WFS Admin

Bribie Island is just north of Brisbane’s Moreton Bay.

Inside the island is Pumicestone Passage, a shallow sandy tidal waterway renowned for its fishing.

The passage runs north to Caloundra.

The ocean has broken through the sandspit that forms the northern part of the island, exposing the passage to ocean waves.

A project is underway to fill the two breakthroughs, to hopefully maintain coastal stability.

What it means for fishing remains to be seen, but it is likely that the breakthoughs could have completely changed the local habitat if they were allowed to grow.

With rising sea levels, it remains to be seen if the project will achieve its aim on the longer term.

Read more about the breakthrough project here.

WFS Admin

Queensland fishing news briefs for 2025 … 

1. Ross River Dam Access Expanded

Ross River Dam, near Townsville, opened for land‑based recreational fishing from May 12, 2025, with new amenities and safety signage in place for blue‑green algae precautions.

2. Fish-Stocking Progress 

The 25th anniversary of Queensland’s Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme (SIPS) was celebrated in July 2025. Over 3.2 million fingerlings, including barramundi, murray cod, golden perch, silver perch and Australian bass were stocked in the past year at 63 sites.

3. Freshwater Fishway & Reef Projects

Jolimont Creek, north of Mackay, now features Queensland’s largest rock fishway (100m+), completed June 2025 to restore fish passage. Two artificial reefs off Fraser Coast have been funded ($2.5 million) to support recreational fishing and recreation, due by late October 2025.

4. Shark Interactions & Safety

Growing reports of shark interactions and depredation in South-East Queensland have raised safety concerns among fishos. There are claims shark numbers are up, while others say sharks are simply more educated to approach fishing boats. Shark numbers are depleted in other parts of the world. Continued research is underway. Meanwhile, Professor Colin Simpfendorfer resigned from the state shark advisory panel in protest at expanded lethal shark control measures funded by an $88 million cull plan.

5. Hervey Bay algae bloom

Toxic algal blooms were detected in Hervey Bay, including species not seen in the area before. The dinoflagellates pose ecological and human health risks, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring. See an earlier ABC story here. The bay is already known to host ciguatera at times.

6. Regulatory & Management Updates

Gear and rules consultation continues as Queensland Fisheries collects feedback on trap bans, possession limits (eg black jewfish), closed seasons, and expanding SIPS. Advocacy groups are pushing for stronger representation, especially regarding regulations around popular species like saddletail snapper.