Fishing Noosa Offshore Reefs
Charters say they target snapper, pearl perch, sweetlip, tuskfish, cod, Moses perch, coral trout and red emperor on the bottom, with amberjack, kingfish, cobia, tuna and Spanish and spotted mackerel higher up. These are the charters' own words, not a promise of a catch.
Marine park: North Reef, Sunshine Reef, Halls Reef and Chardons Reef are outside both Queensland marine parks. The Great Sandy Marine Park starts at latitude 25°56.917' S, south-east of Double Island Point, and the Moreton Bay Marine Park starts at Caloundra Head. If you run north to Double Island Point, you cross into the Great Sandy Marine Park. See our Noosa North Shore and Double Island Point page for those waters.
Know the rules (Queensland tidal waters, checked 20 Oct 2026): Snapper 35cm minimum, 4 per person with only 1 over 70cm, or 8 per boat with 2 or more people on board (only 2 over 70cm). Pearl perch 38cm minimum, 4. Snapper and pearl perch are closed 15 July to 15 August every year on the east coast. Tuskfish (all species) 30cm minimum, 6 combined. Amberjack and samsonfish 50cm minimum, 2 combined. Yellowtail kingfish 60cm minimum, 2. Teraglin 38cm minimum, 5. Cobia 75cm minimum, 2. Mulloway 75cm minimum, 2, and keep them whole on the boat. Coral trout 38cm minimum, 7 combined for all trout. Sweetlips 25cm minimum, 5 per species. Red emperor 55cm minimum, 5. Pelagic rules: Spanish mackerel 75cm minimum, 1 per person or 4 per boat with 4 or more people on board, closed 1 to 21 February and 1 to 21 March (east coast south of 22°S). Spotted mackerel 60cm minimum, 5. Mahi mahi 50cm minimum, 5. Wahoo 75cm minimum, 2. The October and November coral reef fin fish closures do not apply here. They only cover waters north of latitude 24°50' S.
Charters that fish here: Noosa Bluewater Charters, Deep Sea Fishing Co. Noosa, Off the Charts, Noosa Reef & Sportfishing.
Emergency: 000. On the water: VHF Channel 16.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- Boat only: These reefs are offshore and can only be reached by boat. For river and beach fishing, see our Noosa River System page.
Offshore
- Crossing the Noosa Bar: It is a designated coastal bar. The law says everyone on an open boat, or in an open area of any boat, must wear a lifejacket while crossing. Maritime Safety Queensland says to log on and off with your marine rescue group by radio, check tides and weather for both crossings, avoid high standing waves, and don't cross in heavy swell, strong wind or on a run-out tide. Emergency: 000. On the water: VHF Channel 16.
- Heading north: Past latitude 25°56.917' S (south-east of Double Island Point) you are in the Great Sandy Marine Park. Check the zone on the Qld Marine Parks app before you fish there.
- Reef fish limits: Snapper 35cm minimum, 4 per person with only 1 over 70cm, or 8 per boat with 2 or more people on board (only 2 over 70cm). Pearl perch 38cm minimum, 4. Snapper and pearl perch are closed 15 July to 15 August every year on the east coast. Tuskfish (all species) 30cm minimum, 6 combined. Amberjack and samsonfish 50cm minimum, 2 combined. Yellowtail kingfish 60cm minimum, 2. Teraglin 38cm minimum, 5. Cobia 75cm minimum, 2. Mulloway 75cm minimum, 2, and keep them whole on the boat. Coral trout 38cm minimum, 7 combined for all trout. Sweetlips 25cm minimum, 5 per species. Red emperor 55cm minimum, 5.
- Pelagic rules: Spanish mackerel 75cm minimum, 1 per person or 4 per boat with 4 or more people on board, closed 1 to 21 February and 1 to 21 March (east coast south of 22°S). Spotted mackerel 60cm minimum, 5. Mahi mahi 50cm minimum, 5. Wahoo 75cm minimum, 2.
- Marine rescue: MRQ Noosa (formerly Coast Guard Noosa QF5) is at Munna Point, Noosaville. Log on and off on VHF 22 or phone (07) 5474 3695.
Hot Spots
- North Reef: Named by Noosa Bluewater Charters and Deep Sea Fishing Co. Noosa. Noosa Bluewater fishes it on 5-hour trips (about 30 to 45 minutes' run) and its outer edges on 7-hour trips. It describes North Reef as weed beds, bommies and gravel patches about 40 to 55m deep. Outside the marine parks.
- Sunshine Reef: Named by Noosa Bluewater Charters as one of its closer reefs on 5-hour trips. Noosa Bluewater calls it an inshore reef complex about 15 to 35m deep, a short run from the river mouth, and lists snapper (in season), sweetlip, coral trout, tuskfish, cobia and mackerel. Outside the marine parks.
- Halls Reef: Noosa Bluewater says this reef is about 2km from the Noosa Bar and 15 to 20m deep, and lists snapper, sweetlip, coral trout, pearl perch, Spanish mackerel, cobia, longtail tuna and queenfish. Outside the marine parks.
- Chardons Reef: Named by Noosa Bluewater Charters for its 7-hour trips. Noosa Bluewater says it is about 30 to 60m deep and lists snapper, tuskfish, cod, amberjack, red emperor, mackerel and mahi mahi there. Outside the marine parks.
- Noosa Bar: The only way out for Noosa River boats. It is a designated coastal bar, so lifejackets are law while crossing.
Boat Ramps
- Thomas & Albert Streets Boat Ramp, Noosaville:
Located at Thomas & Albert Streets in Noosaville, this dual-lane concrete ramp features a central floating walkway, boarding jetty, and washdown facilities. Parking is extremely limited with no dedicated trailer spaces, forcing shared parking under strict local municipal infringement laws, though this high-use central ramp is identified for future upgrades.
- Parkyn Court Boat Ramp, Tewantin:
Located at Parkyn Court in Tewantin (Facility ID NS32), this concrete boat ramp is a critical mid-river transit node providing direct access adjacent to the Noosa Marina. It features untimed trailer parking.
Bait and Tackle
- DAVO'S TACKLE WORLD NOOSA: Shop 5, Cnr Mary & Thomas St, Noosaville QLD 4566 | Phone: (07) 5449 8166
Emergency & Safety
- MRQ Noosa: Munna Point, Noosaville QLD 4566 | Log on/off: VHF 22 or (07) 5474 3695 | Emergency: VHF 16 or 000
