Expert-approved spots for the best fishing on the Gold Coast (with pro tips inside!)
I never knew how challenging fishing could be until I tried it. You have to consider many factors even before you throw the fishing line into the water.
It’s definitely not as easy as it looks!
Among my main difficulties were finding the best spot and charter services that could make my time worthwhile. I mean, nobody likes going home without a single catch.
But that’s also why the Gold Coast holds a special place in my heart. Every water body seems full of marine life, all waiting for you to throw the line.
As goodwill from one fishing enthusiast to another, here are some tried-and-tested spots for great fishing on the Gold Coast, along with practical advice to help you reel in success.
Exciting fishing spots teeming with local delicacies
If we’re talking about understanding the Gold Coast’s local delicacies, then there’s no better way than heading to wharves and beaches to catch fish.
People can spend the whole day waiting for that big bite while enjoying the wide ocean or the surrounding forest. It’s all up to you!
Gold Coast Seaway
– Media credit: jason_acott
Location: Near Doug Jennings Park, Seaworld Dr, Main Beach
Hours: Everyday: 7:30 AM – 8:00 PM
The Seaway offers the best of both worlds, as river and sea animals meet at the channel’s opening. It’s the perfect opportunity for people to catch a variety of fish at their leisure.
The cold wind from the ocean and the proximity to the city proper make the Seaway an ideal spot for long hours of fishing.
The promenade strip is particularly popular for angle fishers to haul tarpons, tailors, trevally, and yellowtail kingfish.
At night, people can try their luck at the North Wall for some bigeye trevally, mulloway, and hardtail.
Just watch out for the tides, as bigger hauls are harder to find during low tide. However, high tides also have their risks with stronger currents.
Pro tip:
The seaway has an average 10 m depth, providing many spots for fish to hide. To increase your fishing rates, regularly check the current lines to map the fish path and behavior.
Southport Spit
– Media credit: shawkim4
Location: Near Narrowneck Park, Main Beach
Hours: Open 24/7
Just a few meters south of Seaway, the Southport Spit–or simply The Spit–offers a great chance to catch numerous jewfish and flatheads straight from the sea.
Fishers can enjoy the company of fellow enthusiasts and hobbyists, as the area houses several fish clubs and rentable charters to explore the deep blue.
It’s especially bountiful during winter when tropical fish migrate to Australia’s warmer waters. The humpback whale sightings are a great bonus during these seasons.
The Sand Pumping Jetty is particularly popular for tailor fish, although it can also get crowded fast because it’s near the “off leash” dog beach.
Another notable spot is near the rock walls where smaller fish often travel to feed on moss.
Pro tip:
The best time to fish on The Spit is during mid-tide when the currents aren’t strong and the water is still deep.
Try using live slugs and small sardines as bait to attract bigger fish like herring and cod. Don’t use mites and plastic baits as the tides can wash them away easily.
Jumpinpin Channel (The Pin)
– Media credit: whippie_a
Location: Northern tip of South Stradbroke Island
Hours: Open 24/7
Fishing on the Jumpinpin Channel, or The Pin for short, highly depends on the tide and season.
People can sit on their boats for a whole day and catch nothing, while other days see multiple hauls in just a few hours.
Local marine life like flatheads are particularly active around the full and new moon in October.
Flatheads usually migrate on the Gold Coast during fall to repopulate—the perfect time to catch 90 cm and bigger shovel-headed bulls.
On the other hand, tailors are seen more often around the channel’s deeper parts between July and September. Fishers can sometimes even snag occasional bream when water is clear.
If Lady Luck is on your side, visitors can also spot stingrays and dolphins swimming in the area. They might even come close to the boat for a few hellos!
Pro tip:
Avoid fishing during incoming tides when the water is particularly muddy due to the currents disturbing the sand at the seabed.
If no other schedule is available, head to the “Pig Sties” where river fish are often swept by the rain floods and ocean swells.
Broadbeach Canal Reserve
– Media credit: yuki_h219
Location: 2682 Gold Coast Hwy, Broadbeach
Hours: Open 24/7
Despite the countless residential houses surrounding it, the Broadbeach Canals continue to yield bountiful harvests of mangrove jacks, cod, and flatheads for those willing to try.
