Non-Stop Fishing Action on the Noosa River
Catching Loads of Fish with Noosa River Fishing Safaris
Fishing The Noosa River, The Best Thing To Do In Noosa
Noosa is famous for its beaches, boutiques, restaurants, and hiking trails—but few visitors realise it’s also home to some of the best estuary sportfishing on the Sunshine Coast. Beyond the surf and shopping lies the Noosa River, a dynamic waterway teeming with life and offering non-stop fishing action for all skill levels.
Lined with mangroves, sandbanks, and tidal channels, the river supports a wide variety of species including flathead, bream, trevally, queenfish, mangrove jack, mulloway and more. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a family looking for a unique day out, this fishery delivers.
We teamed up with Noosa River Fishing Safaris, guided by local expert Captain Jimmy Free, who knows every bend, tide, and bite window. From lure-casting to bait drifting, we caught multiple species throughout the day—proof that Noosa’s best-kept secret isn’t on land, but on the water.
If you’re planning a trip to Noosa, add Noosa River Fishing Safaris to your itinerary. It’s family-friendly, full of action, and a completely different way to experience this iconic destination.
Quick Facts
- European settlement began in 1864 with the timber industry, using the river to transport logs downstream.
- The Noosa River Ferry, running since the mid-1900s, is a historic link to Noosa North Shore.
- The Noosa River is one of only two everglades systems in the world.
- It supports over 600 native vertebrate species, including 154 types of fish, making it an ecological hotspot.
- The Noosa region, encompassing the river, is recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Our Guide:
Jimmy Free from Noosa River Fishing Safaris
Jimmy Free is the owner-operator of Noosa River Fishing Safaris, one of the most established charters on the Noosa River. He’s been on the water since he was a kid—starting out scrubbing boats at the local hire shop, then working his way up through commercial fishing in the Gulf of Carpentaria. With over 15 years of professional experience, Jimmy knows how to read the river, find the fish, and run a smooth, enjoyable trip.
Since taking over the business in 2017, he’s earned a loyal following by keeping things simple: good service, honest effort, and consistent results. Whether it’s a family chasing any type of fish or a regular targeting big flathead and jacks, Jimmy’s calm, no-fuss style and deep local knowledge keep people coming back year after year.
Picking Our Location
Launch: We kicked off our day from The Jetty, with locations selected based on the previous days’ bite patterns and local conditions.
Spot 1:We headed upriver toward the locks to catch live bait (herring).
Spot 2:Next stop was Culgoa Point, drifting with the outgoing tide.
Spot 3:We continued the drift across from Noosa Shores Resort, along Noosa Spit Recreation Reserve side.
Spot 4:To finish, we pushed further upriver for a final drift near the North Shore Rural Brigade.
Dusky Flathead
Platycephalus Fuscus
Top Target Species
The Dusky Flathead (Platycephalus fuscus) is one of the most iconic estuary predators along Australia’s east coast. Recognised by their elongated, camouflaged bodies and broad, flat heads, flathead are ambush hunters often found lurking on sandbanks, drop-offs, and muddy bottoms. They’re a favourite among anglers for their aggressive strikes and powerful runs, especially when targeted on soft plastics, vibes, or live bait. Easy to access yet challenging to master, flathead offer action-packed fishing for beginners and experienced fishos alike.
Common Species In Noosa River
Giant Trevally
Caranx Ignobilis
Yellowfin Bream
Acanthopagrus Australis
Giant Queenfish
Scomberoides Commersonianus
Tackle we used for the day
We kept things light and responsive—ideal for maximising bite sensitivity and making every hook-up more exciting.
Rods: 6 ft 2-4kg ugly stick rods
Reels: Shimano Sienna 2500 reels
Line: 10lb mono with 12lb leader.
Bait: Live herring and salted pilchards.
Our techniques for the day
Drift fishing live herring with the tide really delivered on this trip – it let us cover plenty of water and keep the bait looking natural. We thought about dropping anchor near some current lines, but with the fish biting steadily, there was no need to change up what was working.
We kept it classic with a running sinker rig and added a glow bead just above the sinker – nothing fancy, just a tried-and-true setup that gets results and great for drift fishing on sandy bottoms.
Location 1 – Managed to net a few herring for bait, but could’ve done with a few more.
