We are very lucky fishos here on the Fraser Coast. Living in close proximity to the world’s largest sand island and arguably Australia’s premier surf fishing destination, means we can visit Fraser Island anytime we wish. We can enjoy its wondrous natural vistas and incredible landscapes, and of course, take advantage of the world-class surf fishing Fraser’s expansive beaches offer.
Adventure, fantastic scenery and incredible fishing awaits those willing to take on what many tourists travel half way around the world to see. Fraser Island is right on our doorstep and a mere barge ride away. If you are yet to experience the majesty of this world heritage listed gem, then you have definitely been missing out. You should consider a trip in coming months when the fishing will be peaking.
Fraser Island’s surf fishing scene really fires over the next few months and lots of regular visitors will flock to the island for (hopefully) what will be a repeat of the insane surf fishing experienced over there last year. The best fishing in decades was declared by many last spring and a significant wet season since then has many of us expecting big things again this season.
So, if you are new to the concept of surf fishing, and you would like to give it a try, then read on. If you would like to expand your horizons to incorporate some of the most enjoyable fishing and camping in a wild and incredibly interesting location, then the following tips will help you gear up and get ready.
If you're ready to gear up for your surf fishing adventure, come visit us in-store and chat with our team, or check out our Surf Fishing collection online. We’ve got everything you need to make the most of your time on Fraser Island.
Fraser Island Fishing Seasons
There is a rather distinctive surf fishing season on Fraser Island. It kicks off in May for those folks keen to sample the island’s whiting fishing, but for the majority, the recognised season is July – October. During this period, offshore winds tend to prevail more consistently and the north-bound tailor migration arrives along Fraser’s surf beaches. This offers perfect beach fishing conditions at a time when the tailor and all the other usual beach-dwelling species are well-represented.
Fraser’s surf scene is certainly fishable at other times of year, but incessant onshore trade winds and heavy swell often pound the exposed beaches, making conditions too challenging or risky for longer term adventures. March flies also create their own challenges in the summer months, and are known to test the sanity of those that try to fish, or even camp, in their presence.
Of course, Fraser Island isn’t the only option for surf fishos in our region. Rainbow Beach and Teewah Beach to our south offer 4WD access and exceptional fishing too. Surf-less beaches to our north-west, including Woodgate and Coonarr, join our local town beaches as peaceful and unique fishing destinations without the boisterous chaos of the surf scene.
Much of the overall appeal of surf fishing stretches well beyond just the fishing itself. The fun and satisfaction of four-wheel-driving along sandy beaches and sometimes challenging inland tracks is a major highlight for many regulars, and most certainly for any novices. Anyone with a capable 4WD can take it to Fraser or elsewhere. Kitting your vehicle out with appropriate devices for carrying tackle and camping gear adding character and functionality to your rig.
What Fish to Catch from Fraser Island’s Surf Beaches
Focussing on Fraser Island and taking a look at what fish can be caught from the surf over there, the list is a long one. Obviously, tailor are the major drawcard for many folks, but the likes of whiting, bream, flathead, dart, tarwhine and mulloway jewfish are all caught regularly. Spanish mackerel, giant trevally and queenfish also hound the baitfish sheltering in the surf gutters at times and add another level of excitement to Fraser’s surf fishery.
The early runs of tailor are always typically smaller fish, known as choppers. Larger fish join the fray later in the season. These fish are referred to as greenbacks. A real mix of sizes can be found at times, and at others, every next fish mirrors the last. Surf conditions will dictate how the tailor move and where they settle for a period. Baitfish movements determine feeding opportunities, so swooping terns should always be noted when you are cruising along surf beaches.
Whiting can be caught year-round on Fraser, yet they really shine autumn into early spring. Focussing on bigger tides associated with full and new moons increases whiting catches dramatically, as it does many other surf species. Bream and tarwhine are at their best through winter and into early spring. Jewfish are mostly targeted in winter and spring, with the moons of September and October firmly fixed on the calendars of some jewie fans.
The pinnacle of possible target species has to be snub-nosed dart (aka; permit or oyster-cracker). These enigmatic and incredibly powerful fish are caught from Fraser’s surf gutters by a very lucky few each year. Renowned stubborn fighters that have a penchant for shellfish, these fish have no par when it comes to epic surf battles, many of which are lost. Should you achieve this holy grail of surf fishing, then you have bragging rights to spare!
Sharks are a conspicuous constant on Fraser’s surf beaches. For this reason, it is incredibly rare to see surfers enjoying the various breaks along the island. One of the more spectacular highlights of a walk to the highest vantage points on Fraser’s headlands is the sight of large sharks, often packs of them, in nearby waters.
