Fishing spots on the Brisbane River

8 places to fish on the Brisbane River: 1 you can fish from land, 6 public boat ramps and 1 reached only by boat. Each has the winds it is sheltered from, its tide place and what is in season in October.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

Species seasons here follow our Brisbane River guide, which covers Brisbane River from the city reaches to the mouth and Port of Brisbane. Positions are a guide only, not for navigation.

See this week's fishing forecast for Brisbane River: the app rates each day for shore, small-boat and kayak fishing, with the best time of day, wind, tide and what to target.

Spots at a glance

8 spots on the Brisbane River
Spot	Type	Access	Sheltered in	Zone	Tide place
1. Colmslie Beach Reserve	Shore	Land-based and kayak	E, SE, S	Not in a marine park	Cairncross Dock
2. Boat Passage (river mouth)	Boat area	Boat and kayak	Open water	Not in a marine park	Brisbane Bar
3. Whyte Island boat ramp (Port of Brisbane)	Boat ramp	Boat (ramp here) and kayak	–	Not in a marine park	Brisbane Bar
4. Pinkenba – Kirra St ramp	Boat ramp	Boat (ramp here) and kayak	–	Not in a marine park	Pinkenba/Gateway
5. Hemmant – Aquarium Ave ramp	Boat ramp	Boat (ramp here) and kayak	–	Not in a marine park	Cairncross Dock
6. Colmslie – Col Gardner Dr ramp	Boat ramp	Boat (ramp here) and kayak	–	Not in a marine park	Cairncross Dock
7. West End – Hill End Tce ramp	Boat ramp	Boat (ramp here) and kayak	–	Not in a marine park	Port Office
8. Jindalee – Mt Ommaney Dr ramp	Boat ramp	Boat (ramp here) and kayak	–	Not in a marine park	Indooroopilly

1. Colmslie Beach Reserve

Type: Shore
Access: Land-based and kayak
What's good here: Peak in October: Dusky flathead and Summer whiting (4 more in season).
Best tide: Run-out for dusky flathead; early run-in for summer whiting
Best wind: Sheltered in E, SE and S winds; exposed to W, NW and N (faces NW, estimated)
Zone: Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
Note: River bank park at Murarrie; bream, threadfin salmon, jew, and bull sharks. Fishing from the bank and pontoon area. Not in a marine park: Fisheries rules apply.
Map: -27.45113, 153.09107 · Open in Google Maps
Tide times here: Cairncross Dock (MSQ local times, from Brisbane Bar)
Forecast: Open in the forecast

2. Boat Passage (river mouth)

Type: Boat area
Access: Boat and kayak
What's good here: Peak in October: Dusky flathead, Summer whiting, Snapper and Blue swimmer crab (6 more in season).
Best tide: Run-out for dusky flathead; early run-in for summer whiting; change of tide for snapper; any tide for blue swimmer crab
Best wind: Open water: exposed to every wind
Zone: Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
Note: Channel between Whyte Island and Fisherman Islands; flathead, bream, threadfin and jacks. Access: Boat only; from Whyte Island ramp.
Map: -27.39972, 153.16722 · Open in Google Maps
Tide times here: Brisbane Bar (MSQ predictions)
Forecast: Open in the forecast

3. Whyte Island boat ramp (Port of Brisbane)

Type: Boat ramp
Access: Boat (ramp here) and kayak
What's good here: Peak in October: Dusky flathead, Summer whiting, Snapper and Blue swimmer crab (6 more in season).
Best tide: Run-out for dusky flathead; early run-in for summer whiting; change of tide for snapper; any tide for blue swimmer crab
Best wind: No facing direction recorded for this spot
Zone: Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
Note: Closest ramp to the river mouth and Waterloo Bay. Access: Public ramp, Port Dr.
Map: -27.40079, 153.16637 · Open in Google Maps
Tide times here: Brisbane Bar (MSQ predictions)
Forecast: Open in the forecast

