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OPEN 7 DAYS
Fishing on the Gold Coast
Yellowfin Bream
Summer Whiting
Winter Whiting
Dusky Flathead
Tailor
Mangrove Jack
Mulloway
Trag jew
Squire
Golden Trevally
Moses Perch
Swallowtail Dart
Estuary Cod
Size limit:
25cm min
Bag limit:
Combined limit of 30 of yellowfin bream, pikey bream, and tarwine.
Size limit:
23cm min
Bag limit:
30
Size limit:
No size limit
Bag limit:
50
Size limit (dusky flathead):
40cm min, 75cm max
Bag limit (dusky flathead):
5
Size limit (all other flathead species):
30cm min
Bag limit (all other flathead species):
Combined limit of 5 in total for all species (except dusky flathead)
Size limit:
35cm min
Bag limit:
20
Size limit:
35cm min
Bag limit:
5
Size limit:
75cm min
Bag limit:
2
Size limit:
38cm min
Bag limit:
5
Size limit:
35cm min
Bag limit:
4 with no more than 1 over 70cm, 8 per boat with no more than 2 over
70cm (with 2 or more people on board).
CLOSED SEASON APPLIES
Size limit:
No size limit
Bag limit:
Combined limit of 20 in total for all members of the trevally family
Size limit:
35cm min
Bag limit:
5
Size limit:
30cm min
Bag limit:
30
Size limit:
38cm min, 120cm max
Bag limit:
Combined limit of 5 in total for all cod and grouper species
Yellowfin bream are one of the most commonly caught fish species in the entire Gold Coast Broadwater and
estuary systems, particularly throughout Jumpinpin which is famous for its winter bream run when the bream
are spawning.
Bream will take a vast variety of baits including yabbies, prawns, whitebait, worms, pipis, mullet gut, and small
brown soldier crabs.
When targeting bream, try around:
•
Oyster beds at Browns Island, Aldershots, Pimpama River, and Dux Anchorage
•
Rock walls such as the southern breakwall of the Gold Coast Seaway, northern breakwall of Wavebreak
Island, and the rock walls at Jabiru Island.
•
Areas of Jumpinpin including Five Ways, Tiger Mullet Channel, Whalley’s Gutter, and the eastern tip of
Crusoe Island
•
The Deep Hole in the Broadwater at Runaway Bay
•
Under bridges such as Sovereign Island and Ephraim Island at Paradise Point, and Gold Coast (Sundale)
Bridge at Southport.
•
Under and around jetties and pontoons in the Gold Coast canal systems
Summer whiting are a 5 star table fish, and can grow to a whopping 51cm.
Just like their smaller cousin, the winter (or trumpeter) whiting, summer whiting favour baits of yabbies, bloodworms,
and beach worms. Tiny pieces of squid cut into 0.5cm squares are also effective.
Use a very light leader (2 lb) of length 1 metre, a tiny ball sinker, and an inch of red tube above a longshank hook.
Drifting over or alongside yabby banks and weed banks is a very effective method to catch whiting.
When targeting summer whiting, try around:
•
South western edge of Carter's Bank
•
Western side of Wavebreak Island
•
Evandale council chambers
•
Paradise Waters canals
•
The Junction on the southern arm of the Coomera River
•
Coombabah Creek
•
Tipplers Passage
•
Shallow areas of Jumpinpin including Gold Bank and the lagoon at the northern tip of South Stradbroke Island
Winter whiting are another superb table fish. Otherwise known as trumpeter whiting, they grow to a maximum of
30cm. Winter whiting can be distinguished from summer whiting by the presence of dark blotches along their
sides.
Winter whiting are generally caught much smaller than summer whiting, however it only takes 5 or so small winter
whiting for a decent meal - just scale, butterfly, and quickly shallow fry. Apart from the backbone, no need to
remove the bones as they are very fine.
Winter whiting can be caught in the same locations and using the same method as summer whiting, especially over
shallow sand banks.
Dusky flathead are arguably the most commonly caught species of flathead on the Broadwater, distinguishable from
other species by a single large dark blotch on its tail. If you are unsure about the species of flathead, assume it is a
dusky which has a minimum legal size of 40cm. Large dusky flathead over 75cm are female breeders and must be
released.
