and surf, K’gari and Rainbow Beach, where the tailor run each winter, then to Hervey Bay and Bundaberg, and then to the tropics, where barramundi in the creeks and the reef offshore take over and the year has a wet season and a dry one instead of four seasons.

Permits and rules

Queensland has no general recreational fishing licence, which surprises visitors from the southern states. What it has instead is a Stocked Impoundment Permit for line fishing in the sixty-odd stocked dams from age 18, and a detailed set of rules: size and bag limits, the east coast barramundi closed season through the summer spawning, the coral reef fin fish rules and closures, and marine park zoning in Moreton Bay, the Great Sandy region and the Great Barrier Reef. The Queensland Government publishes all of it and each water page links what applies.

Reading a Queensland report

The south-easterly is the wind to read from Brisbane north: it builds the surf, colours the bays and decides whether the reef is reachable. In the tropics the pressure trend matters more than anywhere else, because a falling barometer in the build-up is the classic barramundi bite, and the rain row shows the wet season arriving. Tides are big in the north and the tide panel on each coastal page is a modelled curve, labelled as such, with the Bureau of Meteorology’s official prediction linked.

About fishing in Queensland

Do I need a fishing licence in Queensland?

No. Queensland has no general recreational fishing licence; a Stocked Impoundment Permit is needed from age 18 to line fish the stocked dams, and the rules on limits, closed seasons and marine park zones apply. See our Queensland licence page.

When is barramundi season in Queensland?

The east coast has a closed season through the summer spawning, published by the Queensland Government; the run-off at the end of the wet is the classic time in the north. The species cards on the tropical pages rate the month.

Which Queensland waters do you cover?

Moreton Bay, Brisbane, Redcliffe, Bribie Island, the Gold Coast, Caloundra, the Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Rainbow Beach, K’gari, Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Townsville and Cairns.