Fishing Burleigh Heads
Species: The fish list above comes from the Department of Primary Industries list for the Tallebudgera Creek Fish Habitat Area, right next to the headland: bream, estuary cod, flathead, garfish, mangrove jack, sea mullet, tailor and whiting. We have not found an official species list for the beach itself.
The headland rules matter most. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) says rockfalls still happen here. Access to the cliff-line boulder fields, including Cannon Rock, and the steep slopes between the Oceanview track and the boulder fields is prohibited, and penalties apply. Stay on the formed tracks. QPWS says to walk in the park in daylight only, and no pets are allowed. Echo Beach can only be reached by the marked stairways.
Marine park: Burleigh is well south of the Moreton Bay Marine Park, which ends at the Gold Coast Seaway. No marine park zones apply, but Queensland fishing rules do.
Shark control: DPI has shark control equipment off Burleigh Beach, North Burleigh Beach and Tallebudgera Beach. It is an offence to be within 20 metres of it, so don't cast or swim near the markers.
Spearfishing: Not allowed in Tallebudgera Creek upstream of a straight line from the eastern tip of Burleigh Heads to the seaward end of the rock groyne on the creek's southern bank.
Know the rules (Queensland tidal waters, checked 21 Oct 2026): Tailor 35cm minimum, 20. Sand whiting 23cm minimum, 30 combined. Yellowfin bream 25cm minimum, 30 combined with tarwhine and pikey bream. Dusky flathead 40cm to 75cm, 5. Mangrove jack 35cm minimum, 5. Sea mullet 30cm minimum, 20. Garfish no size limit, 50 combined. Cod and grouper: size limits differ by species, 5 combined. Snapper 35cm minimum, 4, closed 15 July to 15 August. Fish not listed have a general limit of 20.
White spot bait rule: These waters are inside Queensland's white spot disease movement area (Caloundra to the NSW border, west to Ipswich). Raw prawns, saltwater yabbies and marine worms (bloodworms, beach worms, wrigglers) must not leave the area unless cooked
first. Freezing does not kill the virus. Clean your gear and boat if you leave the area. Mud crabs and blue swimmer crabs are exempt from the movement rule.
Emergency: 000. On the water: VHF Channel 16.
Landbased
- Stay off the boulders: QPWS has closed the cliff-line boulder fields on Burleigh Head, including Cannon Rock, and the steep slopes below the Oceanview track. Climbing or scrambling on boulders is prohibited. Part of the Oceanview track can close in high wind, heavy rain, cold or fire. Check QPWS park alerts before you go.
- Beach fishing: Burleigh Beach and North Burleigh Beach are open surf beaches. Keep away from the patrolled flags and stay 20m clear of shark control equipment.
- Getting there: The national park has a northern entrance at the end of Goodwin Terrace and a southern entrance off the Gold Coast Highway just north of Tallebudgera Creek. Parking near the beach is limited.
- Emergency: 000. On the water: VHF Channel 16.
Offshore
- Launching nearby: The closest public ramps are on Tallebudgera Creek (Awoonga Avenue on the north bank and Murlong Crescent on the south bank) and on Currumbin Creek (Thrower Drive). Maritime Safety Queensland lists all three as restricted at low tide.
- Tallebudgera Bar: A designated coastal bar. Everyone on an open boat, or in an open area of any boat, must wear a lifejacket while crossing. Maritime Safety Queensland says not to cross in heavy swell, strong wind or on a run-out tide.
- Speed: Boats must keep to 6 knots within 30m of anchored or moored boats, jetties, pontoons, boat ramps and people in the water. Jet skis must keep to 6 knots within 60m. Watch for posted speed signs too.
- Offshore: The reefs off Burleigh are outside the Moreton Bay Marine Park. See our Gold Coast Offshore Reefs page.
- Marine rescue: MRQ Currumbin covers Point Danger to the Gold Coast Seaway. Log on and off on VHF 73 or phone (07) 5534 1000.
Hot Spots
- Burleigh Beach: The beach north of the headland, in front of the parklands. Lifeguards patrol from Tower 18 (Mowbray Park Surf Life Saving Club) 8am to 5pm every day, so fish well away from the flags and swimmers. Shark control equipment is offshore, so keep 20m clear of it.
- North Burleigh Beach: Open beach further north, also with shark control equipment offshore.
- Tallebudgera Creek mouth (Burleigh side): The creek mouth below the southern side of the headland. The City of Gold Coast lists fishing as one of the things people do at Tallebudgera Creek. Spearfishing is banned upstream of the Burleigh Heads line. See our Tallebudgera Creek page.
- Burleigh headland (look, don't climb): The Oceanview track runs 1.2km around the headland from Tallebudgera Creek to the southern edge of Burleigh Heads. The boulder fields below it, including Cannon Rock, are closed to the public. Penalties apply.
Boat Ramps
- Awoonga Avenue Boat Ramp, Burleigh Heads:
Located at Awoonga Avenue in Burleigh Heads, this concrete canoe launching ramp is highly utilized and busy during holiday periods.
- Murlong Crescent Boat Ramp, Palm Beach:
Located at Murlong Crescent in Palm Beach, this concrete boat ramp acts as a canal/creek interface ramp and features an integrated floating walkway.
- Thrower Drive Boat Ramp, Palm Beach:
Located at Thrower Drive in Palm Beach, this concrete ramp provides direct access to Currumbin Creek.
Emergency & Safety
- MRQ Currumbin: Wallace Nicoll Park, Duringan Street, Currumbin QLD 4223 | Log on/off: VHF 73 or (07) 5534 1000 (VHF 73 monitored 5am to 8pm) | Emergency: VHF 16 or 000
