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Page 1 of 3 Not without my kayak There's lots to do at Hervey Bay
Hervey Bay is big - really big. Large enough to play host to a plethora of awe-inspiring aquatic wildlife, including various species of Sharks, Turtles, Dolphins, Dugongs and Whales. So big is Hervey Bay that one could paddle around all day and not see a single one of these. The likelihood, however, is that a kayaker would be likely to see at least a few Sea turtles, Dolphins or even a Dugong. Spotting the resident Humpback whales by kayak is a much tougher proposition, however, because they are typically found in the broader northern stretch of the Hervey Bay area, closer to (the also impressively large) Fraser Island. Seeing the whales by way of a tour is something you will want to do while visiting Hervey Bay and for any dedicated kayak fishermen, my suggestion would be to do so on one of the rougher days (if one occurs during your stay) when kayak fishing isn't such an attractive option. According to some of the local experts, whales will be more likely to be active when a notable swell is current.
Don't hold your breath for rough waters in Hervey Bay though, because being protected by Fraser Island (particularly from the predominant south easterly winds) the water is usually surprisingly calm. This makes for an ideal kayak fishing destination. If you were to take your family along for a holiday and they weren't interested in going kayak fishing with you, there are no shortage of other recreational and tourist past times that they could occupy themselves with: anything from relaxing on one of the many golden beaches, jet skiing, sky diving, snorkeling or of course whale watching. There is no shortage of things to do in Hervey Bay. There aren't many holiday destinations in Australia that have quite as much to offer.
 Humpback Whales love this place
Hervey Bay has been described as the recreational fishing capital of Queensland, not to mention the Whale Watching Capital of the World and I think these titles are well deserved. As far as the fishing goes, not only are there loads of places and means of catching them (by boat, land or kayak) there are also a myriad of desirable species on offer. These include Bream, Cobia, Coral Trout, Flathead, Estuary cod, Mackeral, Mangrove Jack, Marlin, Mulloway, Snapper, Sweetlip, Whiting and more. Nearby rivers (such as the Mary river) also offers those tasty Burramundi and Threadfin salmon. Any kind of angler - whatever their ilk - is guaranteed to have a memorable fishing experience in and around the bay. The only real difficulty is in knowing where to start and where to go next.
Kayak Fishing Around Hervey Bay
Opportunities for kayak fishermen in and around Hervey Bay are endless. To do see and do it all one would have to spend months, if not years here. It's difficult for the most dedicated among our ranks to visit and not want to leave. Personally speaking, I could see myself returning to Hervey Bay to live, largely for that reason. A few of the local tackle shops are more than happy to point out some of the more accessible areas, however, and this is a pretty good place to start. In doing so I was able to pin point a few areas that made for simple launches that offered productive fishing.
 Large Grunter, caught at Gatakers Bay One area that is not to be missed is the Mary River Heads, which offers fishing in open water, in the river mouth as well as miles of explorable hot spots downstream. The Mary river is considered by many as the southern most region that offers reliable Burramundi fishing, which are most likely to be found outside of the clearer straits. Blue and Threadfin salmon are commonly caught here as well, typically located in shallow flats (look for tell-tale dorsal fins poking out of the water). Bream, Flathead, Mangrove Jacks and Whiting are reported as being prolific in the area as well. Protection from easterly winds can be sought on the northern inner side of the heads, so if uncomfortable winds are blowing from that direction, this is a good area to head towards. Another great launching spot on rougher days (regardless of where the win may be coming from) is the Urangan boat harbour, with rocky breakwalls offering protection from all angles. Bream are a popular target here, both in and outside of the breakwalls, usually found close to the rocks. With numerous spacious boat ramps, launching here is a breeze and numerous worthy kayak fishing destinations can be reached from here. In the event of northerly winds, refuge can be sought on the southern side of the mariner, where Bream, Flathead and Pike are common. It's not terribly far to Pulgul creek from here either - the mouth of which holds some nice big Flathead. Most fishing boats tend to stay away from this spot due to shallow waters, although it is ideal for a bit of cozy kayak fishing. Make sure you are armed with a small variety of soft plastic lures if you paddle your fishing kayak here.
 Snapper are a reliable target in Gatakers Bay
Just a couple of clicks north of the boat harbour is the Urangan pier, which is an impressive man made structure that is very popular with local anglers. Almost a kilometre in length there is ample room for land-based fishermen and it is an excellent spot to catch live bait. Small Herring are drawn to the pier and if you look closely (on the right day and tide) you will likely see the larger predatory fish swimming underneath them. Mackeral, Tuna, Cobia and Sharks are caught here frequently. A kayak fisherman has a good chance of success on catching a worthy pelagic fish here, with trolled lures or baits being a great way to go about it. Live baits rigged under floats is also a very popular method of fishing at the pier. With the onset of northerly winds, Whiting become a main target along the beaches that stretch from the pier right up to Point Vernon and many Whiting-mad holiday makers go to Hervey Bay for exactly that. Pesky Grinners are common here as well, taking trolled lures readily. There is always the chance of catching a Mackeral along this stretch as well (stick close to channel edges for best results), although around the pier is probably a more likely mark for this endeavour. There are a few boat ramps around Point Vernon worthy of mention and if reef species is your target then this is probably where you should consider exploring. One of these ramps is located at The Galbles, where Flathead can be hooked in close, as well as Pike and Wolf Herring. Various reef fish are known to be caught here, as well as Mackeral on the right day.
 Flathead caught at the mouth of Pulgul creek
Further around to the left (and much more exposed to northerlies) is Gatakers Bay, which is a very productive fishing ground for reef fish. In the event of strong south easterlies this is an ideal destination. Everything from Coral Trout, Snapper and Grunter can be caught around the reefs. Sea turtles are a common sight here to, so if you like the idea of observing turtles half the size of your kayak, try here. Avoid Gatakers Bay in strong northerly winds, however, as an uncomfortable chop will make paddling difficult. Not far from Gatakers Bay is Eli creek and this is said to hold monster Flathead, Mangrove Jacks and Mulloway. Another area seldom visited by power boats, Eli creek is definitely a spot kayak fishermen should probably take the time to investigate. More adventurous kayak fishermen can venture out towards Woody Island, where there are a few artificial reefs that are known to hold large Snapper. Various pelagic species are said to be caught here frequently as well. Be mindful of currents here, however - especially on the Fraser Island side. Large Tiger sharks are common here as well, so if the thought of that bothers you it might be wise to stay away. Summary To be completely honest, the above mentioned spots don't even scratch the surface of the opportunities that await kayak fishermen in and around the township of Hervey Bay, although they are definitely all good spots worth exploration. If you have a strong passion for kayak fishing, be sure to place a lengthy visit to Hervey on your '10 things to do before I die' list. And whatever you do, be sure to take your camera because not only do you never know what you may catch, you're also likely to see some incredible sights from your kayak.
 Boat ramp at Gatakers Bay
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