A completely sand island famous for its Tailor fishing, Fraser Island fishing during the season has some of the best beach fishing in Australia. Every year 1000’s of anglers descend onto the beaches of Fraser Island to pilchards and cast metal slugs into the gutters for Tailor. But it’s not just the annual Tailor, there’s good fishing all year around on Fraser Island.

Tailor Fishing on Fraser Island

July to October is the peak time for Tailor fishing on Fraser. Its believed the Tailor migrate north from New South Wales and reproduce along the beaches of Fraser Island. When the westerly winds settle down the close inshore waters the Tailor follow the bait fish into the gutters. As soon as the westerly winds are forecasted repeatedly, its times to start fishing for Tailor.

What to look for?

Tailor fishing is generally good along most of the east coast beaches of Fraser. However there are a few spots that are particularly reliable when it comes to producing fish. Beaches with well defined gutters are the best. Some anglers also like to find a beach with a huge sand dune directly behind the gutter, perhaps the sunset sessions start earlier here.

Rigging up for Tailor

Tailor generally feed on Pilchards, anchovies and Greenback herring. Tailor will take these baits dead or alive. Tailor will also smash metal slugs, stick baits, soft plastics and hard body lures.

Rigging up for bait, a common tactic is ganged hooks and paternoster style sinker setup. This way the bait is anchored but allowed to freely move with the current.

Fraser Island Fishing Spots for Tailor

400m south of Indian Head to 400m north of Waddy Point, fishing of any kind is not permitted from midday 1 August to midday 30 September. Tailor at the only species being caught on the beaches and headlands. Anglers can expect Bream, Tarwhine, Drummer, Flathead, Whiting, Dart and the odd Jewfish. 

Cathedral Beach to Dundubara

With plenty of suitable camp sites, the outer gutters here produce nice white water and deeper gutters in close. Look for gutters that have both an entry and different exit connecting the gutter to deeper water.

Dundubara to Indian Head

The best fishing along this stretch is close to Indian head, no more than 400-500m south of Indian Head. The north side of Indian Head can become very crowded during the tailor season, so heading south is a great option.

Indian Head

During the peak season the northern side of Indian Head can be ridiculously crowded with anglers trying for Tailor. But as the water wraps around the headland and breaks in the shallows there are plenty of fish. Also when an SE is blowing, this is a good place to get out of the wind.

North of Indian Head

When Indian Head is packed out, the beaches to the north can form some good gutters.

Waddy Point

No fishing from 1^st August to 30 September. When fishing is allowed, the Tailor action can be red hot here. Drummer, Bream, Tarwhine and Dart are also caught from Waddy point, particularly around the towards the southern side. To the south the first few gutters are also good for Dart.

Ngkala Rocks

Access north of Ngkala rocks can be tricky and best left to experience four wheel drivers. The gutters formed along the beaches from here north to Sandy Cape all produce fantastic Tailor Fishing.

Sandy Cape

It’s definitely a long way up here and it’s not always necessary to drive up for Tailor. The gutters along the beach are top notch and produce Tailor. The northern side of the point provides shelter from the SE winds and also produces good fishing at times, less crowds.

Fraser island west side fishing

There’s much more to Fraser Island than beach fishing for Tailor. The western Side of Fraser Island offers some great fishing spots. Bream, Flathead, Cod, Whiting, Golden Trevally and Mangrove Jack have all been caught on the west side.

The west side is famous for some great Golden Trevally fishing over the sandy flats in Summer. The western side features small creeks, mangrove lined banks , vast flats, drop offs and beach fishing opportunities all well worth exploring anytime of the year.

Wathumba Creek

With great camping right at the mouth of the creek, this is a good spot to be based and to explore the fishing on Fraser Island. The small creek produces Bream, Flathead, Whiting, Trevally and the odd Mangrove Jack.

For the boat anglers, basing yourself here, with a set of binoculars and watching the horizon for birds working the ocean surface, is a great way to hunt Tuna and Mackerel coming into the bay.

Woralie Creek

The creek mouth can be a good place to fishing for Flathead. On the incoming Tide. Also around the mouth of the Creek is a good place to target trevally on an incoming tide and flathead on the out going tide.

Coongul Creek

This little Creek has Bream, Flathead and Whiting. Target the drop offs and small channels for flathead on the out going tide.

Moon Point

The vast flats around Moon Point produce Flathead in the channels, drop offs and next to weed beds. Trevally also work the flats on the incoming tide. The creek has mostly small bream and flathead. Fish hard up against the mangroves on a big tide for Bream.

Urang Creek and Flats

Fish the flats to the south on an incoming tide for Bream, Trevally and Whiting. Work lures close to mangroves. On the out going tide, drop offs and channels hold Flathead.

Wanggoolba Creek

This small creek has bream, flathead and the odd cod. Better fishing is around the mouth for Flathead on a run out tide. Work the channels and drop offs with soft plastics.