Fishing Lake Moogerah & Maroon Dam
Anglers fishing Lake Moogerah or Maroon Dam must hold a valid Queensland Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme (SIPS) permit. Australian Bass, Golden Perch, and Saratoga can be targeted year-round under SIPS rules. **CONSERVATION NOTICE: Mary River Cod (*Maccullochella mariensis*) are a protected species; strict no-take catch-and-release rules apply across all Queensland waters!**
Land-based anglers enjoy easy access along the Moogerah Dam day-use foreshore, AG Muller Park, Maroon Dam wall embankment, and day-use picnic grounds. Casting 5g to 7g metal blades, soft plastic grubs, or topwater poppers off AG Muller Park foreshore at dawn produces fast action on Australian Bass and Golden Perch. Shaded clay margins near fallen timber produce heavy catches of Eel-tailed Catfish on live earthworms.
Boating fishers launching from AG Muller Park ramp at Moogerah or Maroon Dam ramp cover narrow flooded timber arms and deep open water basins. Slow-trolling deep-diving minnow lures or casting surface spinnerbaits through drowned timber pockets in Maroon Dam accounts for trophy Australian Bass exceeding 50cm. Electric trolling motors allow silent boat navigation through shallow lily bays.
Landbased
- THE TIMBER GRID (MAROON): Submerged forest area in upper Maroon Dam, offering world-class land-based casting for Australian Bass. Pitch 3/8oz black-and-gold spinnerbaits or soft plastic swimbaits directly into timber pockets and slow-roll past drowned stumps.
- AG MULLER PARK FORESHORE (MOOGERAH): Paved parkland foreshore on Lake Moogerah, offering comfortable land-based casting into deep water. Cast 5g silver or gold metal spinners or small soft plastic grubs into shallow weed clearings during early morning hours.
- MAROON DAM WALL EMBANKMENT: Elevated earthen dam wall structure offering deep-water casting into the impoundment. Cast heavy soft plastic paddletails or spinnerbaits into deep water drop-offs at dusk.
- MOOGERAH DAM WALL LOOKOUT: Deep water area near the spillway structure, providing excellent casting for large Australian Bass and Golden Perch at dusk. Cast long monofilament rigs baited with scrubworms into deep water clearings.
- REYNOLDS CREEK INFLOW MOUTH: Freshwater stream inlet entering upper Moogerah, providing prime Australian Bass and Saratoga habitat during spring runoff. Work small floating hardbody minnows or topwater frogs through moving water pockets.
Offshore
- MAROON TIMBER GRID: Drowned forest arm in Maroon Dam featuring dense standing timber in 6m depth, holding trophy Australian Bass and Saratoga. Slow-roll 3/8oz spinnerbaits or surface stickbaits past drowned stumps.
- REYNOLDS CREEK INFLOW (MOOGERAH): Shallow creek arm in Lake Moogerah holding active Australian Bass during spring inflows. Cast topwater stickbaits or weedless frogs into grass clearings at dawn.
- MOOGERAH CENTRAL DEEP BASIN: Open water basin averaging 12 to 25 metres depth, ideal for trolling deep-diving minnow lures for trophy Australian Bass and Golden Perch. Slow-troll 6cm hardbody lures 25 metres behind boats at 2 knots.
- MAROON LILY POND WEED LINES: Expansive shallow bay featuring dense lily pad beds in 1 to 4 metres depth. Premier topwater casting territory for trophy Saratoga and Australian Bass.
- REDCLAW TIMBER COVES: Sheltered shallow coves with flooded timber roots, ideal for setting opera-house traps for Redclaw Crayfish. Bait traps with wet cat food or vegetable pellets and set along timber margins overnight.
Hot Spots
- MAROON TIMBER GRID: Drowned forest grid world-renowned for producing trophy Australian Bass and Saratoga.
- REYNOLDS CREEK INFLOW: Shallow river arm delivering top-tier topwater Australian Bass strikes.
- AG MULLER PARK: Premier paved foreshore platform delivering light-tackle Australian Bass and Golden Perch.
- MAROON LILY POND WEED LINES: Prolific shallow bay offering top-tier topwater Saratoga casting.
- REDCLAW TIMBER BAYS: Sheltered coves delivering high-volume Redclaw Crayfish trapping.
Local Bait Tips
- SCENIC RIM EARTHWORMS: Dug from damp compost soil in local Boonah properties. Store live in a ventilated container filled with moist peat moss. Threaded onto a size 4 fine-wire hook, garden worms are unbeatable for Australian Bass, Golden Perch, and Eel-tailed Catfish.
- BOONAH CRICKETS: Gathered by hand from grassy pastures along Reynolds Creek on warm summer evenings. Hooked lightly through the thorax, they trigger explosive topwater Bass strikes along timber margins.
- REDCLAW PELLETS: Boiled potatoes or dog biscuits packed into mesh bags inside opera-house traps set along flooded timber roots overnight.
Boat Ramps
- Lake Moogerah Boat Ramp (Boonah):
Located off Moogerah Dam Road at AG Muller Park on Lake Moogerah, Boonah QLD 4310. Managed by TMR QLD and Scenic Rim Regional Council. Features a single-lane concrete boat launch ramp equipped with a central floating finger pontoon jetty. Provides smooth launching into Lake Moogerah for sportsboats, ski craft, and bass boats. Facilities include sealed car-trailer parking, public restrooms, Moogerah Dam Caravan Park amenities, and shaded picnic shelters. Free public access; SIPS permit required.
- Maroon Dam Boat Ramp (Scenic Rim):
Located off Maroon Dam Road on the Maroon Dam foreshore, Boonah QLD 4310. Managed by TMR QLD and Scenic Rim Regional Council. Features a single-lane concrete boat launch ramp extending into Maroon Dam. Positioned in deep water, providing smooth launching for sportsboats and bass boats targeting Australian Bass and Saratoga. Facilities include sealed car-trailer parking, public restrooms, and Maroon Dam campground amenities. Free public access; SIPS permit required.
Bait and Tackle
- CHARLTON'S FISHING: 18 Kerwick Street, Redbank QLD 4301 | Phone: (07) 3818 1677
- WARWICK BAIT & TACKLE: Palmerin St, Warwick QLD 4370 | Phone: (07) 4661 2344
Basecamp & Accom
- Moogerah Dam Caravan Park: 1 Moogerah Dam Rd, Boonah QLD 4310 - Ph: (07) 5463 6185
- Maroon Dam Campgrounds: 1 Maroon Dam Rd, Boonah QLD 4310 - Ph: (07) 5463 6000
- Boonah Valley Motel: 1 High St, Boonah QLD 4310 - Ph: (07) 5463 2000
Emergency & Safety
- State Emergency Service Boonah (SES): High St, Boonah QLD 4310 - Ph: 132 500 / Emergency 000 - UHF Ch 40 / Local SES 132 500