The canals are particularly active during spring and summer, as fish travel upstream to feed and reproduce before traveling south in the fall and winter.
During this time, popular fishing spots like Runaway Bay, Platter Park, and Mermaid Waters receive more crowds to take advantage of the mating season.
The Broadbeach Canal Reserve, however, sets itself apart for its quiet atmosphere and the cool winds blowing through the trees.
The reserve is also the only few canal fishing points with wharves, allowing fishers to cast their reels at the canal’s deeper parts.
Pro tip:
While it’s easier to catch fish after rainy days, the path leading to the reserve can be slippery due to the lack of paved walkways.
People attempting to fish in the area should wear boots and non-slippery shoes to help with their balance.
Broadwater Parklands
– Media credit: macca_doogs
Location: Marine Parade, Southport
Hours: Open 24/7
The Gold Coast Broadwater–and by extension, the Parklands–is considered a fisherman’s haven for the various marine life that can be reeled in the area.
Due to its size, fishers can throw their lines almost anywhere across the various sand banks in Nerang River and expect a haul or two in just a few hours.
Squids, sand whiting, tarwhine, and numerous snapper variations are especially common after the rainy season as they emerge from the watery depths to feed on the algae swept into the area.
Even if you don’t travel to the sand banks, there are still plenty of fish waiting near the park. Best of all, fishing at the park is a great excuse to bring the kids and play at the attractions while waiting for a catch.
Pro tip:
If you plan on catching big fish on Broadwater, use soft plastic baits instead. Live baits can attract smaller fishes, which can nibble on the hook before the bigger ones arrive.
Tallebudgera Creek
– Media credit: balugasztro
Location: 1544 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach
Hours: Everyday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
There are many ways to catch fish on Tallebudgera Creek. People can either snag a few flatheads from its beaches or cruise at the mouth to hook some bream and mangrove jacks.
If it’s the big fish you want, the bridge is your best bet due to the deep holes common in the area where huge fish often rest.
Due to the creek’s varying depth and width, people can try fly fishing for tarpons and giant herrings near the opening and deeper canals.
You can also see occasional bull sharks swimming in deeper areas, although specialized tools like longlines and driftnets are needed.
Even if fishing is your only purpose, Tallebudgera Creek remains a great family vacation spot due to the various water activities available in the area.
Commercial establishments and food stalls are common, so there’s no need to worry about food, water, and restrooms while enjoying your time in the water.
Pro tip:
Tallebudgera Creek is often crowded with people swimming or kayaking—activities that could disturb the fish in the area. Visitors are recommended to go in the early morning during weekdays to avoid huge crowds and enjoy quiet time with nature.
Jacobs Well
– Media credit: strangeisntit
Location: East of Norwell, Northern Gold Coast
Hours: Open 24/7
Before it became a big name in the local real estate industry, Jacobs Well was a peaceful fishing village people often visited to escape the bustling city. The same can still be said today, thanks to various conservation efforts to retain the village’s prized waters.
Fishermen will rejoice at the teeming marine life in the estuary.
The area is particularly brimming with flatheads, whitings, and tailors. The deeper parts even house several breams and snappers swept from the nearby Pimpama River.
Pro tip:
Renting a charter from Jacobs Well to Broadwater and Seaway is considerably cheaper than other Gold Coast wharves. Some local services even offer exclusive tours on the smaller islands and sand jetties in the nearby channel.
Snapper Rocks
– Media credit: keely_horobin
Location: Snapper Rocks Rd, Coolangatta
Hours: Open 24/7
More than just a great surfing spot, Snapper Rocks is popular among local angler fishers due to its proximity to Kirra Reef.
It’s common to see people hauling huge Australian bonitos, tailors, and the namesake snappers around the area’s shallower waters.
Heading down to the beach, people can try their luck at catching bream, dartfish, and flathead. Jewfish can occasionally be spotted around the Tweed River’s mouth too.