Flathead will take baits such as yabbies, whitebait, prawns, WA pilchards, and beach worms. Large flathead are
commonly caught using live baits such as herring, whiting, and poddy mullet.
Flathead are ambush predators, often waiting at the entrance of creeks, gutters, and drain offs on a dropping tide.
When targeting flathead, try the following areas:
•
Northern breakwall of the Gold Coast Seaway
•
Perrys and The Timbers on the southern end of South Stradbroke Island
•
Shallow weedbank area north of Crab Island
•
Both entrances to Wasp Creek
•
Mouth of the Pimpama River
•
Entrance to the lagoon on the northern tip of South Stradbroke Island
•
Entrance to Swan Bay on the southern end of North Stradbroke Island (but outside the green zone!)
Tailor are predominately caught during the cooler months and are an exciting fish to catch, often schooling in their
hundreds when a feeding frenzy is on.
Tailor will take baits of WA pillies, strips of mullet, squid, garfish, and being cannibalistic - fillets of tailor
themselves. Once caught, tailor should be bled and chilled immediately to retain their excellent eating quality.
They don't freeze well.
If you are fishing and are constantly being bitten off, check for teeth serrations up your leader - if so, this is a sure
sign tailor is your culprit and you should change to a heavy leader (20lb+) and consider throwing a WA pilchard on
a gang hook. Metal spoons are another excellent choice.
When targeting tailor, try the following locations:
•
Gold Coast Seaway
•
The sand pumping jetty
•
Jumpinpin Bar area
•
Eastern tip of Crusoe Island
•
All along the surf side of South Stradbroke Island
Mangrove Jack are predominately caught on the Gold Coast during the warmer months, and are a prized catch with
superb eating qualities.
Given their name, it is unsurprising that they are commonly caught around steep sided mangrove lined creeks and
rivers, particularly around submerged snags. Being an ambush predator, they are also found around rock walls and
outflows of weirs.
They prefer live baits, particularly live poddy mullet, live herring, live squid, and live prawns.
When targeting Mangrove Jack, try the following locations:
•
Northern arm of the Coomera River
•
Jewel Creek at Diamond Head
•
Saltwater Creek
•
Sovereign Island and Ephraim Island bridges
•
Canal systems around Paradise Point
Mulloway, also known as Jewfish, is a trophy catch and can grow to an impressive 2m in length.
They are generally caught in deep holes at the entrance to river mouths, in deep channels, and in deep gutters in
the surf.
Live baits of tailor, mullet, prawns, herring, squid, whiting, and whole beach worms are best.
Dead baits include WA pilchards, slimy mackerel, and fillets of tailor or mullet.
When targeting Jewies, try the following locations:
•
Gold Coast Seaway
•
Jumpinpin Bar area
•
Kalinga Bank
•
Mouth of the southern arm of the Coomera River
•
Mouth of the Pimpama River
•
Surf side of South Stradbroke Island
Teraglin, or commonly known as Trag Jew, are mostly caught offshore but are also caught inside the Broadwater.
Trag Jew will take baits of WA pilchards, squid, and mullet fillets.
When targeting trag jew, try the following spots:
•
Gold Coast Seaway
•
Under Sovereign Island bridge
•
Under Ephraim Island bridge
•
North eastern tip of Jabiru Island
Squire, or juvenile snapper, are a 5 star table fish. Squire are generally targeted offshore, however they are also
frequently caught inside the Broadwater and tributaries.
Small squire caught in the Broadwater are often misidentified as bream, they are often a pale pink colour and
have iridescent blue spots along their body. It is fairly uncommon to catch a legal sized squire inside the
Broadwater, as they head out to sea once they become bigger.
Squire will take baits of WA pilchards, squid, mullet, yakkas, and slimy mackerel.
When targeting squire, try the followng locations:
•
Gold Coast Seaway
•
Emphraim Island Bridge
•
Sovereign Island Bridge
•
Mouth of the southern arm of the Coomera River
•
Mouth of the Pimpama River
Golden trevally are a powerful fish and exciting to catch. They are also a fine table fish.
Live baits such as herring work best. They will also take dead baits of WA pilchards and squid.
