Fishing Lake Somerset & Lake Wivenhoe
Anglers fishing Lake Somerset or Lake Wivenhoe must hold a valid Queensland Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme (SIPS) permit. Australian Bass, Golden Perch, and Murray Cod 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!** On Lake Wivenhoe, **petrol outboards are restricted to low-emissions 4-stroke engines (or electric motors)** to protect regional drinking water catchments.
Land-based anglers enjoy excellent infrastructure along the Somerset Spit parkland foreshore, Kirkleagh day-use area, Cormorant Bay (Wivenhoe), and Billies Bay. Casting 7g to 10g metal blades, soft plastic grubs, or topwater stickbaits off the Somerset Spit shoreline at dawn produces fast action on trophy Australian Bass. Shaded clay margins near fallen timber produce heavy catches of Golden Snapper-like Yellowbelly on live worms.
Boating fishers launching from the 2-lane Spit ramp at Somerset or Logan Inlet at Wivenhoe cover expansive open basin waters and flooded timber arms. Trolling deep-diving hardbody lures or jigging metal blades through submerged creek channels in Somerset's Pelham arm accounts for trophy Australian Bass exceeding 50cm and Murray Cod over a metre. Electric trolling motors allow silent boat navigation through shallow bays.
Landbased
- RED ROCK POINT FORESHORE: Rocky headland on Lake Somerset, offering world-class land-based casting into deep water. Cast 1/2oz spinnerbaits or heavy 120mm swimbaits off Red Rock Point at dusk for trophy Murray Cod and Australian Bass. Retrieve lures with a steady hopping action along clay drop-offs.
- SOMERSET SPIT FORESHORE: Paved parkland foreshore on Lake Somerset, offering world-class land-based casting into deep water. Cast 7g metal blades or soft plastic grubs into shallow weed clearings during early morning hours.
- KIRKLEAGH DAY-USE FORESHORE: Open grassy bank area on northern Lake Somerset, providing comfortable shore access for casting lures for Australian Bass and Golden Perch. Cast heavy soft plastic paddletails into deep water drop-offs at dusk.
- CORMORANT BAY FORESHORE (WIVENHOE): Scenic parkland foreshore on Lake Wivenhoe near the dam wall, offering peaceful casting for Australian Bass and Golden Perch. Cast small floating hardbody minnows or spinnerbaits into deep water clearings at sunset.
- BILLIES BAY SHORELINE (WIVENHOE): Shaded clay bank area on Lake Wivenhoe, ideal for wading anglers targeting Australian Bass and Eel-tailed Catfish. Work small topwater micro-poppers or baited patternoster rigs along sandbar drop-offs at dawn.
Offshore
- THE SOMERSET HUMP: Submerged underwater hill in the central basin of Lake Somerset in 15m depth, holding giant schools of Australian Bass. Vertical jig 12g to 20g metal blades or ice jigs directly over schooling fish pinpointed on sounders.
- RED ROCK POINT DROP-OFF: Deep river channel drop-off running past Red Rock Point in Lake Somerset, holding 1m+ Murray Cod and giant Bass. Troll 150mm deep-diving hardbodies 30m behind boats at 2 knots along the channel wall.
- PELHAM ARM DROWNED TIMBER: Vast flooded forest arm in Lake Somerset, holding Australia's highest density of trophy Australian Bass and Murray Cod. Cast spinnerbaits or heavy soft plastic swimbaits directly into timber pockets.
- WIVENHOE DEEP FLATS: Expansive shallow basin in Lake Wivenhoe averaging 10 to 25 metres depth, world-famous for trolling for trophy Australian Bass and Golden Perch. Slow-roll soft plastic paddletails over submerged creek junctions.
- REDCLAW TIMBER COVES: Sheltered shallow coves in both dams with flooded timber roots, ideal for setting opera-house traps for Redclaw Crayfish. Bait traps with wet cat food or vegetable pellets set along timber margins overnight.
Hot Spots
- THE SOMERSET HUMP: Submerged hill delivering Australia's highest volume of tournament-class Bass on metal blades.
- RED ROCK POINT: Deep river drop-off delivering 1m+ Murray Cod and giant Bass on deep trolls.