4. Pinkenba – Kirra St ramp

Type: Boat ramp
Access: Boat (ramp here) and kayak
What's good here: Peak in October: Dusky flathead, Summer whiting, Snapper and Blue swimmer crab (6 more in season).
Best tide: Run-out for dusky flathead; early run-in for summer whiting; change of tide for snapper; any tide for blue swimmer crab
Best wind: No facing direction recorded for this spot
Zone: Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
Note: Lower Brisbane River ramp.
Map: -27.41744, 153.13965 · Open in Google Maps
Tide times here: Pinkenba/Gateway (MSQ predictions)
Forecast: Open in the forecast

5. Hemmant – Aquarium Ave ramp

Type: Boat ramp
Access: Boat (ramp here) and kayak
What's good here: Peak in October: Dusky flathead, Summer whiting, Snapper and Blue swimmer crab (6 more in season).
Best tide: Run-out for dusky flathead; early run-in for summer whiting; change of tide for snapper; any tide for blue swimmer crab
Best wind: No facing direction recorded for this spot
Zone: Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
Note: Lower river ramp near the Gateway Bridge.
Map: -27.43946, 153.12644 · Open in Google Maps
Tide times here: Cairncross Dock (MSQ local times, from Brisbane Bar)
Forecast: Open in the forecast

6. Colmslie – Col Gardner Dr ramp

Type: Boat ramp
Access: Boat (ramp here) and kayak
What's good here: Peak in October: Dusky flathead, Summer whiting, Snapper and Blue swimmer crab (6 more in season).
Best tide: Run-out for dusky flathead; early run-in for summer whiting; change of tide for snapper; any tide for blue swimmer crab
Best wind: No facing direction recorded for this spot
Zone: Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
Note: Middle river ramp at Morningside.
Map: -27.44908, 153.08326 · Open in Google Maps
Tide times here: Cairncross Dock (MSQ local times, from Brisbane Bar)
Forecast: Open in the forecast

7. West End – Hill End Tce ramp

Type: Boat ramp
Access: Boat (ramp here) and kayak
What's good here: Peak in October: Dusky flathead, Summer whiting, Snapper and Blue swimmer crab (6 more in season).
Best tide: Run-out for dusky flathead; early run-in for summer whiting; change of tide for snapper; any tide for blue swimmer crab
Best wind: No facing direction recorded for this spot
Zone: Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
Note: City-reach ramp; threadfin, bream and jew around the pontoons and bridges.
Map: -27.48750, 152.99635 · Open in Google Maps
Tide times here: Port Office (MSQ predictions)
Forecast: Open in the forecast

8. Jindalee – Mt Ommaney Dr ramp

Type: Boat ramp
Access: Boat (ramp here) and kayak
What's good here: Peak in October: Dusky flathead, Summer whiting, Snapper and Blue swimmer crab (6 more in season).
Best tide: Run-out for dusky flathead; early run-in for summer whiting; change of tide for snapper; any tide for blue swimmer crab
Best wind: No facing direction recorded for this spot
Zone: Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
Note: Upper river ramp; bass and bream above the city in fresher water.
Map: -27.52949, 152.92856 · Open in Google Maps
Tide times here: Indooroopilly (±1 h, from Brisbane Bar)
Forecast: Open in the forecast

Boat ramps on the Brisbane River

6 public boat ramps, all launching into smooth water. None of these ramps is the launch point for a reef or offshore mark that we list: they are for the water close by.

Boat ramps on the Brisbane River
Ramp	Bar crossing	Reach from here
Whyte Island boat ramp (Port of Brisbane)	No trips listed	–
Pinkenba – Kirra St ramp	No trips listed	–
Hemmant – Aquarium Ave ramp	No trips listed	–
Colmslie – Col Gardner Dr ramp	No trips listed	–
West End – Hill End Tce ramp	No trips listed	–
Jindalee – Mt Ommaney Dr ramp	No trips listed	–

"Reach from here" lists the reefs and marks whose usual launch is this ramp, with the trip length out and back that we allow for when checking the bar and the open water. Tide places and marine rescue units for each ramp are on the boat ramps page.

What's biting here in October?

In peak season on the Brisbane River in October: dusky flathead, summer whiting, snapper, blue swimmer crab and 1 more. Of the 11 species in our Brisbane River guide that these spots reach, 5 peak in October 2026 and 5 more are in season.

