Cape Cleveland
Headland·Queensland·Australia·
Field notes
Prominent headland south of Townsville with deep water close to the rocks. A reliable spot for spanish mackerel through winter and spring, with fingermark and sweetlip on the reef edges. Big tides bring queenfish and trevally onto the bait.
Current conditions
Wind
13 kt E
Gusts 16.9 kt
Waves
0.6 m
Period 3.7 s
Swell
0.3 m
Period 3.8 s
Sea temp
25.9°C
Air 24.9°C
Next 12 hours
01:00
13 E
0.6m
02:00
13.4 E
0.6m
03:00
13.2 E
0.6m
04:00
13.6 E
0.6m
05:00
12.5 E
0.6m
06:00
11.7 E
0.6m
07:00
11.1 E
0.6m
08:00
11.2 E
0.6m
09:00
10.8 E
0.5m
10:00
10 E
0.5m
11:00
10.5 ENE
0.5m
12:00
9.8 ENE
0.5m
Tides
Nearest BOM tide station: Cape Ferguson ↗ (10.7 km · secondary)
We don't predict tides on-site — BOM's published tables are authoritative.
BOM · Townsville CoastIssued at 3:00 am EST on Wednesday 21 October 2026
Situation. A ridge of high pressure extends over the northern Queensland waters from a high [1035 hPa] centred over the southern Tasman Sea. This pattern will persist over coming days as the high slowly weakens.
Wednesday 21 October until midnight. Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy.
Thursday 22 October. Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Mostly sunny.
Friday 23 October. Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny. Peninsula Coast: Sharp Point to Cape Melville
Wednesday 21 October until midnight. Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: East to southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Mostly sunny.
Source: Open-Meteo Marine + ECMWF (15-min cache) · BOM (1-hr cache). Not for navigation.
Sun & moon
Today
Sun↑ 05:39↓ 18:16
Moon↑ 13:47↓ 02:43
PhaseWaxing gibbous 73%
Best windows
- Dawn05:16 – 06:39
- Dusk17:16 – 18:38
Tomorrow
Sun↑ 05:38↓ 18:16
Moon↑ 14:39↓ 03:17
PhaseWaxing gibbous 81%
Best windows
- Dawn05:16 – 06:38
- Dusk17:16 – 18:38
Best windows combine civil twilight with the hour either side of sun transit — the universal low-light feeding window most species respond to. Moon phase influence is folkloric; full and new moons coincide with the strongest tide swings.
What's biting
Recent reports from the community. Sign in to log your own catches.
Access & logistics
Spot type
Headland
Region
Queensland, Australia
Fishing style
rock fishing and land-based fishing
Structure
Typically holds washes, points and drop-offs — work the structure for holding fish.
Licence
Recreational fishing licence may apply — check the Queensland fisheries regulator before fishing.
Closures
Always confirm current marine park / closure status and seasonal bag limits.
Saved.
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