A few fishos target the sharks with heavy tackle from the beach. Baits are paddled-out and various sharks from manageable critters to unstoppable behemoths are hooked and fought. Some battles are lengthy affairs that have even seen fishos resort to fighting from the back of a ute as the shark resists capture. Slide-baiters often encounter them when chasing other quarry such as spaniards and GTs, whilst a few purposefully target the sharks for the sport before releasing them unharmed.
Rod & Reel Combos for Surf Fishing
Targeting specific surf species with appropriate bait, lures and techniques ensures success when you find them. Bycatch can be a constant of course, and adds to the appeal of a day’s surf fishing. Species such as jewfish, tailor, and trevally etc demand heavier tackle than the smaller species; as much due to the weight of the lure or rig being cast as to the actual power and weight of the fish being fought.
Purpose-designed surf rods are longer than other rods as the extra length enables you to keep your line clear of the surf (for the most part). The extra rod length also aids longer casts, and the ‘bowie’ action of most surf rods helps stay connected by absorbing the lunges and runs of larger fish in the surging surf zone.
Those of you that admire the working curve of your fishing rods when fighting pelagics and reefies will be duly impressed when you experience the hooping arc of a surf rod doing battle with a determined opponent in the waves. The exaggerated doubled-over surf rod scene, where quite often the fish attached isn’t even all that large, is all part of the ‘hollywood’ action synonymous with surf fishing.
Surf fishing rod and reel combos are typically sporting either Alvey side cast reels or alternative spinning reels. Rods matching Alvey reels have lower-positioned reel seats to enable a caster to place their rear hand on the reel (pinning the line) and their leading hand up the rod.
Rods matched to spinning reels have mid-mounted reel seats to enable a caster to pin the line against the reel with their leading hand whilst their other hand holds the rod below. In essence, hand position is opposing when using Alveys versus spinning reels, hence the need for difference rods for the two reel types.
Other alternative rods exist, with express purpose. There are rods designed for overhead reels, where the reel seat is mounted very high on the rod for maximum casting distance. Overhead surf combos were once favoured eons ago, but are rarely used today. Slide-baiting rods are purpose built with an ultra-low reel seat for mounting an overhead reel, enabling a unique casting technique brought to our shores by fishos from South Africa.
Advantages of Alvey side cast reels for surf fishing are many, hence their popularity for the past 100 years. Their relatively simple design lends itself to easy home maintenance and no other reel can handle being dunked in the surf like an Alvey reel can. Sporting a one-to-one gear ratio (ie; no gears), Alvey reels are strong and (these days) quite light-weight. Direct-wind reels have their fans, though more and more folks using Alveys these days are opting for the models sporting drag systems, anti-reverses and rapid-retrieve handles.
Alvey reels come in a range of sizes. For the surf, it is the side cast models in the 5” to 6.5” size range that are popular. 5” and 5.5” reels for the shorter and lighter rods in the 9’ – 10’6” lengths (for whiting, bream, tarwhine); 6” reels for the 11’ – 12’ rods (for dart, flathead and choppers); and 6.5” for the heavier 12’ and longer 13’6” rods (for green-back tailor, jewfish and large pelagics). Matching Alvey reels to appropriate rods is easily done in-store, where we can explain the casting weight limitations of a given outfit and for what target species it will be best suited.
A host of spinning reels exist today that can be purposed for surf fishing. Typically, the simpler, robust and easily-serviced models are suggested, as mishaps in a sandy environment can be fraught with frustration. Balanced spinning reels for the larger 13’6” rods are typically quite large, and smaller models suit the lighter and shorter rods.
Gearing Up for Surf Fishing
Monofilament fishing line is favoured by nearly all surf fishos, even today. This is partly due to the issues suffered when braided line is wound through snotty weed in a surf gutter that results in sand attaching to weed-affected braid and a resultant weakened mess wound ashore.
Braided line can be used on spinning reels in the surf however - just avoid the snot-weed. Longer casts and greater line capacity make braided line appealing to those opting for lure fishing techniques. Braid is not an option on Alvey reels, as cut fingers and wind-knots would be too annoying.
Various rigs can be used for surf fishing. The most popular in Qld will always be the standard running sinker rig (perhaps with the addition of a second swivel for Alvey casters). Paternoster rigs are undeniably effective, particularly in stronger ‘sweep’ (current) and are typically coupled with grapnel or star sinkers. Ensuring you have the terminal tackle to create either type of rig will mean you will be ready for all surf conditions on your next trip.
Standard tailor rigs will include a set of gang hooks for attaching to a pilchard or garfish. The size of your gang hooks is directly related to the size of your baits, so choose carefully, or carry various sizes. Whether attached to a paternoster rig or a running rig (lightly or heavily-weighted), your gang hooks act as protection against the teeth of the tailor meaning mono leaders of 30-40lb are sufficient in lieu of wire traces.
