The Proteus trawler beached at Double Island Point

Wild weather along the Queensland coast has caused a trawler to run aground between Double Island Point and Rainbow Beach, sparking a rescue mission and an online frenzy. WATCH THE VIDEO:

A trawler has run aground between Rainbow Beach and Double Island Point after high tides and strong winds along the Queensland coast.

The vessel, named the Proteus, was first discovered on Friday afternoon.

Gardiner Fisheries Rainbow Beach owner Drew Gardiner told the Gympie Times it was believed the boat had “dragged anchor” as a result of strong winds and high tides.

“I’ve been told by one of the other skippers they’ve just dragged anchor while they’ve been asleep and woken up pretty much when they hit the beach,” he said.

Trawler, the Proteus, beached at Double Island Point. Photo: Facebook

“The wind and the waves have just pulled the anchor out of the sand and they’ve just kept dragging.”

Mr Gardiner said he believed the trawler was from the Sunshine Coast, and was likely competing with other vessels for the start of scallop season before it ran aground.

“The scallop season started yesterday, and it’s a mad rush,” he said.

“They have to try and get out there, to try and brave the weather, to try and get in and get their share of the catch before the quota becomes full.

“I dare say every other boat out there was (chasing scallops) and that’s what (the Proteus) would have been chasing.”

The Tin Can Bay coastguard said they had not been called in relation to the beached trawler, but several vessels had attempted to retrieve it.

Mr Gardner said he saw another trawler had attempted to tow the Proteus out using Friday night’s high tide, but it was not enough.

“Last night’s tide was only a small tide, it was only 1.49 metres; it was a very low high tide,” he said.

“If they can’t get it off today, they’ll be stuck there at least for two to four weeks unit the next moon cycle comes around when the tides are really high again.”

The bogged trawler sparked a social media frenzy, with onlookers flooding the comments on pictures and videos of the obscure sight.

“Can’t park there mate,” Nick O’Keefe said on a video shared to the Rock Report Rainbow Beach Facebook page.

“Not going to catch much there, are they,” Daniel Duggan said on another video shared to the I Got Bogged at Inskip Point Facebook page.

The trawler is not the first vessel to run aground on a Gympie region beach, after Scandinavian cargo ship the Cherry Venture infamously ran aground on Teewah Beach on July 6, 1973, where it stayed until it was removed in early 2007.