Gold Coast Fishing Report

FIELD GUIDE & MASTERCLASS

2026 Recreational Fishing Survey

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Gold Coast fishing report: 14 to 21 October 2026

14 to 21 October 2026

Short version: Showers and steady winds kept many boats in, but the Broadwater is fishing well for whiting and flathead are still about at Jumpinpin. Kayak fishos also found some good flathead and trevally this week.

Whiting: Whiting have been the highlight. Full-day trips on the Broadwater found excellent whiting, plus bream, flounder and flathead. In the Nerang River, whiting are biting on the night run-in tide near Sundale Bridge and the Council Chambers. They are also in the Pimpama River near the mouth and in the North Arm of the Coomera River.

Flathead and Jumpinpin: Quality flathead are still coming from the southern end of the Jumpinpin system and around the bar. Some larger fish are on the shallow lagoons and flats inside South Stradbroke Island, and a few came from Jacobs Well jetty. Threadfin salmon, trevally and tailor are about, with a few mulloway at the bar. A 48 cm flathead took a 2.5 inch prawn soft plastic on a first kayak trip.

Trevally: A 49 cm brassy trevally came from Tallebudgera Creek on a soft plastic. A 67 cm giant trevally was caught from a kayak on an early-morning trip. On windy days, the canals are worth a look for bream, trevally, cod and the odd mangrove jack.

Crabs: Sand crabs and the odd mud crab are being caught in the Broadwater. Put a few pots out while you fish.

Offshore: Only a few trips made it out. They found tuna, tuskfish, reef flathead and tailor, plus a few snapper. Snapper numbers have eased a little from recent weeks.

Green zones: No fishing is allowed in green zones. Near the Broadwater and Jumpinpin they include the water around Cobby Cobby Island, the Swan Bay to Never Never Creek area, McCoys Creek and Coombabah Lake. Check the zoning map before you fish.

Weekend weather: North-easterly winds of 15 to 20 knots on Thursday and Friday, with seas of 1 to 1.5 metres and a high chance of rain. The weekend looks wet, with a 90 to 95 per cent chance of showers around Coolangatta and highs of 25 to 26.

Rules check

Sand whiting must be 23 cm or more, with a combined limit of 30 sand, goldenline and northern whiting. (official source)
Dusky flathead must be between 40 cm and 75 cm. You can keep 5. (official source)
Other flathead must be 30 cm or more, with a combined limit of 5. (official source)
Mulloway must be 75 cm or more. You can keep 2, and they must be kept whole on a boat. (official source)
Mud crabs must be 15 cm or more across the shell, and you can't keep females. (official source)

Check before you keep: Can I Keep It?

Rules checked against qld.gov.au and DPI Queensland on 21 Oct 2026.