Folks can also bring their catches to nearby local restaurants to have them prepared or even sell them in the early mornings.
All the while, fishers can admire the area’s natural beauty with its crystal blue waters and lush greenery surrounding the rocky portion.
Visitors also won’t have to worry about companions during downtime, as surfers and fellow fishers often flock to the area during summer and fall when the waves are the biggest.
Pro tip:
People can fish from the area’s rock outcrops, although extra caution should be taken as the rocks can be particularly slippery during high tides.
The best fishing charters on the Gold Coast
Become Captain Ahab hunting down your Moby Dick aboard some of the best fishing charters in the city.
Whether it’s a peaceful voyage aboard luxury vessels or a generational adventure in boats made to clash with big waves, the Gold Coast has something to suit your tastes.
Top Gear Fishing Charters
– Media credit: Top Gear Fishing Charters
Location: Mariner’s Cove Marina, 60/70 Seaworld Drive Berth D8, Main Beach
Contact: [email protected], 0404 115 535
Hours: Everyday: 5:30 AM – 6:00 PM
From sunrise to dawn, Top Gear Fishing Charters takes its customers across scenic Gold Coast waters while catching local delicacies.
During summer and fall, the business even doubles as a whale-spotting service, as tourists try to record the migrating humpbacks.
The boat’s captain, Brian, boasts over 40 years of operating yachts and charters across the Gold Coast and beyond. With Brian at the helm, Top Gear can guarantee a smooth and safe travel into the open sea and back.
Fishers won’t even need to bring their fishing gear because the company lends its high-quality reels, particularly Penn, Shimano, and Paternoster rigs.
As the charter is equipped with a mobile kitchen and knowledgeable crew, customers can have their catch cooked immediately after hauling some bites.
Pro tip:
Top Gear’s services are best enjoyed by only a few people. Although the company’s charter can hold more than 12 individuals, the fishing lines can get tangled when facing the ocean’s strong currents.
Charting the seas with fewer people aboard ensures more space for the lines to move freely.
Paradise Fishing Charters Gold Coast
– Media credit: Paradise Fishing Charters
Location: Marina Mirage, 74 Seaworld Dr, Main Beach
Contact: [email protected], 0403 531 428
Hours: Monday to Saturday: 7:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Paradise Fishing Charters Gold Coast sets itself apart from competitors for its commitment to customer satisfaction. All crew members, from the skipper to the captain, are ready to assist anglers with any needs throughout the trip.
The services are completely beginner-friendly, as the crew introduces new anglers to proper ways to catch in deep waters.
With a 5-hour deep reef tour, customers can soon haul huge bites like mackerels, marlins, tunas, and even sharks.
More experienced fishers can choose the longer voyage for the city’s prized fish. These include giant snappers, amberjack, Kingfish, and Samson fish.
The amenities aboard are nothing to scuff at too.
The charter has ice coolers, a small kitchen, and a shaded resting area. Best of all, there’s a working toilet on board!
Pro tip:
Customers prone to seasickness should take medications before boarding with Paradise Fishing. The charter has to go fast to reach the destination promptly and avoid wasting customers’ time, as the company’s usual fishing spot is over 25 km from the coast.
Wild Thing Fishing Charters
– Media credit: wtfchartersgc
Location: Marine Parade, Southport
Contact: [email protected], 0435099156
Hours: Everyday: 7:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Despite its name, Wild Thing Fishing Charters follows strict guidelines for conserving marine wildlife while providing customers with an enjoyable experience.
For one, the company only targets specific fish varieties each season to minimize the impact on the marine ecosystem.
People are also briefed on safety and procedural rules, including how to use the toilet on board. This is to prevent waste leakage to the sea.
The rules are often repeated and highly prioritized, as the company extends its services to children and toddlers.
The company’s services are usually out in the open sea, although customers can hire them to fish near the coast too.
Pro tip:
Try to bring extra patience when boarding with the Wild Thing Fishing. The company’s boat is a bit dated and could experience minor hiccups.
That said, all crew members are experienced and already know what to do in case of emergencies, even if you’re in the middle of the sea.