Farnborough Beach

Farnborough Beach runs north from Yeppoon's last houses in a long, straight stretch of sand, and it is the Capricorn Coast's open-beach whiting spot. There are no rocks, walls or jetties to speak of — just gutters, a shallow surf line and whiting, bream and flathead feeding in it on the tide. The bigger whiting tend to come from the sandy-point end of the beach. Most of the beach sits inside a marine park Conservation Park (yellow) zone, so the rod limit is one. The whiting have never complained about the arrangement. Bring an appreciation for long walks.

Walk the beach at low tide and look for gutters and holes close to shore, then fish them as the tide comes back in. A size 6–4 long-shank hook with a beach worm or a piece of peeled prawn, cast just past the first break and walked slowly back, is the whiting rig; a small soft plastic dragged across the sand finds the flathead. In the yellow zone you may fish only one rod or handline with one hook, so pick your rig and stick with it.

Sand whiting are the main catch, with yellowfin bream and dusky flathead in the gutters. Sand whiting are 23 cm minimum and yellowfin bream 25 cm, each in a combined possession limit of 30. Dusky flathead are a 40–75 cm slot with a possession limit of 5. Beach worms have a possession limit of 30.

This is a marine park Conservation Park (yellow) zone: one rod or line with one hook per person. The run-in tide over the last couple of hours before high is the time. Bought prawns or worms beat standing in the swash to catch your own — this is crocodile habitat. Mornings before the sea breeze are the most comfortable. Take your rubbish and scraps with you.

Farnborough Beach is reached off Farnborough Road north of Yeppoon, with several public beach accesses and street parking along the southern end. It is a flat sand walk with no shade, so bring water and a hat; toilets and shops are back in Yeppoon. The beach is kid-friendly in calm conditions, and soft sand makes it hard going for wheelchairs and prams.

The beach faces east into Keppel Bay, so a light south-easterly or a westerly is ideal; a strong north-easterly or easterly puts a shore break on the beach and fills the gutters with weed. Clear water and a gentle surf are best for whiting. After heavy rain the run-off from the creeks colours the water near the creek mouths.

Farnborough Beach is in crocodile habitat — a large crocodile was reported on this beach in June 2021, and crocodiles swim in the sea as well as the creeks. Stay back from the water's edge where you can, never wade to cast, and only throw a cast net from a boat or jetty. Shark control equipment operates off Farnborough — stay more than 20 m from nets or drumlines; it's an offence to be inside the 20 m zone. Marine stingers, including box jellyfish and Irukandji, occur here, typically November to May; carry vinegar. There is no shade on the beach, so carry water and sun protection.

One. Farnborough Beach is in a Great Barrier Reef marine park Conservation Park (yellow) zone, where you may use one rod or handline with one hook per person.

Beach worms or peeled prawn, bought rather than gathered at the water's edge in croc country, on a size 6–4 long-shank hook. Beach worms have a possession limit of 30.

Yes, it is crocodile habitat — a large crocodile was reported on the beach in June 2021. Stay back from the water's edge and don't wade.