Fishing Tweed Heads, New South Wales
Your fishing success here hinges on understanding the drivers. Seasons play a big role, with summer bringing warmer water species and winter producing better bream and tailor. Tides are critical in the estuary, with the run-in and run-out often triggering feeding frenzies. Wind, as always, can make or break a session, particularly offshore where a strong northerly can make conditions unpleasant.
Land-based access around Tweed Heads is generally pretty good. You've got plenty of spots along the Tweed River, accessible from the foreshore and parks. The beaches are easily reached from various access points, and the rock walls offer good fishing with a bit of a walk. Keep an eye out for designated parking and be mindful of local regulations.
If you're heading out in a boat, there are several ramps providing access to the Tweed River and the open ocean. The river offers sheltered fishing in most conditions, while offshore trips can put you on some quality reef species and pelagics. Just remember to check the weather forecast before you go and always carry the necessary safety gear.
Landbased
- Tweed River Rock Walls: Fish the entrances to the river on either side of the mouth. Great for tailor, jewfish and bream.
- Fingal Head Beach: Fish the gutters along the beach for tailor, bream and whiting.
- Ukerebagh Island: Accessible by foot at low tide, this island is great for flathead and bream.
- Boyd's Bay Bridge: Fish around the bridge pylons for bream and jewfish.
- Snapper Rocks: Early morning and late afternoon are best for tailor, bream, and the occasional snapper.
Offshore
- Nine Mile Reef: A popular spot for snapper, pearl perch, and other reef species.
- Fido's Reef: Known for its consistent catches of snapper and teraglin.
- Cook Island: Offers good diving and fishing, with trevally, mackerel, and wahoo often on the cards.
- The Gravel Patch: A reliable spot for flathead and snapper.
- Palm Beach Reef: A bit further out, but worth the trip for kingfish, cobia, and other pelagics.
Hot Spots
- Tweed River Mouth: Popular for tailor and jewfish. Fish the tide changes around the rock walls.
- Fingal Head: Popular for bream and whiting. Fish the gutters along the beach at dawn and dusk.
- Nine Mile Reef: Popular for snapper. Anchor up and berley hard.
- Cook Island: Popular for trevally and mackerel. Troll lures around the island's perimeter.
- Boyd's Bay: Popular for flathead. Drifting with bait or lures works well.
Local Bait Tips
- Yabbies: Pumped from the sand flats in the Tweed River at low tide.
- Worms: Dug from the sandy banks along the river's edge.
- Squid: Jigged around the weed beds and jetties in the river.
- Mullet: Cast net from the shallows of the Tweed River.
Bait and Tackle
- BCF Tweed Heads: Cnr Minjungbal Dr & Greenway Dr, Tweed Heads South NSW 2486
(07) 5523 2222 - Tweed Bait & Tackle: 110 Minjungbal Dr, Tweed Heads South NSW 2486
(07) 5524 2666 - BP Tweed Heads South: 113-117 Minjungbal Dr, Tweed Heads South NSW 2486
(07) 5524 2262
Emergency & Safety
- Point Danger Volunteer Marine Rescue: Little Dve, Coolangatta QLD 4225
(07) 5536 1553
VHF Channel 16 - Emergency: Dial 000
