Fishing Gold Coast Offshore Reefs
Charters say they target snapper, pearl perch, tuskfish, teraglin, amberjack, kingfish and cobia on the reefs, with mackerel, mahi mahi, tuna, wahoo and marlin in the warmer months. Seaprobe says it fishes from about 20m out past 100m. Fish the Deep says the summer game season comes with the East Australian Current from November to February. These are the charters' own words, not a promise of a catch.
Marine park: The Moreton Bay Marine Park stops at the Seaway. Its ocean edge runs 3 nautical miles off South Stradbroke Island, then turns west along the latitude of the Seaway's outer end. Ocean water south of that line, off Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, Burleigh and further south, is outside the Moreton Bay Marine Park. North of the Seaway, inside 3 nautical miles of South Stradbroke Island, you are in the marine park. That stretch has a green zone (MNP32) where you can't fish at all. See Hot Spots for where it is.
Know the rules (Queensland tidal waters, checked 20 Oct 2026): Snapper 35cm minimum, 4 per person with only 1 over 70cm, or 8 per boat with 2 or more people on board (only 2 over 70cm). Pearl perch 38cm minimum, 4. Snapper and pearl perch are closed 15 July to 15 August every year on the east coast. Tuskfish (all species) 30cm minimum, 6 combined. Amberjack and samsonfish 50cm minimum, 2 combined. Yellowtail kingfish 60cm minimum, 2. Teraglin 38cm minimum, 5. Cobia 75cm minimum, 2. Mulloway 75cm minimum, 2, and keep them whole on the boat. Coral trout 38cm minimum, 7 combined for all trout. Pelagic rules: Spanish mackerel 75cm minimum, 1 per person or 4 per boat with 4 or more people on board, closed 1 to 21 February and 1 to 21 March (east coast south of 22°S). Spotted mackerel 60cm minimum, 5. Mahi mahi 50cm minimum, 5. Wahoo 75cm minimum, 2. The October and November coral reef fin fish closures do not apply here. They only cover waters north of latitude 24°50' S.
Charters that fish here: BK's Gold Coast Fishing Charters, Seaprobe, Top Gear Fishing Charters, Fish the Deep, Gold Coast Fishing Tours, Reef and River Charters, True Blue Fishing Charters, Hooker 1, Discovery Fishing Charters, Beachcomber Charters.
Emergency: 000. On the water: VHF Channel 16.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- Boat only: These reefs are out in the open ocean and can only be reached by boat. For land-based fishing close by, see our Gold Coast Seaway page (the South Wall and the Spit).
Offshore
- Crossing the Gold Coast Seaway Bar: It is a designated coastal bar. The law says everyone on an open boat, or in an open area of any boat, must wear a lifejacket while crossing. Maritime Safety Queensland says to log on and off with your marine rescue group by radio, check tides and weather for both crossings, avoid high standing waves, and don't cross in heavy swell, strong wind or on a run-out tide. Emergency: 000. On the water: VHF Channel 16.
- Green zone check before you drop: If you head north off South Stradbroke Island, stay out of green zone MNP32 (27°46.870' S to 27°52.040' S, out to about 153°28.5' E). Use the Qld Marine Parks app or the QPWS zoning map. More than 3 nautical miles off the island you are outside the marine park.
- Reef fish limits: Snapper 35cm minimum, 4 per person with only 1 over 70cm, or 8 per boat with 2 or more people on board (only 2 over 70cm). Pearl perch 38cm minimum, 4. Snapper and pearl perch are closed 15 July to 15 August every year on the east coast. Tuskfish (all species) 30cm minimum, 6 combined. Amberjack and samsonfish 50cm minimum, 2 combined. Yellowtail kingfish 60cm minimum, 2. Teraglin 38cm minimum, 5. Cobia 75cm minimum, 2. Mulloway 75cm minimum, 2, and keep them whole on the boat. Coral trout 38cm minimum, 7 combined for all trout.
- Pelagic rules: Spanish mackerel 75cm minimum, 1 per person or 4 per boat with 4 or more people on board, closed 1 to 21 February and 1 to 21 March (east coast south of 22°S). Spotted mackerel 60cm minimum, 5. Mahi mahi 50cm minimum, 5. Wahoo 75cm minimum, 2.
- Marine rescue: MRQ Southport East (call sign VMR 400) is on Muriel Henchman Drive at Main Beach, right by the Seaway. It monitors VHF 16, 67, 73 and 82. Phone (07) 5591 1300.
Hot Spots
- South of the Seaway (outside the marine park): The ocean reefs off Main Beach, Surfers Paradise and Burleigh are south of the Moreton Bay Marine Park boundary. No marine park zones apply there, but Queensland size, bag and closed-season rules still do.
