Their bodies were found in the water near Orchid Rocks at Magnetic Island about 9.15am by recreational fishermen.

The deceased men were aged 53 and 66 and were both from Townsville. Their boat had set off from Townsville about 3am.

An overturned vessel was also found nearby, with water police working to retrieve the boat.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said there were no suspicious circumstances.

“It’s still early days but we do know the vessel overturned and the men were thrown from it and sustained injuries,” she said.

The spokeswoman said detectives will look at what caused the boat to overturn, and if speed or a sandbar was to blame.

A police spokesman told the Townsville Bulletin that initial investigations indicated the 4.5m boat struck the rocky foreshore and overturned during this morning’s high tide.

Investigations are continuing.