You will also need a mix of alternative hooks for other surf species as well. Long-shanked hooks in sizes 4,2 and 1 typically accommodate baits such as worms and pippies for the likes of whiting, tarwhine, dart, bream and flathead. Other patterns can be used for all but the whiting if you prefer, so small suicide or baitholder patterns in sizes 2 – 2/0 are worth considering. Tiny gangs might also be worth carrying, just in case you find yourself using frog-mouthed anchovies, hardy heads or whitebait.
Do not scrimp on swivels for your surf fishing. The tumbling, surging nature of the surf environment and the fact that some baits get mauled then retrieved in a largely un-streamlined mass, can create line twist quite dramatically. Better-quality swivels will not only be smaller for a given strength, but will also turn under pressure and help to minimise line twist and tangles. 3-way swivels add an extra dimension of twist-resistance often utilised by fans of paternoster rigs these days too.
As far as sinkers go, you will need a mixture. Remembering that ball sinkers roll the most freely, followed by bean sinkers, you can probably guess why flat-sided surf sinkers are popular. If you are using a running sinker rig and want to maximise movement, then opt for ball sinkers. If seeking to restrict movement, then use surf sinkers. Paternoster rigs demand star sinkers normally, but you can use tear-drop style rocket sinkers if you prefer a little extra movement. Either way, ensure you have a range of weights to contend with the varying surf conditions and target species.
Lure Fishing in the Surf
More and more fishos are taking on the art of lure fishing in the surf and enjoying themselves immensely. Less-affected by current and quite often with a longer casting range, those favouring lures have advantages when the predatory fish are on the chew.
Tailor and the other pelagic species are all suckers for a variety of metal spoons and slugs retrieved at speed through the gutters. You could consider a suitable retrieve for tailor as medium-quick, whilst greater speed is often the bite trigger for the spaniards, GTs and queenies. Switching to stickbaits has been a winning move for many fishos in recent years, as these more life-like artificials tempt the larger, more aggressive predators.
Soft plastics are increasingly deployed to target species such as dart, flathead, bream and jewfish in the surf. Grub-tailed softies attached to relatively heavily-weighted jig heads are usually favoured, yet other patterns can also appeal. Those that have discovered the benefit of small shore-jigs for the likes of dart, bream and flatties have never looked back, and this aspect of surf fishing will gain more momentum as more folks discover the advantages.
Bait Fishing Options for Surf Fishing
The majority of beach fishos still favour bait fishing techniques, and gathering their baits for a session is all part of their day. Some master the art of beach worming, whilst others rely on a supply of pippies for fresh baits (all the while remaining within in-possession bag limits). Given that both worms and pippies can pull a disappearing act after periods of heavy swell or wet weather, ensuring you have a back-up bait supply is a great idea.
Finding pippies in the surf zone is pretty easy. You can select an area and do anything from the ‘pippy shuffle’ to frantically chasing retreating pippies down the beach. Even smarter though, is to learn to recognise pippy ‘push-ups’ as you drive along the beach, and then you can simply pull up and gather some for bait. Push-ups are roughly 100mm round patches of disturbed sand on otherwise compressed hard wet sand, where 4WDers have driven over pippies and they have reacted beneath the sand thereafter. The sharp end of a poly tube rod holder has long been the tool of choice for folks gathering pippies beneath push-ups.
Storing baits in a lockable esky, fridge or freezer will ensure Fraser’s dingo population isn’t tempted to steal from you or create issues between you and the island’s Marine Parks inspectors. Taking a supply of rock salt serves many tailor fishos well too, as they thaw fresh pilchards for a session then salt the unused baits for use later. Salted baits are tougher and emit a stronger smell by the way, making them extra appealing to long-casting surf fishos.
During the latter half of the tailor season, the ratio of greenbacks to choppers will change slightly, as larger tailor become more prevalent. At this time, regular island fishos often supplement their pilchard bait stocks with garfish and bonito. The gar are used whole on gang hooks like pilchards, whereas the bonito are filleted and streamlined long strips of flesh ganged in lieu. Both baits deemed more appealing to larger greenbacks by some experienced fishos.
Finding the Right Gutters
Recognising where to fish along a vast stretch of beach like those on Fraser can be daunting for first-timers. We refer to slightly-deeper waters in a beach-scape as gutters. These gutters are what you are looking for as opposed to the long stretches of uniform crashing surf, and they take many forms. Long, relatively deep parallel gutters are a regular feature of the most southern stretch of Fraser, but further north, the gutters vary as shifting sands come and go with the varying weather events.
Tailor fishos typically seek out gutters that are either; deep and parallel, where the outer bank creates a wash zone and resultant white water over the gutter proper; or rip-style gutters where the water from very shallow feeder gutters turn and rush out to sea via a distinct rip. Tailor make feeding raids on the gutters or linger within, depending upon depths, suds cover, and time of day.