They frequent the Gold Coast Seaway, all rivers, canals, and salt water lakes.
Moses Perch, also known as Fingermark, look similar to Mangrove Jack except they have a large black dot on the side of
their body.
Moses Perch will take baits of WA pilchards, whitebait, and strip baits of most fish.
They are a nice fish to eat, and are found in similar areas to Mangrove Jack, including under bridges, next to rock walls,
and areas of the Broadwater with a cunjevoi reef bottom.
Dart are a fantastic fish to catch when beach fishing. Large schools of dart are often seen from the shore swimming
down the waves.
Dart can be caught in abundance, and are also a fine fish to eat. If you like eating tailor, you will certainly enjoy dart.
As with tailor, dart should be bled and chilled immediately upon capture to retain their eating quality.
The best bait to use are pipis, which can be dug easily using your feet using the "pipi-shuffle" on the water's edge.
Dart are found in both the surfline and gutters on surf beaches, and can also be caught off the sand pumping jetty at
the Spit.
The surf side of South Stradbroke Island holds great numbers of pipis and dart. The surf side of the island is only a 5
minute walk across from the Broadwater at South Currigee Campground, North Currigee Campground, and The
Bedrooms.
Estuary Cod are a fine table fish and grow to 1.5m in length.
They will take baits such as WA pilchards, squid, prawns, and mullet fillets. Live herring work well.
Estuary Cod are generally caught along rock walls and the entrance to weirs.
Listed below are some of the more commonly caught fish in the Southport Broadwater and its tributaries.
Fish sizes and possession limits on this page are current as of July 2024.
As fish sizes and possession limits regularly change, it is highly recommended to stay up to date with the latest rules
as listed on the Queensland Government’s website:
https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/activities/boating-fishing/rec-fishing/rules/limits-tidal
Alternatively, download the QLD Fishing 2.0 app by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
via the App Store or Google Play.
Fish photos on this page are copyright daff.qld.gov.au
PH 0432 710 892
Fishing on the Gold Coast
Yellowfin Bream
Size limit:
25cm min
Bag limit:
Combined limit of 30 of yellowfin bream,
pikey bream, and tarwine.
Yellowfin bream are one of the most commonly
caught fish species in the entire Gold Coast
Broadwater and estuary systems, particularly
throughout Jumpinpin which is famous for its winter
bream run when the bream are spawning.
Bream will take a vast variety of baits including
yabbies, prawns, whitebait, worms, pipis, mullet gut,
and small brown soldier crabs.
When targeting bream, try around:
•
Oyster beds at Browns Island, Aldershots,
Pimpama River, and Dux Anchorage
•
Rock walls such as the southern breakwall of the
Gold Coast Seaway, northern breakwall of
Wavebreak Island, and the rock walls at Jabiru
Island.
•
Areas of Jumpinpin including Five Ways, Tiger
Mullet Channel, Whalley’s Gutter, and the eastern
tip of Crusoe Island
•
The Deep Hole in the Broadwater at Runaway Bay
•
Under bridges such as Sovereign Island and
Ephraim Island at Paradise Point, and Gold Coast
(Sundale) Bridge at Southport.
•
Under and around jetties and pontoons in the
Gold Coast canal systems
Listed below are some of the more commonly caught fish in
the Southport Broadwater and its tributaries.
Fish sizes and possession limits on this page are current as of
July 2024.
As fish sizes and possession limits regularly change, it is
highly recommended to stay up to date with the latest rules
as listed on the Queensland Government’s website:
https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/activities/boating-
fishing/rec-fishing/rules/limits-tidal
Alternatively, download the QLD Fishing 2.0 app by the
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
via the App Store or Google Play.
Fish photos on this page are copyright daff.qld.gov.au
Summer Whiting
Summer whiting are a 5 star table fish, and can grow
to a whopping 51cm.
Just like their smaller cousin, the winter (or trumpeter)
whiting, summer whiting favour baits of yabbies,
bloodworms, and beach worms. Tiny pieces of squid
cut into 0.5cm squares are also effective.
Use a very light leader (2 lb) of length 1 metre, a tiny
ball sinker, and an inch of red tube above a longshank
hook.
