Fishing Redcliffe Peninsula
General fishing across the peninsula targets a highly diverse range of species that move with the seasons. Cooler months bring schooling snapper and sweetlip in close to the shallow reef zones, while the summer heat triggers aggressive flathead, whiting, and mud crabs in the estuaries. Anglers should focus on the tidal changes, as the run-up tide brings baitfish into the shallows and activates local predators.
Land-based anglers are incredibly well catered for with a range of iconic jetties, rocky walls, and expansive sandy beaches. The historic Woody Point Jetty and Redcliffe Jetty are famous for holding quality bream, flathead, and squid right through the night. Casting soft plastics or drifting fresh local bait along the shoreline during dawn and dusk is the ultimate tactic to secure a feed.
Offshore boaters and kayak anglers can quickly reach highly productive shallow reefs and artificial structures located just minutes from the main boat harbours. Places like the Scarborough Reef and the Turner Artificial Reef hold outstanding snapper, sweetlip, and school mackerel. Stealthy drift techniques and casting unweighted soft plastics are highly effective when fishing these shallow, clear waters.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- Woody Point Jetty: This iconic jetty performs exceptionally well two hours after low tide in the evening, particularly for bream, flounder, and flathead, with occasional snapper and mackerel adding excitement. Anglers use light weighted soft plastics or fresh baits like peeled prawns and squid strips near the pylons to trigger strikes. Dolphins, dugongs, and turtles are frequent visitors here, adding to the local experience.
- Redcliffe Jetty: Located at Captain Cook Park, this incredibly popular pier stretches deep into the bay where schooling squire, bream, and flathead hold. Casting micro jigs or unweighted baits at sunset and sunrise is a prime tactic for catching snapper and the occasional pelagic. Fish cleaning benches are conveniently installed along the length of the jetty for anglers to prep their catch.
- Scarborough Spit: The sand flats and rocky shoreline at the northern tip of the peninsula are a premier land-based playground for targeting flathead, whiting, and bream. Wading these shallows on a rising tide while casting small hardbodies or surface walk-the-dog lures is highly effective. The nearby weed lines also produce excellent numbers of tiger squid on light egi gear during high water.
- Ted Smout Memorial Bridge: The rocky edges and mudflats adjacent to the southern entry bridge hold vast schools of flathead, bream, and tailor. Fishing the run-out tide with soft plastic paddle tails or fresh drifted baits near the bridge support pillars is a highly productive tactic. Strong tidal currents sweep through this channel, meaning heavier jig heads or sinkers are required to stay in the strike zone.
- Pelican Park Flathead Flats: This shallow sand and weed flat on the southern side of the peninsula is a hotspot for wading anglers chasing big dusky flathead on shallow-running lures. Work the area during the first three hours of the run-out tide, casting soft plastic grubs or swimbaits over the draining sand bars. The muddy pockets and seagrass zones here also host abundant populations of mud crabs and sand crabs.
Offshore
- Scarborough Reef: This shallow, fringing rock and coral reef system is a magnet for squire, grassy sweetlip, and bream. Anglers must navigate carefully in shallow water, casting unweighted baits or light-gauge soft plastics during low-light hours at dawn and dusk. Working the reef edge with a stealthy approach on a rising tide is critical to avoid spoofing the feeding fish.
- Turner Artificial Reef: Located roughly one nautical mile east of Scarborough in six meters of water, this artificial habitat features concrete reef modules holding outstanding fish. It is a premier location for targeting quality snapper, sweetlip, and school mackerel. Anglers use micro-jigs, soft plastics, or unweighted baits drifted down through the water column on light spin gear to secure a feed.
- Shield Street Reef: This shallow rock strip situated just off Scarborough holds excellent numbers of big bream, flathead, and squire. Anglers focus on casting shallow-running hardbodies or light soft plastics over the structure during the high tide. Using a kayak or small tinny to quietly drift over the structure at first light produces the most consistent catches.
- Scotts Point Ledges: A rugged underwater rock ledge system that drops off quickly into deeper water, creating a highly active ambush zone. It is a productive spot for catching squire, bream, and sweetlip on both bait and lures. Drifting with fresh cut baits or casting heavy soft plastics along the drop-off during the peak of the run-in tide is the preferred local technique.
- Woody Point Reef: A shallow rocky reef extending off the southern tip of the peninsula that holds high-quality snapper and bream in the cooler months. Anglers target this reef during night sessions using unweighted fresh squid or mullet strips to bypass the smaller bait thieves. Stealth is paramount here, as the water is shallow and sound transfers quickly through the rocky bottom.
Hot Spots
- Newport Cannals: Artificial canal system offering deep pontoon edges and concrete bridge pylons holding aggressive summer mangrove jack, estuary cod, and Yellowfin Bream.
