Closed waters – tidal waters

Waters closed to all forms of fishing

All fishing is prohibited in the following areas all year round:

  • Certain areas within state and Commonwealth marine parks
  • Barron River: at the place commonly known as Barron Waters, between F#B signs on opposite sides of the river near its junction with Stony Creek and its junction with Camp Oven Creek
  • Bizant River and German Bar Lagoon: from the road crossing commonly known as German Bar downstream for 2km
  • Burnett River: from 400m upstream to 400m downstream of the Burnett River Barrage
  • Centenary Lakes: Saltwater Creek, Lily Creek and lakes joining the creeks, between Greenslopes Street and Collins Avenue, Cairns
  • Coombabah Lake and tidal waters of Coombabah Creek upstream from the lake
  • Fitzroy River: from 400m upstream to 400m downstream of the Fitzroy River Barrage
  • Waters near Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay coal terminals within the following boundary:
    • from latitude 21°14.430' south, longitude 149°18.090' east to latitude 21°14.520' south, longitude 149°17.890' east
    • to latitude 21°16.210' south, longitude 149°19.090' east
    • to latitude 21°16.320' south, longitude 149°18.860' east
    • to latitude 21°14.430' south, longitude 149°18.090' east
  • Hook Island Observatory: waters within a 100m radius of the observatory
  • Keppel Bay: within a 150m radius of the Middle Island Underwater Observatory
  • Kolan River: from 400m upstream to 400m downstream of the Kolan Barrage
  • Mary River: from 400m upstream to 400m downstream of the Mary River Barrage
  • Mission Bay: south of a line between Cape Grafton and False Cape and waters flowing into that part of the bay
  • Orpheus Island: waters under or within 100m of Yanks Jetty
  • South Mitchell River (and waterways joining it): between F#B signs near opposite banks of the river and F#B signs where it joins Surprise Creek
  • Swan Bay and tidal waters of the unnamed creek joining the bay's northern end
  • Tinana Creek: from 400m upstream to 400m downstream of the Tinana Creek Barrage
  • Tinana Creek upstream: Tinana Creek and its tributaries upstream of Teddington Weir wall
  • Torres Strait waters within the following boundary:
    • from Turtle Head, Hammond Island, to Hammond Rock
    • to 1 n mile east of Menmuir Point, Hammond Island
    • to the northern tip of Kapuda Island
    • to Bruce Point, Hammond Island
    • along the eastern shore of Hammond Island to Turtle Head.

For precise boundaries consult the fisheries legislation or contact the QBFP. For marine park boundaries see Queensland's marine parks or the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA).

Waters closed to taking fin fish

Taking fin fish is prohibited in the following area from 1 August to 29 September:

  • Fraser Island: eastern foreshore waters and waters within 400m out to sea from the eastern shore at low water, between 400m north of Waddy Point and 400m south of Indian Head.

Please note: This closure applies to the taking of fin fish only. Fishers can collect worms and pipis by hand in this area during the closure.

Waters closed to taking black jewfish

North Cape York regulated waters

Waters closed to spearfishing

You can use a spear or spear gun (including a bow for propelling a spear) in selected tidal waters locations.

You can’t use underwater breathing apparatus (other than a snorkel) to catch fish.

You can’t spearfish for barramundi between 6pm and 6am.

Spearfishing is prohibited in all fresh waters and the following tidal areas (for precise boundaries consult the fisheries legislation:

  • Bargara Beach (Bundaberg): the Basin
  • Brampton and Carlisle Islands: waters between the islands
  • Cape Edgecumbe: the foreshores and waters seaward 50m from low water mark from the boat ramp in Greys Bay around Cape Edgecumbe to the eastern headland of Horseshoe Bay
  • Cooktown: within 100 m of the main wharf and pontoons
  • Dungeness and Lucinda Point: within 100m of the public jetties
  • Dunk Island: the north-western and western sides
  • Great Keppel Island: western foreshore waters and waters within 400m out to sea from the island's shore at low tide, between Little Peninsula on the island's north-western foreshore and Monkey Point at the island's south-western tip
  • Hayman Island: the southern and western sides
  • Hook Island: the eastern, south-eastern and southern sides
  • Lake Weyba (Noosa River): and waterway adjoining the lake and river downstream of Parkyns Jetty at Tewantin and the western tip of Goat Island
  • Lindeman Island: the western and southern sides
  • Long Island: the western side
  • Maroochy River: waterways joining it downstream of, and including, the Cod Hole
  • Mooloolah River: downstream of the Nicklin Way Bridge and Brisbane Road
  • Artificial reef area off Moreton Island near Cowan Cowan
  • South East Queensland: within 100m of all public jetties in, and south of, the Noosa River
  • North Keppel Island: the western and southern sides
  • Port Dennison: waters under, or within 100m of, the main wharf at Port Dennison, Bowen, and structures attached to the wharf
  • Pumicestone Strait (Bribie Island): between a line from Elimbah Creek to Gallagher Point and a line from Ninghi Creek to Dux Creek; and north of a line from Bells Creek to the northern tip of the most northern island of a group of islands east of Bells Creek, to the western side of Bribie Island
  • Richards Island (Bedarra Island): the north-western and northern sides
  • Seaforth Island
  • Southern Moreton Bay: Jumpinpin and the Southport Broadwater including the seaway Moreton Bay south of 27º42' S (Logan River)
  • South Molle Island: the northern side
  • Tallebudgera Creek: upstream of a straight line between the eastern extremity of Burleigh Heads and the seaward end of the rock groyne near its southern bank of the creek end
  • West Molle Island (Daydream Island): surrounding waters
  • Woodgate: in the vicinity of the artificial reef in Hervey Bay
  • Woody Island: in the vicinity of the artificial reef at the northern end of Great Sandy Strait.

Note: For precise boundaries consult the fisheries legislation - some areas are marked by a spearfishing boundary sign. Other local, state and federal regulations may also apply - check with the relevant authority.

Areas closed to taking bivalve molluscs and gastropods (e.g. pipis and cockles)

Moreton Bay: Bivalve molluscs and gastropods (excluding pipis) are no take in Moreton Bay (the waters of Moreton Bay Marine Park following the boundary coordinates of the northern, eastern and southern boundaries and all tidal waters that flow into the marine park).

Waters closed to taking sea cucumbers

Waters south of latitude 20º south (near Bowen) and waters west of longitude 142º31'49'' east (Gulf waters)

Waters closed to taking mud crabs

Eurimbula Creek

Waters closed to netting

  • Burnett River: Closed to all methods of recreational netting including cast-netting, within the town-reach waters of the Burnett River at Bundaberg. This area also includes the waters of Bundaberg Creek from its junction with the Burnett River, then upstream of the river to a boundary line near the intersection of the most western point of Harriet Island and the banks of the Burnett River.
  • Water Park Creek: Water Park Creek flowing into Corio Bay and waterways joining it, upstream of the shortest line across the creek at the place known as Kelly´s Landing (approx. 2.6km from the creek's banks).
  • Rodds Harbour: Waters within the boundary from the eastern tip of Blackney Point to the eastern tip of Bird Island, to the western bank of Mort Creek, Rodds Peninsula and along the shore to Blackney Point. (A map of this closure will be available on this website from 1 July 2009.)
  • Hervey Bay: From the eastern tip of Point Vernon to the seaward end of the Scarness Jetty to the seaward end of the Urangan Pier to the seaward end of the rock wall of the Urangan Boat Harbour then west to the mainland shore. (A map of this closure will be available on this website from 1 July 2009).

Areas closed to collecting bait

Recreational worm digging is banned on the foreshores between the northern bank of Lota Creek and the rock groyne near the northern end of Wynnum North Esplanade for a distance of 100m from the foreshore rock wall. Between Cedar Street and Charlotte Street, the closure extends from the foreshore rock wall to the low water mark.

Last updated: 04 Dec 2023