Fishing Noosa Wilderness and Beaches
Tidal flows are exceptionally powerful around the point, with strong ocean currents generating massive pressure eddies on the down-current side of the basalt rocks. Seasonal shifts are highly pronounced, with winter welcoming outstanding spawning runs of yellowfin bream, tailor, and surf Mulloway, while summer sees the arrival of giant trevally, queenfish, and Spanish mackerel. Understanding how to read the beach gutters is critical, as fish will shift their positions constantly to follow the baitfish schools.
Land-based anglers can target this pristine wilderness system by driving the sand tracks and fishing the beach gutters on foot. Wading the shallow surf gutters on a rising tide yields outstanding sand whiting and flathead on light spinning gear. Wading anglers must exercise extreme caution, as the shifting sand banks are highly unstable and rogue waves can wash over the rock platforms.
For boaters and kayak anglers, beach launching through the surf provides direct access to the close-lying offshore reefs and gravel patches. Navigating the surf zone requires a high-degree of skill and constant vigilance to avoid rolling your vessel in the breaking swell. The ultimate prize lies in fishing the deep-water current lanes surrounding Double Island Point, which hold world-class sportfish.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- Double Island Point Rocks: Cast sixty-gram chrome metal spoons directly into the main current seam on the eastern edge during a rising tide. Retrieve with an aggressive high-speed burn to trigger active tailor and yellowtail kingfish strikes in the deep pressure waves. Let the lure sink for three seconds before cranking to target fish holding below the foam.
- Teewah Beach Gutters: Fan-cast whole pilchards on ganged three-zero hooks directly into the dark blue ocean beach gutters at high tide. Slowly retrieve the bait to keep it moving naturally through the surf wash where migrating tailor feed. Use a running slider rig with a ninety-gram star sinker to hold bottom in the sweep.
- Noosa Ferry Crossing Shore: Cast live yabbies on a light running sinker rig directly into the fast-flowing main current lanes on a rising tide. Retrieve with a slow, continuous twitch to target sand whiting feeding along the sandy drop-offs. Focus your casts during the first two hours of the run-in tide when clean water enters.
- First Cutting Beach: Cast heavy chrome spoons or weighted soft plastics directly into the deep rip currents draining off the sand ledge. Work the lure with a fast, erratic hopping retrieve to trigger aggressive strikes from giant trevally. Target the twilight periods of dawn and dusk when baitfish concentrate close to the breakers.
- Freshwater Creek Mouth: Lob unweighted baits of mullet strips tightly against the rocky beach transitions on a rising tide. Allow the beach sweep to wash the bait naturally through the foaming wash to target yellowfin bream. Use a strong eight-kilogram fluorocarbon leader to prevent cut-offs on the submerged rocks.
Offshore
- Double Island Point Reefs: Drift the low-lying gravel patches in thirty meters of water casting eighty-gram sinking jigs on light tackle. Locate baitfish schools using your sounder and drop your lure directly into the active feeding zone. Use light fifteen-pound fluorocarbon leaders to fool the wary snapper in the clear ocean water.
- Teewah Beach Off-Beach Reefs: Troll deep-diving hardbody lures that run at six meters parallel to the beach breaker lines. Target the current seams where the sandy bottom drops away into the deep ocean gutters for Spanish mackerel. Maintain a speed of six knots to trigger reaction strikes from active pelagics.
- Double Island Point Gutter: Position your boat up-current of the deep ocean wash and drift unweighted live slimy mackerel on snelled rigs. Keep your reel in free-spool with your thumb on the spool to allow the bait to swim naturally. This is the premier offshore method for targeting trophy-class Mulloway.
- Noosa Ferry Deep Gutter: Anchor your vessel just outside the main current run and cast weighted squid baits down-current on running sinker rigs. Use a heavy ninety-gram pyramid sinker to keep the bait pinned securely in the fast-flowing river channel. Target the brief thirty-minute window of slack water high tide for the best bite.
- Rainbow Beach Offshore Patches: Troll large skirted garfish or high-speed minnows along the current seams where deep water meets the reef. Watch your sounder for tight balls of baitfish pushed up against the ledges by active spotted mackerel. Execute sharp turns over the bait balls to trigger strikes on the inside rod.
Hot Spots
- Double Island Point Rocks: World-famous rock platform offering land-based casting access for tailor.
- Teewah Beach Gutters: Surf beach gutters holding active tailor, bream, and trophy Mulloway.
- Noosa River Ferry Shore: Deep current lanes holding sand whiting and flathead on a rising tide.
- Double Island Point Gutter: Deep ocean wash holding schooling kingfish and Spanish mackerel.
- Rainbow Beach Offshore Patches: Rocky offshore reef patches holding snapper and grass sweetlip.
Local Bait Tips
- Beach Worms: Pulled from the wet sand on Teewah Beach using fresh fish frames on a receding tide. Hook them through the head on a size four long-shank hook for surf whiting.
- Yabbies: Pumped using a stainless steel yabby pump on the sand flats near the ferry crossing at low tide. Pin them through the tail to keep them alive and active.
- Live Herring: Cast-netted around the vertical concrete structures near the ferry crossing during high slack tide. Use them on a running sinker rig to target flathead.
Boat Ramps
- Noosa River Ferry Beach Crossing:
Noosa River Ferry Beach Crossing: Located at the river end of Moorindil Street in Tewantin, this heavy-duty sand launch and active cable ferry crossing operates 365 days a year. During periods of elevated river levels, the ramps become steeply pitched, requiring extreme caution for vehicles towing trailers or lowered vehicles.
- Freshwater Beach Launch:
Freshwater Beach Launch: Located along Teewah Beach approximately 8km south of Double Island Point, this is a strict 4WD-only open beach launch directly into the surf zone. It requires a Vehicle Access Permit (VAP), is highly tide-dependent (usually trafficable at low tide only), and is directly exposed to easterly swells and open Pacific wave action.
Bait and Tackle
- DAVO'S TACKLE WORLD NOOSA: Shop 5, Cnr Mary & Thomas St, Noosaville QLD 4566 | Phone: (07) 5449 8166
Basecamp & Accom
- Noosa North Shore Retreat: 1 Beach Road, Noosa North Shore QLD 4565 | Phone: (07) 5447 1225
Emergency & Safety
- Marine Rescue Noosa (QF5): Munna Point, Noosaville QLD 4566 | Radio: VHF 16, 67 | Phone: (07) 5474 3695
