Best fishing locations on the Gold Coast

There are few sports that encourage you to let go of all your cares and problems like fishing. Paired with being around the fresh sea air and the possibility of hand-catching your own dinner for the evening, it’s one of the greatest joys you’ll find from living on the Gold Coast—where there’s no shortage of amazing fishing spots close to home. 

Even if you’re yet to discover your love for fishing, you will soon when you move into our latest Mater Prize Home lottery No. 306. Every time you look out beyond your beautiful backyard to your private pontoon where your new Sea Fox 248 Commander boat or Sea-Doo Jet Ski (included in the home lottery) are parked on your private pontoon, you’ll be thinking up excuses to get out on the water. And a day of fishing is the perfect reason to get out and about!  

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Now that you have the right equipment (aka your boat—or jet ski—if you so choose) for the job, it’s essential that you know where to go to make your fishing expedition a great success. Here are the best fishing spots on the Gold Coast to cast your line in and catch yourself some dinner!

Gold Coast Canals

Let’s start with the perfect spot nice and close to home—the canals that make up your stunning water views out the back of your prize home! It doesn’t get much better than sitting with your legs dangling off your private pontoon and popping your fishing line in the water in the hope of catching the likes of bream, trevally, flathead and more. You can also jump in your boat and zip off to Broadbeach Canal Reserve, Runaway Bay, Platter Park, Mermaid Waters and Sickle Park, which have a good track record of delivering on great fishing—especially in spring.

Nerang River

For some freshwater fishing, check out Nerang River. Set yourself up near Weedon’s Crossing (the fish love to feed there) and get excited for the possibility of taking home some wild-caught bream, flathead, whiting, mangrove jack (in summer), trevally and mud crabs for a home-cooked seafood feast. The fishing platform here (located within the Nerang River parklands under the M1 motorway at Nerang) is a good spot if you’ve left the boat at home. Nerang River is also a popular choice for those wanting to fish from a kayak.

Tallebugera Creek

Make a whole day of it at Tallebudgera Creek. Besides the great fishing—and calm waters that make it a wonderful family-friendly fishing location—you’ll love being able to flit between swimming, snorkelling, lazing in the sun, building sandcastles on the beach, firing up the barbecue, or grabbing a coffee at Custard Canteen. But back to the fishing: expect to catch some flathead off your boat, or bream, whiting, luderick and mangrove jack if you’re casting from the shore.

Gold Coast Seaway

Unsurprisingly, at the main navigation entrance from the Pacific Ocean into the Gold Coast Broadwater (known as the Gold Coast Seaway) you will have no trouble finding fish. The Gold Coast Seaway is one of the most popular Gold Coast fishing spots. What’s on the menu? Yellowtail, kingfish, whitehead, flathead (tip: fish off the sand pumping jetty for your best chance at catching flathead), mangrove jacks and bream. There’s also a lot of variety in fishing spots, from the jetty to the rock walls, off-shore and from the shore. 

Jacobs Well

Naturally the small fishing town of Jacobs Well on the Gold Coast deserves a mention. Leading to the Pimpama River with plenty of fish-frequented channels, creeks, rivers and gutters to keep you coming back for more, you are always up for a good day of fishing here. If you’re new to the area, start at the jetty for the chance to catch some prawns (with the added bonus of being close to coffee and cafes!). From there, find your own little nook to try your luck at catching the abundance of flathead, whiting and bream around. Once you’ve transitioned your fishing skills from beginner to practically pro, the deep, fast moving channel of water of Jumpinpin (situated between North Stradbroke Island and South Stradbroke Island) is where you’ll have the most fun catching snapper and pearl perch. Tipplers Passage and Golden Bank are two great spots to also check out on your way to Jumpinpin.

Snapper Rocks

It may have a reputation for being the go-to spot for surfing on the Gold Coast, but Snapper Rocks is also an excellent place to catch fish. Dart, flathead, tailor, jewfish, tuna and bonito are most commonly caught here. To try your hand at fishing with the sand between your toes, head just north of Snapper Rocks to the Kirra Reef: it’s one of the best Gold Coast fishing spots for beach fishing. After you’re done, drop in to Eddy’s Grub House for a cold drink and a seriously good burger.

Ready to spend your downtime out on the water catching fresh fish for dinner (or just fun)? Buy your tickets today to win this waterfront Mater Prize Home lottery in Hope Island for easy access to the best fishing on the Gold Coast. Plus, for every ticket you purchase you’re helping support the life-changing medical research and patient care at Mater.

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