- Off South Stradbroke Island, green zone MNP32: No fishing. It covers the water off South Stradbroke Island between latitude 27°46.870' S and 27°52.040' S, out to about longitude 153°28.5' E (official zone plan points 153°28.530' E in the north and 153°27.768' E in the south). South of 27°50.083' S it runs right in to the beach. North of 27°50.083' S it starts 500m off the beach. Stow your gear when you pass through.
- Off South Stradbroke Island, habitat protection zones HPZ14 and HPZ15: Line fishing and trolling are allowed. HPZ14 is the strip within 500m of the beach from 27°45.390' S to 27°50.083' S, inshore of the green zone. HPZ15 runs from 27°52.040' S down to the marine park's southern edge just north of the Seaway, out to about 153°27.5' to 153°27.8' E.
- Gold Coast Seaway Bar: The gateway for almost every boat heading to these reefs. It is a designated coastal bar, so lifejackets are law while crossing.
Boat Ramps
- Broadwater Parklands Boat Ramp:
Located at Broadwater Parklands in Southport, this double-width dual-lane concrete ramp features multiple floating walkways, a stand-alone boarding wharf for passengers and gear, and an abundant amount of parking with direct Broadwater access.
- Muriel Henchman Drive Boat Ramp, Main Beach:
Located at Muriel Henchman Drive in Main Beach, this high-capacity dual concrete boat ramps. Features include a large boarding pontoon, white sandy beaches for launching, and abundant parking, though extreme congestion occurs during holidays.
- Broad Street Boat Ramp, Labrador:
Located at Broad Street in Labrador, this concrete ramp features an adjacent floating pontoon.
- Loders Creek Boat Ramp:
Located at Loders Creek in Labrador, this concrete boat ramp provides direct estuarine access.
- Ray Street Boat Ramp, Runaway Bay:
Located at Ray Street in Runaway Bay, this concrete ramp provides local access.
- Gold Coast Aquatic Centre Boat Ramp:
Located at Gold Coast Aquatic Centre in Southport, this concrete ramp is subject to seasonal event closures.
- Howard St Boat Ramp, Runaway Bay:
Located at Harley Park in Labrador, this skinny and sandy concrete ramp is completely unprotected from the elements, with sand constantly blowing onto the runway. It is suitable only for small boats towed by a 4WD.
- Waterways Drive Boat Ramp, Main Beach:
Located at Waterways Drive in Main Beach, this multi-lane concrete ramp is designed for high-density launching.
- Holly Ave Boat Ramp, Hollywell:
Located at Holly Ave in Hollywell, this concrete ramp is detrimental at mid to low tides due to surrounding shoals and rocks. It is unprotected from the wind and features a sandy beach for unloading, though parking is limited.
- Jasmine Street Boat Ramp, Hollywell:
Located at Jasmine Street in Hollywell, this concrete launching ramp is detrimental at mid to low tides due to surrounding shoals and rocks. It is completely unprotected from the wind. Features include a sandy beach for unloading, though parking is highly limited.
- Birt Avenue Boat Ramp, Surfers Paradise:
Located at Birt Avenue in Surfers Paradise, this concrete ramp is integrated directly into the local canal system.
- Turana Street Boat Ramp, Paradise Point:
Located at Turana Street in Paradise Point, this concrete ramp features an extremely gentle gradient where larger trailerable vessels risk submerging the tow vehicle rear axle prior to reaching float-off depth. Features include a floating jetty and a sandy beach.
- Naples Avenue Boat Ramp, Surfers Paradise:
Located at the Naples Avenue Reserve in Surfers Paradise, this single-lane concrete ramp is highly tide-dependent. Extremely strong tidal currents flow parallel to the bank. Features include 30 car-trailer unit (CTU) parking spaces and a large rigging area, but the ramp has no floating pontoon and reversing can be highly technical.
- Oxley Drive Boat Ramp, Jabiru Island:
Located at Oxley Drive on Jabiru Island, this facility features 2 large concrete ramps. It has a swampy foreshore with no sandy beaches, but offers still water, 30 CTU spaces, and secure parking.
- Carrara Road Boat Ramp, Carrara:
Located at Carrara Road in Carrara, this concrete ramp is a mid-river active launch. It features barely any dedicated parking bays, making it near impossible to swing a trailer around, and has a rocky shoreline instead of a sandy beach.
Bait and Tackle
- SOUTHPORT FISHING & DIVE CENTRE: 95 Marine Pde, Southport QLD 4215 | Phone: (07) 5531 2333
- DOUG BURT'S TACKLE WORLD GOLD COAST: Shop 11/8 Centre View Drive, Biggera Waters QLD 4216 | Phone: (07) 5563 8746
Emergency & Safety
- MRQ Southport East (VMR 400): Muriel Henchman Dr, Main Beach QLD 4217 | Radio: VHF 16, 67, 73, 82 | Phone: (07) 5591 1300 | Emergency: VHF 16 or 000