Drifting over or alongside yabby banks and weed
banks is a very effective method to catch whiting.
When targeting summer whiting, try around:
•
South western edge of Carter's Bank
•
Western side of Wavebreak Island
•
Evandale council chambers
•
Paradise Waters canals
•
The Junction on the southern arm of the Coomera
River
•
Coombabah Creek
•
Tipplers Passage
•
Shallow areas of Jumpinpin including Gold Bank
and the lagoon at the northern tip of South
Stradbroke Island
Size limit:
23cm min
Bag limit:
30
Winter Whiting
Winter whiting are another superb table fish.
Otherwise known as trumpeter whiting, they grow to a
maximum of 30cm. Winter whiting can be
distinguished from summer whiting by the presence of
dark blotches along their sides.
Winter whiting are generally caught much smaller than
summer whiting, however it only takes 5 or so small
winter whiting for a decent meal - just scale, butterfly,
and quickly shallow fry. Apart from the backbone, no
need to remove the bones as they are very fine.
Winter whiting can be caught in the same locations
and using the same method as summer whiting,
especially over shallow sand banks.
Size limit:
No size limit
Bag limit:
50
Dusky Flathead
Dusky flathead are arguably the most commonly
caught species of flathead on the Broadwater,
distinguishable from other species by a single large
dark blotch on its tail. If you are unsure about the
species of flathead, assume it is a dusky which has a
minimum legal size of 40cm. Large dusky flathead
over 75cm are female breeders and must be released.
Flathead will take baits such as yabbies, whitebait,
prawns, WA pilchards, and beach worms. Large
flathead are commonly caught using live baits such as
herring, whiting, and poddy mullet.
Flathead are ambush predators, often waiting at the
entrance of creeks, gutters, and drain offs on a
dropping tide.
When targeting flathead, try the following areas:
•
Northern breakwall of the Gold Coast Seaway
•
Perrys and The Timbers on the southern end of
South Stradbroke Island
•
Shallow weedbank area north of Crab Island
•
Both entrances to Wasp Creek
•
Mouth of the Pimpama River
•
Entrance to the lagoon on the northern tip of
South Stradbroke Island
•
Entrance to Swan Bay on the southern end of
North Stradbroke Island (but outside the green
zone!)
Size limit (dusky flathead):
40cm min, 75cm max
Bag limit (dusky flathead):
5
Size limit (all other flathead species):
30cm min
Bag limit (all other flathead species):
Combined
limit of 5 in total for all species (except dusky flathead)
Tailor
Tailor are predominately caught during the cooler
months and are an exciting fish to catch, often
schooling in their hundreds when a feeding frenzy is
on.
Tailor will take baits of WA pillies, strips of mullet,
squid, garfish, and being cannibalistic - fillets of tailor
themselves. Once caught, tailor should be bled and
chilled immediately to retain their excellent eating
quality. They don't freeze well.
If you are fishing and are constantly being bitten off,
check for teeth serrations up your leader - if so, this is
a sure sign tailor is your culprit and you should change
to a heavy leader (20lb+) and consider throwing a WA
pilchard on a gang hook. Metal spoons are another
excellent choice.
When targeting tailor, try the following locations:
•
Gold Coast Seaway
•
The sand pumping jetty
•
Jumpinpin Bar area
•
Eastern tip of Crusoe Island
•
All along the surf side of South Stradbroke Island
Size limit:
35cm min
Bag limit:
20
Mangrove Jack
Mangrove Jack are predominately caught on the Gold
Coast during the warmer months, and are a prized
catch with superb eating qualities.
Given their name, it is unsurprising that they are
commonly caught around steep sided mangrove lined
creeks and rivers, particularly around submerged
snags. Being an ambush predator, they are also found
around rock walls and outflows of weirs.
They prefer live baits, particularly live poddy mullet,
live herring, live squid, and live prawns.
When targeting Mangrove Jack, try the following
locations:
•
Northern arm of the Coomera River
•
Jewel Creek at Diamond Head
•
Saltwater Creek
•
Sovereign Island and Ephraim Island bridges
•
Canal systems around Paradise Point
Size limit:
35cm min
Bag limit:
5
Mulloway
Mulloway, also known as Jewfish, is a trophy catch and
can grow to an impressive 2m in length.