- Scarborough Boat Harbor: Secure marina breakwaters and pylons holding yellowfin bream, flathead, and highly popular winter squid grounds under lights.
- Scarborough Foreshore: Shallow rubble reefs and weed beds produce quality shallow-water snapper, Tailor, Yellowfin Bream and Dusky Flathead.
- Redcliffe Foreshore: Sandy beach popular for, tailor, whiting, and flathead on a rising tide.
- Margate Foreshore: Shallow sand beach and rock bars perfect for targeting high-quality sand whiting and flathead on a rising tide.
- Scotts Point: Rugged rocky point and shallow rubble ground renowned for producing quality yellowfin bream, winter squid, and snapper on a high tide.
- Hayes Inlet: Expansive mangrove-lined tidal channels and draining gutters holding outstanding dusky flathead, whiting, and highly active mud crabbing zones.
Local Bait Tips
- Mud Worms: A highly effective bait for whiting and bream, mud worms can be dug from the thick, soft intertidal mud and clay beds around Woody Point at low tide. They are highly sought after by local whiting and bream specialists and must be kept moist on damp newspaper.
- Rock Worms: These can be gathered by digging into the coarse sand between rocks and in the clay material at various rocky locations around Redcliffe and Scarborough. They are exceptionally hardy and highly prized as local whiting bait.
- Squid: Squid can be caught using squid jigs. They are highly productive during the winter months on dark nights around the Redcliffe Jetty, or on dark, moonless winter nights under portable spotlights along the northern rock wall of the Scarborough Marina.
- Prawns: Live prawns can be gathered by using a cast net in the accessible foreshore areas around the peninsula. They make an exceptional live bait option for targeting flathead, mangrove jack, and estuary cod.
Boat Ramps
- Coast Guard Boat Ramp Scarborough:
Coast Guard Boat Ramp Scarborough: Situated next to the Redcliffe Coast Guard headquarters off Bird Opassage Parade in Scarborough, this excellent four-lane concrete ramp features a wide central pontoon and temporary mooring.
- Scarborough Boat Harbour Ramp:
Scarborough Boat Harbour Ramp: Located at the end of Thurecht Parade in Scarborough, this major four-lane concrete ramp is highly protected inside the marina and features a central floating walkway and adjacent concrete pontoon.
- Queens Beach Boat Ramp:
Queens Beach Boat Ramp: Located on Flinders Parade opposite Griffith Road in Scarborough, this dual-lane concrete ramp offers reliable access to Moreton Bay with a fish cleaning station and adequate lighting.
- Mabel Street Boat Ramp, Margate:
Mabel Street Boat Ramp: Located at Mabel Street in Margate, this concrete launching ramp provides beach access.
- Woody Point Boat Ramp:
Woody Point Boat Ramp: Located at the southern end of Oxley avenue in Woody Point, this concrete ramp provides convenient launching into Bramble Bay and is highly popular for local tinnies.
- Pelican Park Boat Ramp Clontarf:
Pelican Park Boat Ramp Clontarf: Located at Pelican Park on the Hornibrook Esplanade in Clontarf, this single-lane concrete ramp provides direct access to Bramble Bay and Hays Inlet with nearby public toilets and a wide sandy rigging beach.
Bait and Tackle
- Hornibrook Bait & Tackle: 146 Hornibrook Esplanade, Clontarf QLD 4019 | Phone: 0483 846 966
- Rod Design Quality Bait & Tackle: Palmtree Avenue, Scarborough QLD 4020 | Phone: 0429 344 070
- Boat Harbour Marine: 3/28 Thurecht Parade, Scarborough QLD 4020 | Phone: (07) 3880 0111
- BCF Rothwell: 757 Deception Bay Road, Rothwell QLD 4022 | Phone: (07) 3204 9075
- 7-Eleven Clontarf: 9 Elizabeth Avenue, Clontarf QLD 4019 | Phone: (07) 3889 3644
Basecamp & Accom
- Oaks Redcliffe Mon Komo Suites: 99 Marine Parade, Redcliffe QLD 4020 | Phone: (07) 3284 6520
- The Sebel Brisbane Margate Beach: 1 Margate Parade, Margate QLD 4019 | Phone: (07) 3448 3448
- Scarborough Holiday Village: 2 Reef Point Esplanade, Scarborough QLD 4020 | Phone: (07) 3203 8864
- Bells Caravan Park: 39 Hornibrook Esplanade, Clontarf QLD 4019 | Phone: (07) 3283 2333
- Redcliffe Showgrounds Camping: Scarborough Road, Redcliffe QLD 4020 | Phone: (07) 3284 5387
Emergency & Safety
- Coast Guard Redcliffe QF3: 1 Thurecht Pde, Scarborough QLD 4020 | Radio: VHF 16, 67, 73 | Phone: (07) 3203 5522