Bream and larger dart often share the same gutter preferences as the tailor, just as likely due to their tendency to follow the tailor schools picking up scraps as to the actual shape of a gutter. Flathead are prone to positioning themselves at key ambush points where shallow gutters pour into a rip, or just beach-side of an outer bank shelving into a shallow gutter.
Whiting are mostly found in the shallower parallel gutters, often referred to as ‘melon holes’. Casting out too far is a failure on the part of many novice whiting fishos as they fail to realise the whiting’s tendency to feed in the wash zone right at their feet. To illustrate further, baits sitting high and dry when a wave recedes are often snavelled by a whiting when the next wave washes in.
Exposed rocky outcrops are a drawcard for predatory species and a haven for others. Bream and tarwhine are often caught in bigger numbers from within rock-strewn gutters. Flathead don’t mind laying up between the rocks either, and tailor and jewfish can be drawn in for a feed come dark if there is a school of baitfish sheltering thereabouts.
Discovering Fraser’s Many Fishing Locations
The southern-most stretch of Fraser’s main surf beach is very popular late autumn into winter as excellent whiting fishing can be enjoyed from this less-pounded stretch of surf. Indeed, it is the lack of traditional surf that appeals at this time. Dart, bream and flathead can be caught from Hook Point to Eurong, and later in winter, the chopper tailor begin migrating through those waters.
Historically, the central sector of Fraser Island’s main surf beach draws the bigger crowds in tailor season. Well-formed gutters in the area are the main drawcard for schools of tailor, lots of dart, and a few jewies that linger for periods in the area. Consider the area from Poyungan Rocks, through Yidney Rocks and Happy Valley, to the Maheno wreck and The Cathedrals to Dundubara as the primary haunt for tailor fishos.
Many camp at Orchid Beach, and accordingly, they often fish the gutters to the north of the headlands. Ngkala Rocks is a particularly popular location when the right gutters are formed up there, giving more adventurous fishos another great spot to pursue tailor, dart, bream and jewfish.
Day trippers to Sandy Cape drive into a zone synonymous with consistent catches of queenfish, GTs and spanish mackerel at times, making it a popular area for slide-baiters to haunt. Driving all the way to the cape, just to say you have done it is on many folks’ island to-do list. Fishing whilst up there offers extra adrenalin-filled excitement to the adventure and can see you hooking into fish rarely seen back down the island.
Fraser’s western side is a whole different world to the surf scene, yet it is also the saviour of many a crew that has been blown out by onshore winds and swell. Driving through the island to fish Wathumba Creek has been such a highlight for a few crews in the past that some ritually set aside a couple of days for Wathumba trips regardless of the weather. Whiting, bream and flathead are the mainstays for those fishing the shores of Wathumba, though grunter and tiger squid are also possible.
Access tracks can take 4WDers through the island to other smaller creek systems that trickle freshwater into Platypus Bay, and to hotspots such as Kingfisher Bay and Ungowa. Platypus Bay beaches and coffee rock outcrops are where flathead, bream, whiting and squid can be found.
Kingfisher Bay and Ungowa are also home to the bread’n’butter species in season, plus squid and a constantly changing array of estuary, reef and pelagic species. Water quality, time of year and baitfish aggregations will dictate which species are in attendance. Ensuring that you have appropriate tackle and an assortment of lures means you can engage Plan B and hit Fraser’s sheltered western shores should your surf fishing be blown out.
When planning your next Fraser escape, remember that there is a 2-month fishing closed season surrounding the island’s headlands. From midday 1st August to midday 30th September each year, all forms of fishing are strictly prohibited from 400 metres south of Indian Head to 400 metres north of Waddy Point and 400 metres to seaward.
This closure has been in place for decades and is to protect the tailor spawning in this key location. Come midday 30th September though, it is on for young and old, and weather-permitting, many keen fishos flock to the rocky platforms of the headlands eager to get amongst the amassed schools of tailor. Other predators such as trevally and spanish mackerel are often caught from there too, mostly by folks spinning with metals or casting and retrieving stickbaits through the suds. This season opener is a major event on the island fishing scene and one not to miss if you are in the area.
Don’t Miss Out this Tailor Season
From that initial hiss of air releasing from your 4WD’s tires to the squeak of sand as you exit the island tracks and hit the beach, your Fraser Island experience is one to cherish. Soak in the salty aroma that only the surf emits and soak up the sun as you cruise the beach looking for your next honey hole.
Life’s too short to miss out on highlights such as surf fishing in a pristine location such as Fraser Island. Take advantage of the prime seasonal fishery that is about to explode over there, where you can hone your skills on a long list of fish that offer both good sport and great tucker. Take the family, or get a group of mates together. You will have a ball and wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.
Ready? Come in-store and our team will be more than happy to talk you through the right gear to make the most of your experience. Or shop our Surf Fishing collection online.
