If you are fishing Hervey Bay for the first time and do not know where to start, then keep reading! Over the years a number of artificial reefs have been created throughout Hervey Bay waters. These artificial reefs provide recreational anglers and divers with superb fishing and explorative opportunities. And, they are located only a short distance from major boat ramps. In this blog post we will provide you with everything you need to know to find these artificial reefs.
Roy Rufus Artificial Reef
Potentially the most well known of these artificial reefs is the ‘Roy Rufus Artificial Reef’. Popular for diving and fishing. This large, spread out artificial reef is located off the eastern side of Big Woody Island. It is named after Roy Rufus, a prominent local diver, fisherman and conservationist who played a key role in the development of the reef.
The artificial reef was created between 1968 and 1987, during which time approx. 63 drops comprising of a range of materials, such as old car bodies, concrete pipes, and railway wheels were made. These materials were placed on the ocean floor to provide a habitat for marine life and to enhance recreational opportunities for divers and fishermen.
The reef is located approximately 4.5 nautical miles east of Urangan Harbour and covers an area of approximately 2.8 hectares.
Lat and Long;
25°15’58.8″S 152°56’51.0″E
Local Tip – From this mark, head south along Big Woody Island. Using your sounder you will finds lots of smaller marks, gravel patches, wrecks etc. This reef is expansive. Due to the movement of sand sometimes a car body or similar will be found one month and the next month it will be covered. Only to be revealed again during the next large tidal cycle. It really does pay to move around the entire area documenting your own marks on your sounder.
Simpson Artificial Reef
The Simpson Artificial Reef is another popular diving and fishing site located off the coast of Hervey Bay in Queensland, Australia. It is named after Woody Island’s first head lighthouse keeper Mr John Simpson.
Simpson Reef was created using a combination of recycled materials and purpose-built structures designed to enhance marine habitat and recreational opportunities. It comprises of approx. 15 concrete modules weighing up to 24 tonnes each.
The reef is located approximately 7 nautical miles from the Urangan Harbour and covers an area of approximately 80 hectares. Depths range from 10 to 16m. The following coordinates are for the main concrete modules which have been placed in clusters of 3 x structures.
25° 11.093’S 152° 57.613’E
25° 11.144’S 152° 57.613’E
25° 11.337’S 152° 57.654’E
25° 11.338’S 152° 57.711’E
25° 11.384’S 152° 57.685’E
Local Tip – If you are lucky enough to have side scan on your fish finder then it is certainly worth your time exploring the water surrounding these concrete structure clusters. Often large schools of mackerel circle these clusters and at other times schools of fish can be found sitting down current from the structures themselves.
Hardie Artificial Reef
Located 2nm north east of Little Woody Island, close to Bogimbah creek is the Hardie Artificial Reef. Named after the longest serving lighthouse keeper on Big Woody Island, Mr Peter Hardie. Similar to Simpson Reef, Hardie Reef is comprised of purpose-built structures designed to enhance marine habitat and recreational opportunities.
At a depth of 10 -16m Hardie Reef comprises of approx. 15 concrete modules weighing up to 24 tonnes each, spread across an area of 160ha and dropped in 5 distinct clusters of 3 x structures.
25° 17.277’S 153° 01.492’E
25° 17.291’S 153° 01.550’E
25° 17.329’S 153° 01.508’E
25° 17.878’S 153° 01.814’E
25° 17.926’S 153° 01.841’E
Local Tip – Fishing any of these artificial reefs can be tough during large tidal movement. I find the best time to fish them is approx. 1 hour either side of a tide change and preferably on neap tides. Try not to anchor on top of your mark. Rather, anchor up current slightly. To give your bait a chance to get down to the bottom, especially when the current is pumping through the area.