Fishing The Broadwater (Southport, Labrador, Runaway Bay, Paradise Point)
The City of Gold Coast has fishing platforms at Labrador and on Coombabah Creek. Council lists luderick and squid in the cooler months, whiting and flathead in the warmer months, and bream all year at Labrador. At Coombabah it lists bream, flathead, whiting, mangrove jack, trevally, queenfish, estuary cod, mud crabs and squid.
Marine park: The Moreton Bay Marine Park boundary runs through the Broadwater. Water south of latitude 27°56' S is outside the park. That takes in the Southport end, Broadwater Parklands and the Labrador shore. From there the boundary follows a fixed line of points in the water, past Runaway Bay and Hollywell, to the Jabiru Island bridge at Paradise Point, then up Coombabah Creek.
Water on the mainland side of that line is outside the park. Water on the island side, out towards Crab Island and South Stradbroke Island, is inside it. Wave Break Island sits just south of 27°56' S, so it is outside. The zoning plan puts that part in habitat protection zone HPZ02, where line fishing, trolling, crabbing, bait gathering and cast netting are allowed. The line is not marked on the water, so check the Qld Marine Parks app.
Closed: Coombabah Lake is a green zone (MNP34), and Queensland fishing rules also close Coombabah Lake and Coombabah Creek upstream of the lake to all fishing, all year. Spearfishing is banned in the Southport Broadwater, and within 100m of every public jetty in South East Queensland.
Know the rules (Queensland tidal waters, checked 21 Oct 2026): Yellowfin bream 25cm minimum, 30 combined with tarwhine and pikey bream. Sand whiting 23cm minimum, 30 combined. Dusky flathead 40cm to 75cm, 5. Luderick 30cm minimum, 10. Mangrove jack 35cm minimum, 5.
Trevally no size limit, 20 combined. Giant queenfish 50cm minimum, 5. Cod and grouper: size limits differ by species, 5 combined. Mud crab 15cm minimum, 7 per person or 14 per boat with 2 or more people on board, no females. Blue swimmer crab 11.5cm minimum, 20, no females. Squid have no listed limit, so the general limit of 20 applies.
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.
Shellfish: Bivalves and sea snails (except pipis) are no take in Moreton Bay Marine Park and in all tidal waters that flow into it.
Emergency: 000. On the water: VHF Channel 16.
Landbased
- Labrador platforms: Council says the best tides are the last of the run out and the run in. It suggests a light 8 to 10 foot estuary rod with 2 to 5kg line.
- Coombabah platform: Council says to fish the last of the run in and the run out, on a light estuary rod of about 7 foot with 2 to 4kg line. You can walk in through Daisy Elms Park, or along the creek path from Paradise Lake and the Coombabah Lakelands boardwalks. Park at the end of The Esplanade, off Turana Street.
- Jetties and pontoons: Public jetties and pontoons line the shore (Imperial Jetty at Whiting Street, Broadwater Parklands, Bruce Avenue at Paradise Point). Share them with boaties tying up.
- Emergency: 000. On the water: VHF Channel 16.
Offshore
- 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. The Gold Coast Waterways Authority also has gazetted speed limits near Paradise Point, Crab Island and Coomera Island.
- Zones from a boat: South of 27°56' S you are outside the marine park. Further north, the island side of the Broadwater is habitat protection zone HPZ02 (line fishing, trolling and crabbing OK). Coombabah Lake is a green zone. Check the Qld Marine Parks app for the exact line.
- Going outside: The Gold Coast Seaway is a designated coastal bar. Everyone on an open boat, or in an open area of any boat, must wear a lifejacket while crossing. See our Gold Coast Seaway and Gold Coast Offshore Reefs pages.
- Marine rescue: MRQ Southport East (VMR 400) at Main Beach monitors VHF 16, 67, 73 and 82, phone (07) 5591 1300. MRQ Jacobs Well covers the northern Broadwater, log on VHF 82 or (07) 5546 1100.
Hot Spots
- Labrador fishing platforms (Marine Parade): A row of council platforms with seats and shade sails between the Grand Hotel and Whiting Street, facing across to the Seaway. Outside the marine park.
- Imperial Jetty (Whiting Street, Labrador): Public jetty on the Broadwater (MSQ list). No spearfishing within 100m.
- Biggera Creek platform (Burrows Street, Labrador): Concrete platform with a railing at the western end of Burrows Street, facing Biggera Creek, opposite the Biggera Waters shopping centre.
- Broadwater Parklands (Southport): Public pontoon and the North Street boat ramp. Outside the marine park.
- Paradise Point pontoon (Bruce Avenue): Public pontoon on the Paradise Point esplanade (MSQ list).
- Coombabah fishing platform: Concrete jetty at the northern end of The Esplanade, next to the Turana Street boat ramp, Paradise Point. It sits on Coombabah Creek, opposite the mouth of Saltwater Creek and just downstream of Coombabah Lake. The creek here is in the marine park (habitat protection zone), so line fishing is fine. Do not fish in the lake or the creek above it.
- Coombabah Lake (no fishing): Green zone MNP34 covers the lake, on the western side of Coombabah Creek between latitude 27°53.479' S and 27°54.106' S. All fishing is also banned in the lake and the creek upstream of it.
Local Bait Tips
- Council's picks for Labrador are yabbies, herring, wrigglers, bloodworms and strips of mullet fillet. For Coombabah it suggests yabbies, squid, herring and mud worms. Raw prawns, yabbies and worms can't leave the white spot area unless cooked, and freezing doesn't count. Bait gathering and cast netting are allowed in the habitat protection zone, but not in Coombabah Lake.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Bait and Tackle
- DOUG BURT'S TACKLE WORLD GOLD COAST: Shop 11/8 Centre View Drive, Biggera Waters QLD 4216 | Phone: (07) 5563 8746
- SOUTHPORT FISHING & DIVE CENTRE: 95 Marine Pde, Southport QLD 4215 | Phone: (07) 5531 2333
Emergency & Safety
- MRQ Southport East (VMR 400): Muriel Henchman Dr, Main Beach QLD 4217 | Radio: VHF 16, 67, 73, 82 | Phone: (07) 5591 1300
- MRQ Jacobs Well (northern Broadwater): 1161 Pimpama Jacobs Well Road, Jacobs Well QLD 4208 | Log on/off: VHF 82 or (07) 5546 1100 | Emergency: VHF 16 or 000
