Queensland’s second largest city, Gold Coast has made a name for itself as the place to go surfing in Australia. The amusement park capital of QLD is also the gateway to the Hinterland and a bustling shopping hub. On top of that, its 70 km (43 miles) of coastline are your gateway to all sorts of aquatic adventures.
This is one of Australia’s most popular destinations for deep sea and reef fishing, and its tempting tropical climate keeps the action good all year round. Whether you’re into trolling for Blue Marlin or exploring the deep reefs, Gold Coast fishing charters have something for you.
Known For
Look beyond Gold Coast’s skyscrapers, and the expanse of ocean beyond is just the start of the fun. Forget the theme parks—the sheer variety of fish and techniques on offer is enough for the most die-hard of adrenaline seekers.
Talk to any Gold Coast angler, and their fishing stories will start and finish at the Seaway. This is where the Nerang River enters the Pacific Ocean, and is the hub of both land and boat-based fishing in the area. Most Gold Coast fishing trips start at Main Beach, just a couple of minutes’ ride from the Seaway, meaning they have almost instant access to the rich fishing grounds beyond.
Many charters will introduce you to Gold Coast fishing by starting the trip over the rocky reefs near the Seaway, before heading out into the ocean. It doesn’t take long to reach the first fishing spot, where you can flex your angling muscles against Mackerel, Tailor, Cobia, Teragalin, and maybe even Sharks.
The fishing spots Gold Coast has access to start within easy reach of the shore. You can start fishing the area’s rocky reefs well under 15 km (10 miles) from the coast, in waters 10-50 m (30-160 ft) deep. Here, you can catch anything from Cobia to Snapper, with Marlin, Sailfish, and Mahi Mahi even coming in this close in the summer. All this is available on a half day trip.
If you have more time, a full day will take you to the serious fishing grounds, with waters reaching 60-100m (200-330ft) deep. Here, you can bottom fish over the rocky reefs for Pearl Perch, Amberjack, and Snapper, or troll for Blue and Black Marlin, Sailfish, Cobia, Yellowtail Kingfish, Tuna, Wahoo, and Mahi Mahi. If you’re looking for serious game fishing, be prepared for a 2 hour journey to the best Marlin grounds, making a full day trip a necessity.
Fish with a serious deep sea charter, and you could be heading out to the most remote game fishing locations on a super-specialised multiday trip. These could take you to areas like Lady Musgrave Island and Fraser Island, where multiple hookups on five different species of Billfish are a possibility. As well as Blue and Black Marlin, Striped Marlin, Shortbilled Spearfish and Sailfish have been known to make an appearance in these waters, and a multiday trip is your most likely way of securing a slam.
Fishing Techniques
Light tackle fishing for big game is something of a speciality on Australia’s east coast, and Gold Coast is the perfect place to get in on the action. December to March is prime time to test yourself against the biggest Black Marlin and Sailfish with the lightest possible line. With bycatches including Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, and Mackerel, there’s plenty of action to enjoy here. Of course, all these species can be caught on heavy tackle too—if you’re hoping to land the biggest catch of your career, this is the way to go about it.
If you can’t get enough of fishing Gold Coast, you should make sure to explore the city’s numerous canals. And when we say numerous, we mean it—Gold Coast’s canals are 9 times longer than those of Venice! These are hotspots for tasty Bream, with Trevallies and Tailor also sheltering in the calm waters inland. Cast hard bodied lures or soft plastics around structure for the best results.
Need to know
Rules and regulations:
Queensland does not require recreational anglers to have a fishing license unless they are fishing in stocked impoundments (dams or weirs). Size and possession limits apply to a variety of fish species: consult the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for more information.
Budget:
Gold Coast fishing charters start at around $100-$125 AUD for a shared 5 hour trip. This will get you fishing about 10 km out over the deep reefs with a group of other anglers. If you’re after a more personalised experience, full day big game trips range anywhere from $1500-$2500, with the more expensive options usually being aboard faster boats that are fully-equipped for professional big game fishing.
Getting there:
Gold Coast is located at the very south of QLD, a short distance north of the border with NSW. Under 70 km from Brisbane, it’s easily accessible from Queensland’s capital by train or car. Trains leave Brisbane Airport for Gold Coast every 15 minutes. The journey takes 90 minutes and stops in Brisbane center, as well.
Whatever your fishing aspirations, give Gold Coast a go. The waters off these beautiful beaches are paradise for far more than just surfers—anglers can’t tear themselves away, either.