They are generally caught in deep holes at the
entrance to river mouths, in deep channels, and in
deep gutters in the surf.
Live baits of tailor, mullet, prawns, herring, squid,
whiting, and whole beach worms are best.
Dead baits include WA pilchards, slimy mackerel, and
fillets of tailor or mullet.
When targeting Jewies, try the following locations:
•
Gold Coast Seaway
•
Jumpinpin Bar area
•
Kalinga Bank
•
Mouth of the southern arm of the Coomera River
•
Mouth of the Pimpama River
•
Surf side of South Stradbroke Island
Size limit:
75cm min
Bag limit:
2
Trag jew
Teraglin, or commonly known as Trag Jew, are mostly
caught offshore but are also caught inside the
Broadwater.
Trag Jew will take baits of WA pilchards, squid, and
mullet fillets.
When targeting trag jew, try the following spots:
•
Gold Coast Seaway
•
Under Sovereign Island bridge
•
Under Ephraim Island bridge
•
North eastern tip of Jabiru Island
Size limit:
38cm min
Bag limit:
5
Squire
Squire, or juvenile snapper, are a 5 star table fish.
Squire are generally targeted offshore, however they
are also frequently caught inside the Broadwater and
tributaries.
Small squire caught in the Broadwater are often
misidentified as bream, they are often a pale pink
colour and have iridescent blue spots along their
body. It is fairly uncommon to catch a legal sized
squire inside the Broadwater, as they head out to sea
once they become bigger.
Squire will take baits of WA pilchards, squid, mullet,
yakkas, and slimy mackerel.
When targeting squire, try the followng locations:
•
Gold Coast Seaway
•
Emphraim Island Bridge
•
Sovereign Island Bridge
•
Mouth of the southern arm of the Coomera River
•
Mouth of the Pimpama River
Size limit:
35cm min
Bag limit:
4 with no more than 1 over 70cm, 8 per
boat with no more than 2 over 70cm (with 2 or more
people on board).
CLOSED SEASON APPLIES
Golden Trevally
Golden trevally are a powerful fish and exciting to
catch. They are also a fine table fish.
Live baits such as herring work best. They will also
take dead baits of WA pilchards and squid.
They frequent the Gold Coast Seaway, all rivers,
canals, and salt water lakes.
Size limit:
No size limit
Bag limit:
Combined limit of 20 in total for all
members of the trevally family
Moses Perch
Moses Perch, also known as Fingermark, look similar
to Mangrove Jack except they have a large black dot on
the side of their body.
Moses Perch will take baits of WA pilchards, whitebait,
and strip baits of most fish.
They are a nice fish to eat, and are found in similar
areas to Mangrove Jack, including under bridges, next
to rock walls, and areas of the Broadwater with a
cunjevoi reef bottom.
Size limit:
35cm min
Bag limit:
5
Swallowtail Dart
Dart are a fantastic fish to catch when beach fishing.
Large schools of dart are often seen from the shore
swimming down the waves.
Dart can be caught in abundance, and are also a fine
fish to eat. If you like eating tailor, you will certainly
enjoy dart.
As with tailor, dart should be bled and chilled
immediately upon capture to retain their eating
quality.
The best bait to use are pipis, which can be dug easily
using your feet using the "pipi-shuffle" on the water's
edge.
Dart are found in both the surfline and gutters on surf
beaches, and can also be caught off the sand pumping
jetty at the Spit.
The surf side of South Stradbroke Island holds great
numbers of pipis and dart. The surf side of the island
is only a 5 minute walk across from the Broadwater at
South Currigee Campground, North Currigee
Campground, and The Bedrooms.
Size limit:
30cm min
Bag limit:
30
Estuary Cod
Estuary Cod are a fine table fish and grow to 1.5m in
length.
They will take baits such as WA pilchards, squid,
prawns, and mullet fillets. Live herring work well.
Estuary Cod are generally caught along rock walls and
the entrance to weirs.
Size limit:
38cm min, 120cm max
Bag limit:
Combined limit of 5 in total for all cod
and grouper species
