Fishing Currumbin Creek
Tidal flows are extremely strong through the lower reaches, pushing clean oceanic water past the bridge and flooding the expansive upstream sand flats and mangrove channels. Seasonal shifts bring a diverse range of target species, with winter welcoming outstanding yellowfin bream, tailor, and schooling Mulloway, while summer triggers explosive mangrove jack, giant trevally, and blue swimmer crab action. Flathead and sand whiting remain highly consistent year-round residents, shifting their feeding positions along the shallow drop-offs in response to the changing lunar cycles.
Land-based anglers are incredibly well catered for with extensive parklands, boardwalks, and public fishing platforms along Palm Beach and Currumbin. Wading the shallow flats surrounding Winders Park on a falling tide is a highly productive way to target trophy whiting and flathead on light tackle. Anglers must exercise extreme caution when wading near the main creek channels, as deep drop-offs and fast-flowing currents can easily sweep a footing away.
For boat and kayak anglers, the deep current lanes, bridge pylons, and rocky revetment walls provide endless tactical options. Navigating the canal entrances and current seams requires a high-quality fishfinder to locate the baitfish schools pushed up against the stone structures. The deep-water junctions drop to over eight meters, holding schooling Mulloway that feed aggressively during the brief slack water high tide window.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- Winders Park Jetty: Cast fresh baits of prawns tightly against the wood jetty pylons on a night tide. Target quality yellowfin bream feeding in the eddies created by the fast-flowing current. Use a small split shot to keep the bait sinking slowly alongside the vertical structures.
- Currumbin Rock Pool Beach: Wading the shallow sandy flats directly in front of the parklands on a rising tide is highly productive. Walk quietly on the sand to avoid spooking active schools, casting ultra-light fluorocarbon leaders and live yabbies. Focus your efforts on the small channels where the current accelerates.
- Currumbin Rock Wall: Positioned along the eastern edge of the mouth, this rock wall holds active flathead. Slowly roll three-inch soft plastic paddle tails parallel to the rock transitions during the last of the run-out tide. Let the jig head bump the bottom to kick up visual puffs of silt.
- Throwers Bridge Ledges: Wading the sandy drop-offs under the bridge is a prime tactic for flathead during the last of the run-out tide. Slow-roll three-inch soft plastic paddle tails parallel to the drop-off, letting the lure bump bottom. Watch your step closely as the sand transitions quickly into deep, fast-flowing gutters.
- Duringan Street Reserve: Located near the marine rescue, this parkland features a public fishing platform. Cast lightly weighted fresh prawns close to the mangrove margins on a rising tide. Focus on the small sand ridges where baitfish gather.
Offshore
- Creek Mouth Bar: This notorious coastal bar holds large Mulloway and tailor. Boaters drift the deep, turbulent current seams on the high tide slack water. Navigating this bar is highly dangerous and requires absolute concentration, local knowledge, and an experienced skipper at the helm.
- Currumbin Deep Hole: The deep-water river basin dropping to eight meters just inside the mouth of the creek is productive. Use 1/4-ounce jig heads with three-inch paddle tails, casting up-current and hopping the lure. Watch your sounder closely for localized depressions.
- Throwers Bridge Gutter: This deep-water channel running under the bridge span holds quality Mulloway. Anchoring your vessel just outside the main current run and casting weighted baits down-current is effective. Strong cross-currents require heavy pyramid sinkers along the floor.
- Currumbin Canal Entrances: Slowly troll deep-diving hardbody minnow lures parallel to the canal walls at three knots. Select lures that dive to three meters to bounce along the muddy bottom transition. Watch your sounder for any submerged timber or private structures.
- Palm Beach Reef: Located four kilometers northeast of the mouth, this rocky pinnacle holds quality snapper. Float-fish unweighted baits of whole pilchards back into a steady berley trail on a rising winter tide. Run light ten-pound fluorocarbon leaders to fool the wary fish in this shallow water.
Hot Spots
- Winders Park Jetty: Public wooden structure providing direct land-based access to deep current channels and quality bream.
- Currumbin Deep Hole: Deep-water river channel dropping to eight meters, holding massive resident flathead and Mulloway.
- Currumbin Rock Pool Beach: Sandy beach and shallow flats offering outstanding wading access for sand whiting on a rising tide.
- Throwers Bridge Gutter: Deep-water channel running under the bridge span holding quality Mulloway.
- Currumbin Creek Bar: Highly active, dangerous bar crossing famous for big Mulloway and summer Spanish mackerel.
Local Bait Tips
- Yabbies: Pumped using a stainless steel yabby pump on the sand flats near Winders Park at low tide. Pin them through the tail to keep them alive and active for whiting.
- Poddy Mullet: Cast-netted in the shallow, warm water margins of the creek branches on a rising tide. Keep these hardy live baits in an aerated tank and fish them unweighted along the mangrove edges.
- Live Herring: Cast-netted around the vertical concrete structures near the highway bridge pylons during a high tide. Pin them through the nose to keep them swimming naturally in the current.
Boat Ramps
- Thrower Drive Boat Ramp, Palm Beach:
Thrower Drive Boat Ramp: Located at Thrower Drive in Palm Beach, this concrete ramp provides direct access to Currumbin Creek.
Bait and Tackle
- BURLEIGH HEADS BAIT & TACKLE: Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220 | Phone: (07) 5535 4422
Basecamp & Accom
- The Pines Resort: 122 Duringan St, Currumbin QLD 4223 | Phone: (07) 5534 5100
Emergency & Safety
- Marine Rescue Currumbin: Wallace Nicoll Park, Duringan Street, Currumbin QLD 4223 | Radio: VHF 16, 67 | Phone: (07) 5534 1000
