Burnett River Town Reach (Bundaberg)

The Burnett River runs straight through the middle of Bundaberg, and the town reach — the tidal stretch along the CBD riverbank and the Burnett River Walk, between the road and rail bridges and on downstream — is a genuine city fishery. On a high tide trevally and queenfish hunt bait along the oyster-covered structure, barramundi school up in the reach toward Tofts Rocks, and bream and grunter live along the river's many rock walls. The riverbank path makes it easy to walk the bank and pick a spot. Bundaberg is better known for what it does with sugar cane, but the river holds its own.

Fish the top of the tide for trevally and queenfish, casting small chrome slugs and soft plastics around the bridge pylons and the oyster-covered structure — and expect to lose a few rigs to the oysters. For barramundi, prawn-imitation soft plastics fished slowly around a tide change are the best bet when the fish are schooled and fussy, with live poddy mullet or whole prawns as the bait option. Bream and grunter take whole prawns or sprat on a light ball sinker fished along the rock walls. Cast nets and all other nets are banned in the town reach, so bring your bait with you.

Trevally and queenfish are the high-tide lure fish, barramundi the seasonal prize, and bream and grunter the everyday catch, with the odd mangrove jack. Barramundi are a 58–120 cm slot with a possession limit of 5 and are closed from 1 November to 31 January. Giant queenfish are 50 cm minimum, limit 5; trevally share a combined limit of 20. Yellowfin bream are 25 cm, in a combined limit of 30. Grunter (barred javelin) are 40 cm, limit 10, and mangrove jack 35 cm, limit 5.

Recreational netting, including cast nets, is banned in the Burnett River town reach, from Bundaberg Creek to Harriett Island. There is no fishing at all within 400 m upstream or downstream of the Ben Anderson Barrage, well upstream of the CBD. Keep clear of the Port of Bundaberg's wharves and shipping downstream. A high tide is the trevally tide; a tide change is the barra moment. Carry spare leaders, because the oysters always collect their share.

The south bank of the town reach is lined by the Burnett River Walk along the CBD riverfront, with street parking, public toilets in the riverside parks and cafés a block away. The path is flat and suits prams and wheelchairs, though the bank itself drops steeply to the water. It is a good family spot provided kids are kept back from the edge.

The town reach is sheltered by the town and riverbanks, so it fishes in most winds. A big high tide pushes clean water up from the mouth and brings the pelagics with it; the bottom of a big low can leave the edges muddy and slow. After heavy rain in the catchment the river runs brown and fast and the fishing shuts down until it clears.

Bundaberg is outside typical crocodile habitat, but a crocodile was reported on the Burnett River bank near the McGills Road boat ramp in November 2024, and wildlife officers asked people to be vigilant. Report any sighting to the department on 1300 130 372, keep children close and pets away from the water's edge. Marine stingers, including Irukandji, occur in these waters, typically November to May. The riverbank is steep and slippery in places, and the current runs hard on big tides — keep children back from the edge.

Not in the town reach. All recreational nets, including cast nets, are banned in the Burnett River town reach from Bundaberg Creek to Harriett Island.

Not within 400 m upstream or downstream of the barrage — fishing is banned in that zone. The town reach along the CBD is well below it.

Yes. Barramundi school in the town reach toward Tofts Rocks. They are a 58–120 cm slot, limit 5, and closed from 1 November to 31 January.