Noosa Woods (Woods Bay)
Summary for 21 Oct 2026
Bite Compass is showing a high fish activity bite score on 21 Oct 2026. Wind is around NE at 15 km/h. Solunar feeding windows are listed below.
Feeding Windows
Local Knowledge
Woods Bay is the calm stretch of water on the inside of Noosa Woods, the bushland reserve at the end of the spit. The sand edges slope gently into deeper water, and flathead lie on the drop-offs while whiting and bream feed in the shallows. Trevally and tailor raid the bait schools at dawn and dusk. It is far calmer than the river mouth, and a better bet with children or in a southerly. The paddleboards arrive by nine, which gives the flathead a strict morning shift.
Hop soft plastics along the edges of the drop-offs for flathead, especially on the run-out tide. Fish yabbies or worms on light running-sinker rigs in the shallows for whiting and bream. Cast small poppers or stickbaits at dawn when trevally and tailor are chasing bait. A slow-sinking bait drifted in the current works well on the change of tide.
Dusky flathead must be 40–75 cm (possession 5). Sand whiting are 23 cm (30) and bream 25 cm (combined 30). Tailor are 35 cm (20). Trevally, including golden trevally, have no size limit and a combined possession limit of 20.
Upstream, the Noosa River is a declared Fish Habitat Area, where a hand pump is the only digging tool allowed. Moored boats fill parts of the bay, so cast along the edges rather than across the moorings. Fish the first light, before the paddleboards take over.
Access & Conditions
Park at the Noosa Spit car parks at the end of Hastings Street and walk through Noosa Woods to the bay. There are toilets and picnic areas in the reserve. The sand edge is flat and suitable for families.
The bay is sheltered from ocean swell and southerly winds. A northerly can make it choppy. Clean water on the run-in tide brings whiting and trevally into the shallows. After rain the river runs dark, and flathead fishing often improves.
Stingrays rest on the sand flats, so shuffle your feet when wading. Bull sharks use the Noosa River — don't wade at dawn or dusk. Watch out for boats moving through the moorings.
Gear & Rigs
A 2–4 kg spin rod of about 7 ft with a 2500 reel, 6–10 lb line and a 10–15 lb leader. Use 1/8–1/4 oz jigheads with 3 inch plastics, size 6–4 hooks for whiting, and small poppers for trevally. Polarised sunglasses help you see the fish on the flats.
Seasons
Flathead are best from late winter to early summer. Whiting are best from spring through summer, and bream through the cooler months. Trevally, including goldens, are mostly warm-season fish, and tailor arrive in winter.
If This Spot's Blown Out
Frequently Asked
Woods Bay is the calm water on the river side of Noosa Woods, the reserve at the end of the Noosa Spit beyond Hastings Street.
Yes. Dusky flathead lie on the drop-offs, especially from late winter into early summer. They must be between 40 and 75 cm, with a possession limit of 5.
Yes. It is sheltered, the sand edges are gentle, and there are toilets and picnic areas close by. Watch children near the drop-offs and the moored boats.