Fraser Island - Do I take the boat?

Hi Darren,

We live very close to Fraser Island and go across a few times each year. We love 4wding, camping, but we also have a decent size Quintrex and a small yacht. When we camp we stay on the ocean side. When we boat we stay on the western side.

My opinion is that unless you have at least a 6 metre fishing boat for launching off the beach at Waddy Point and going out wide fishing for the big stuff, then it is not worth towing a boat to camp on the east side. When it comes to boating we stick to the western side of the island but we stick to fishing and sailing in the protected waters.

From the description you have given of the two boats I would be hesitant to launch at Waddy Point and go out as it can blow up pretty quickly out there. You may strike it lucky and get it real calm on the ocean side but you could just as easily tow them all that way and not put them in the water. I would not recommend towing them across the island to put them in at Wathumba Creek etc.

There are still plenty of good fish to be caught of the beach up the top of the island.

Thats just my 2 cents. Yell out if you have any questions.

Cheers,
Brett

Darren,

I have beach launched a 4.6mtr Quintrex Top Ender from the beach at Waddy a few years back but had to wait 4 days till the conditions were right. I would'nt reccomend trying it if you havent done it a few times before. I have family in Hervey Bay and have fished that area a lot in the past. We had much more success on the bay side due to local knowledge. Even so, getting any boat to a suitable launching site on the Western side of the Island is an effort. In my opinion, not worth it for your first trip. There is plenty of great shore based Fishing on Fraser. Gear up for beach and rock fishing and leave the boats at home. You will probably catch more fish as you will have much more time actually fishing. Trust me on this.

If you get up to Waddy Pt, you will see many larger boats and a few tinnies of similar size to yours, and on good days they will all go out. The bigger boats go wide and get good fish. The smaller ones stay in close and can also do very well, but are much more at risk to the conditions which can change quickly, and remember there is no real help up there if you get into trouble. You are on your own. If you do take the boats, make sure you are set up with all the necessary safety gear like epirbs radios etc. Check in with the rangers and let them know your plans. Keep checking the forecasts and play it safe. Getting off the beach is one thing... coming back a few hours later when the wind is up and the swells are bigger and the tide is out... well thats another thing entirely.

either way, play safe and really enjoy that beautiful place.

Darren, we took a 12 foot tinnie up to Waddy Point over the last school holidays. A good size smaller than your boats but I think the comments above are accurate even for a 4.7m. Had to stay in close of Waddy but there was so much weed in the water anyway that the fishing was stuffed except miles offshore. Tinnie was fun for a day trip at Wathumba but didn't get much of a chance to use it. Probably wouldn't take it again, although it was useful just to carry gear in. No problem towing, but still had to stick the boot in through a few soft patches at Inskip, and around the headlands at Indian Head and Waddy. Not much weight, but small skinny tyres acted a bit like a plow.
MikeyS

Darren

I would recommend for your first trip to go and watch the pro's/locals and experienced visitors launch and retrieve out of the gutter at Waddy. Watch where the enter/exit and which part of the gutter they launch/retrieve. Can be a bit deceiving when coming back in so pick up a land mark on the way out (winsock at ranger station a good guide). Trip across the bank can be a bit risky if the wind turns like it seems to do up their by mid morning and the waves start breaking. First time you do it on your own is a bit heart in mouth, but...don't be deterred. Some awesome fishing in very close off Waddy on the gravel patches and coffee rock and if you use common sense you will have no hassles. On some days the launch/retrieve is better than a concrete boat ramp. Recommend an extended draw bar, as gutter can get shallow at certain parts of the tide and moving water under wheels means resting on chassis very quickly. I safely did it in a 4.95m center console for years (just pick weather). Soft track across Indian/Middle Rocks has been very difficult with trailer for the past few months, but recent rain has made it easier. If you have any questions speak to the Pro's up there they are very helpful and when they go is a good guide to "safe" weather patterns for the day.

Cheers

Age

Hi Darren

Always tow the boats up to sandy cape, have been doing it for years. We have 4m Quintrex and would never go with out then. Some great reefs around. There is some very good fishing off the beach as wel

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Thanks for all the responses, and I thought it was going to be any easy decision........