- PELHAM ARM: Drowned forest arm world-renowned for producing Australia's largest impoundment Bass.
- SOMERSET SPIT: Premier paved foreshore platform delivering trophy land-based Australian Bass and Golden Perch.
- WIVENHOE CORMORANT BAY: Scenic Wivenhoe parkland offering top-tier non-motorized and 4-stroke Bass casting.
Local Bait Tips
- BRISBANE VALLEY EARTHWORMS: Dug from moist soil under garden beds in Kilcoy and Esk. Threaded onto fine-wire hooks, garden worms produce non-stop Golden Perch and Australian Bass bites around Somerset Spit rocks.
- SOMERSET CHERABINS: Trapped in opera-house pots baited with meat frames set in the shallow timber coves of Pelham Arm. Live cherabins are prime bait for big Somerset Bass and Yellowbelly.
- REDCLAW PELLETS: Boiled potatoes or dog biscuits packed into mesh bags inside opera-house traps set along flooded timber roots overnight.
Boat Ramps
- Lake Somerset Spit Boat Ramp (Kilcoy):
Located at the Somerset Spit off Esk-Kilcoy Road, Somerset Dam QLD 4312. Managed by TMR QLD and Somerset Regional Council. Features a 2-lane concrete boat launch ramp equipped with central floating universal access pontoon jetties. Positioned in deep water, providing safe launching into Lake Somerset for sportsboats, ski craft, and bass boats across all season water levels. Facilities feature an extensive bitumen car-and-trailer carpark, public restrooms, stainless-steel fish cleaning station, vessel wash-down bay, shade sails, and Somerset Waters Caravan Park amenities. Free public access; SIPS permit required.
- Kirkleagh Boat Ramp (Lake Somerset):
Located off Kirkleagh Road at Kirkleagh day-use area on northern Lake Somerset, Kilcoy QLD 4312. Managed by TMR QLD and Somerset Regional Council. Features a 2-lane concrete boat launch ramp providing direct water access to upper Lake Somerset. Facilities include an extensive bitumen car-and-trailer carpark, public restrooms, Kirkleagh camping grounds, and shaded picnic areas. Free public access; SIPS permit required.
- Logan Inlet Boat Ramp (Lake Wivenhoe):
Located off Logan Inlet Road at Logan Inlet day-use area on Lake Wivenhoe, Fernvale QLD 4306. Managed by TMR QLD and Seqwater. Features a single-lane concrete boat launch ramp providing primary official access into Lake Wivenhoe for electric-powered tinnies, bass boats, and paddlecraft. REGULATORY NOTICE: Petrol outboards are strictly restricted to low-emissions 4-stroke engines or electric motors. Facilities include sealed car-trailer parking, public restrooms, swimming beach, shaded parkland, and barbecue amenities. Free public access; SIPS permit required.
- Hamon Cove Boat Ramp (Lake Wivenhoe):
Located off Logan Inlet Road at Hamon Cove on Lake Wivenhoe, Fernvale QLD 4306. Managed by TMR QLD and Seqwater. Features a single-lane concrete boat launch ramp providing secondary access to Lake Wivenhoe for paddlecraft and electric tinnies. Facilities include sealed car-trailer parking, public restrooms, and picnic shelters. Free public access; SIPS permit required.
Bait and Tackle
- CHARLTON'S FISHING: 18 Kerwick Street, Redbank QLD 4301 | Phone: (07) 3818 1677
- TACKLE WORLD LAWNTON: 2/640 Gympie Road, Lawnton QLD 4501 | Phone: (07) 3205 7475
Basecamp & Accom
- Somerset Waters Caravan Park: 1 Esk-Kilcoy Rd, Somerset Dam QLD 4312 - Ph: (07) 5426 0100
- Kirkleagh Campground: Kirkleagh Rd, Lake Somerset QLD 4312 - Ph: (07) 5497 1000
- Esk Caravan Park: 16 Hassall St, Esk QLD 4312 - Ph: (07) 5424 1466
Emergency & Safety
- State Emergency Service Kilcoy / Esk (SES): William St, Kilcoy QLD 4515 - Ph: 132 500 / Emergency 000 - UHF Ch 40 / Local SES 132 500