Location 2 – Landed a pair of solid flathead, each around the 50cm mark.
Location 3 – A lively mix of juvenile GTs, a Tilly trevally, bream, and another flathead kept the action going.
Location 4 – Picked up a few more flathead here, including the standout of the day at 75cm, plus a small queenfish for variety.
What’s on offer throughout the year
Year Round
All listed species are year-round catches—they just fire up more in certain seasons.
Spring
Trevally, Big Flathead, Bream, Tailor, Mulloway, Whiting, Jacks
Summer
Mangrove Jack, Whiting, Trevally, Flathead, Estuary Cod
Autumn
Queenfish, Mangrove Jack, Whiting, Trevally, Flathead, Bream
Winter
Bream, Flathead, Trevally, Whiting, Queenfish
Top tips from Jimmy on fishing Noosa River
If you could use only one bait in the river, what would it be and why?
What bait and why, its one question I get asked all the time. It changes daily based on what the fish are chasing, the best answer for everywhere would obviously be fresh. My favourites are live river prawn, live herring or whitebait (white pilchard).
If you could use only one lure in the river, what would it be and why?
One lure would probably just be a 2-3” grub soft plastic, good all rounder for everything, and just match the colour to the water your fishing.
What is the ideal setup for fishing the river...rod, reel and line?
The ideal setup for the river is a pretty broad question—and let’s face it, price is the biggest factor. But if I had to choose, I’d say light tackle. Either a 1–3 kg or 2–4 kg setup is pretty good.
I just like the Ugly Stik for the charter side of things—they’re absolutely bulletproof. My eldest boy has one in the backyard that he’s been trying to break for years, and it’s still holding strong.
A 10 lb line seems to be a good all-round choice. It’s light enough to get the bite most days and strong enough to handle anything we get in here, with the right person behind the stick.
For reels, I’d go with the Shimano Sienna—purely for the price. They’re cheap and do exactly what I need. I personally use Daiwa gear, mainly the Certate range inside and the Saltiga outside, and they’re second to none. But these little Siennas cop a fair hiding and still do their job well.
What is an extra memorable charter you have done in the past and what made it special?
An extra memorable charter—if I had to pick one—was two summers ago on a two-hour trip at midday. Within the first half hour, we had two jacks around 65 cm, three flathead around 75 cm, a big spangled emperor about 70 cm, and some golden trevally. Right place, right time—I guess. It was chaos. I couldn’t believe it. For Noosa, that’s unreal.
How long do you generally fish a spot before moving on to the next one?
When moving spots, I generally give each one 15–20 minutes—maybe longer if there are fewer people on board.
Without giving away any trade secrets or special spots, could you share some advice on what signs or features to look for on the river that typically hold fish?
Some recommended land-based spots would be the caravan park, which sits on the corner of Weyba Creek and the main channel, as well as Woods Bay and the river mouth.
We know tides can significantly influence the bite — do you have any advice on the ideal conditions for fishing the river?
Eddies, current lines, bottom contours, and areas where water flows off sand flats and drains – check Google maps to get an idea of how the river generally sits.
Why should a family or fisho visiting Noosa book Noosa River Fishing Safaris, please be biased?
Why should you book us? I think we offer a pretty good show, we have a sick boat, you can bring the family and start some great memories, come solo and get some good fish, or bring the lads and get on the beers, we cater for all.
*(author) I can vouch for the great time and sick boat…we caught fish non-stop and were able to get through 5 different species!
Photo gallery of our day on the water with Jimmy
The Top Thing to Do in Noosa? Go Fishing!
Get out and fish the Noosa River with Noosa River Fishing Safaris—an awesome day out for families, mates, or solo anglers. With stunning scenery, calm waters, and a comfortable, safe boat, it’s the perfect way to enjoy Noosa from the water.
Our guide Jimmy was a legend—full of tips, laughs, and great fishing stories. After a quick coffee from the excellent café at the dock, we were off and into the action.
We landed over 15 fish, including flathead, bream, queenfish, GT’s, and tilly trevally. Plenty of bites, plenty of laughs, and an all-round unforgettable session.
If you’re in Noosa—this is a must-do. Book Noosa River Fishing Safaris and tell Jimmy you want the MarineWise treatment…lots of fish!
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