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The Gold Coast is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. It has 70 kilometers of white sandy beaches on one side, and a thick jungle on the other. The alluring Coral Sea sits right next to it.
While there’s a lot to do on the Gold Coast, like being a well-known tourist hub or a hotspot for surfers, the thing that draws most people here is its fishing locations.
If you’re coming here for the first time you might be wondering "Where can I find the best fishing spot on the Gold Coast?" This article will explain six of them so you can have an experience of your lifetime.
1.Gold Coast Seaway
Let's begin with a popular local destination and one of the Gold Coast’s best fishing spots – the Gold Coast Seaway. This waterway runs the length of the city, connecting its many canals to the ocean. This seaway is vast, with numerous entry points offering fishing for the wide variety of marine life that frequents its waters.
There are several great places to cast a line in the seaway, including the main body of water, South Stradbroke Island, the Spit, and Wave Break Island. We wouldn't advise newbies to try fishing from the rocks along the shoreline, as the water is fast and the waves could be difficult to handle. In addition to the blue waters and reefs close by, you can also easily reach those further out to sea.
Fish diversity is another major benefit of the Gold Coast Seaway. You can fish for garfish, flatheads, and crabs near aquatic vegetation from the shore. It is also possible to encounter Mangrove Jack, Trevally, and Jewfish. If you're lucky or fishing from a small boat, you might even get a close encounter with a kingfish.
2.Southport
If you're visiting the Gold Coast looking for a Billfish or two, Southport is where you'll want to be. In this suburban area, you can be out on the water fishing in less than half an hour, whether you hire a skipper or take your own boat.
Young Black Marlins make everyone's bucket list of fish to catch, and during the summer months, they cluster very close to shore. That means that the spot where young Black Marlins are is only a couple of kilometers out. It's important to note that Marlins and other predatory fish frequent this area because of the steep drop in the seafloor near the shore. If you don't hook a billfish, there's always the chance of catching a Mahi Mahi, Tuna, or Wahoo.
Inshore fishermen can also find plenty to enjoy because Amberjack, Samson Fish, and Cobia swarm the waters in summer and spring. With so many options, it's clear why Southport is considered one of Gold Coast's top fishing destinations.
3.Jacobs Well and Jumpinpin
Jacobs Well, a little fishing community at Moreton Bay's southern tip at the mouth of the Pimpama River, provides access to some of the finest coastal fishing the Gold Coast can offer. There are plenty of flathead, whiting, and bream, and bait fishing is the most common technique for catching these fish. The most common baits for catching whiting and bream are worms and yabbies, while pilchards and whitebait are used to reel in tailor and flathead.
The jetty is a great starting point if you want to remain within walking distance of the city. Jumpinpin is the main attraction up here, but if you're an adventurous fisherman who wants to explore the area's pristine waterways, you should also check out Golden Bank and Tipplers Passage.
Jumpinpin, located between South Stradbroke Island and North Stradbroke Island, is a deep, swiftly moving waterway that can be problematic for novice anglers. Flathead often congregates here to spawn, mulloway inhabits the deeper regions, and if you're lucky, you can catch an undersized black marlin. Jumpinpin also provides access to the open seas offshore, where seasoned anglers can try to take advantage of pearl perch and snapper.
4.Nerang River
The Nerang River, which cuts through the heart of the Gold Coast, is a fantastic spot for some fishing in freshwater. You can fish anywhere along the river, but the Nerang fishing platform in the Nerang River Parklands, beneath the M1 motorway, is where you're likely to have the most success.
It's a great place to fish because it's close to Weedon's Crossing, an important inflow junction for the river where there is plenty of food for the fish. You can expect to catch bream, mangrove jack, whiting, flathead, trevally, mud crabs, and the like.
5.Snapper Rocks
This esteemed surf spot at Coolangatta's southernmost point is perfect for a family outing. You can fish for tuna, bonito, and tailor from Snapper Rocks, or you can explore the beaches that run parallel to the point. Be mindful of the waves, though.
The Kirra Reef, located north of Snapper Rocks, is a popular beach fishing destination for locals and visitors alike due to the abundance of bait fish in the area throughout the year. In addition, there is a gutter not far from the shore that is perfect for swimming and lounging.
Or, you could travel to the area just south of Snapper Rocks to access even more great beach fishing and the rocky walls that direct the Tweed River to the sea.
6.Tallebudgera Creek
Locals refer to Tallebudgera Creek as "Tally Creek," and it flows into the ocean not far from Burleigh Head National Park. When fishing from a tinny, the river mouth is a good place to reel in a flathead or two, and the area directly under the bridge is an excellent place to reel in a large fish.
Alternatively, you can explore the full breadth of what Tallebudgera Creek has to offer by venturing inland. You can catch anything from bream and whiting and luderick to the highly sought-after mangrove jack in Tally. Tallebudgera Creek is a great place to launch from the bank, as the entire creek is easily navigable, and there is ample parking, especially in the creek's upper reaches.
Bottom Line
When you discover the Gold Coast’s prominent fishing spots, it's easy to understand why many ambitious fishermen make the trip to Queensland's second-biggest city. Prolific deep-sea fishing activity is mainly responsible for the region's prominence, but that's the tip of the iceberg.
The numerous canals wind their way through the Gold Coast, allowing easy access to the city's excellent saltwater fishing, while the nearby rivers and creeks provide a good freshwater bite. The next time you visit the Gold Coast, especially with your family, ensure you visit some of these fishing spots and enjoy an excellent outdoor experience.