Dusky flatheadPeak · best Aug–Nov
Summer whitingPeak · best Sep–Jan
SnapperPeak · best May–Jun and Sep–Oct
Blue swimmer crabPeak · best Oct–May

Also in season: Javelin / grunter, Mud crab, Mulloway, King threadfin, Yellowfin bream and Tailor.

Out of season in October: Banana prawns (best Feb–Apr).

Seen now and then here, so not rated: Tiger squid, Mangrove jack and Trevally.

Every species and its size and bag limits: species guides. Seasons are closure-aware: a species in its closed season is never listed as in season, and its best months leave out any month with a closed day.

Species photos are used under Creative Commons or public-domain terms; see photo credits for each photographer and licence.

Can you fish here? Rules and safety

You don't need a licence to fish Queensland's tidal waters (licence rules), but size and possession limits and closed seasons apply.

Size and bag limits: Queensland tidal size and possession limits (our species guides were checked 8 Oct 2026). Fishing rules for South East Queensland.

Marine rescue

Log on and off with MRQ Sandgate (ask the unit for log-on details) and QF2 Brisbane (Coast Guard, Manly) (ask the unit for log-on details). Emergency: 000 (112 from mobiles) · VHF 16 for distress (checked 8 Oct 2026).

Weather

Read the official forecast and warnings in the Bureau of Meteorology's own words: Moreton Bay coastal waters forecast and Current warnings.

Other rules in parts of South East Queensland

Each rule's text says where it applies.

White spot disease movement area (Caloundra to the NSW border, 100 m off Bribie, Moreton and Stradbroke, inland to Ipswich): prawns, saltwater yabbies, marine worms and other crustaceans must not leave it unless cooked; decontaminate gear and boats when leaving. Exempt: spanner, three-spotted, blue swimmer and mud crabs, bugs, lobsters, red claw. Never use raw supermarket prawns as bait. Official page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
Prawn-farm channels: Biosecurity Area 2 near Logan-area prawn farms (e.g. Jacobs Well, Pimpama, Steiglitz, Woongoolba, Southern Moreton Bay Islands): no line fishing in farm intake/drainage channels or within 100 m of them; crab pots, cast nets and yabby pumps are allowed. Follow the signs. Official page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
Bivalves: pipis only: Bivalves and gastropods are no take in Moreton Bay and all tidal waters flowing into it, except pipis (30). Official page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
Coombabah Lake and Creek: Coombabah Lake and the tidal waters of Coombabah Creek upstream of the lake (Gold Coast): all fishing prohibited. Official page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
Spearfishing: No spearfishing within 100 m of any public jetty from the Noosa River south; also banned in Lake Weyba/lower Noosa River, the lower Maroochy (incl. the Cod Hole), the Mooloolah below Nicklin Way, parts of Pumicestone Passage, Jumpinpin and the Southport Broadwater/Seaway (south of 27°42′S), Tallebudgera Creek and the artificial reef off Cowan Cowan. Official page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
Lota–Wynnum worm digging: No worm digging on the Wynnum foreshore (Lota Creek to the Wynnum North Esplanade groyne); hand pumps only in Fish Habitat Areas. Official page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
NSW waters: South of Point Danger (Tweed, Kingscliff, Cook Island) is NSW: NSW rules apply and a NSW recreational fishing licence is required (not covered here). Official page, checked 8 Oct 2026.

Nearby fishing areas

Wynnum, Manly and Wellington Point (about 12 km east)
Sandgate and Bramble Bay (about 14 km north)
Redcliffe Peninsula (about 26 km north)
Cleveland, Peel Island and Straddie (about 27 km east)

Distances are between the middle of each area's spots.

Sources and checked dates

Parks and boat ramps: Brisbane City Council open data, CC BY 4.0
Marine park zones: Moreton Bay Marine Park zoning, © State of Queensland (Department of Environment and Science) 2021, CC BY 4.0, simplified; guide only, not for navigation (zones checked 8 Oct 2026).
Spot data checked 8 Oct 2026; area details checked 8 Oct 2026; bars checked 8 Oct 2026; marine rescue units checked 8 Oct 2026.
Species seasons: our South East Queensland guide (Brisbane River), rules checked 8 Oct 2026. Tide places name the Maritime Safety Queensland predictions each spot uses (CC BY 4.0).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.