Offshore fishing marks: Gold Coast
9 places to fish off the Gold Coast: all reached only by boat. Each has its marine park zone, the ramps a boat trip there leaves from, its tide place and what is in season in October.
Updated
Species seasons here follow our Offshore Gold Coast guide, which covers Palm Beach and Diamond reefs, the 12s/18s/24s/36s/42s/50s, the shelf and canyons, Gold Coast FADs. Positions are a guide only, not for navigation.
See this week's fishing forecast for Gold Coast offshore: the app rates each day for small-boat fishing, with the best time of day, wind, tide and what to target.
Spots at a glance
| Spot | Type | Access | Sheltered in | Zone | Tide place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Narrowneck Reef | Reef | Boat | Open water | Not in a marine park | Gold Coast open coast |
| 2. South Stradbroke Artificial Reef | Reef · artificial reef | Boat | Open water | Dark blue zone HPZ15 | Gold Coast open coast |
| 3. FAD 1 Gold Coast 24s | FAD (fish aggregating device) | Boat | Open water | Not in a marine park | Gold Coast open coast |
| 4. FAD 12 Gold Coast 36s | FAD (fish aggregating device) | Boat | Open water | Not in a marine park | Gold Coast open coast |
| 5. FAD 3 Gold Coast 36s | FAD (fish aggregating device) | Boat | Open water | Not in a marine park | Gold Coast open coast |
| 6. FAD 14 Gold Coast 36s | FAD (fish aggregating device) | Boat | Open water | Not in a marine park | Gold Coast open coast |
| 7. FAD 2 Gold Coast 50s | FAD (fish aggregating device) | Boat | Open water | Not in a marine park | Gold Coast open coast |
| 8. FAD 13 Gold Coast 50s | FAD (fish aggregating device) | Boat | Open water | Not in a marine park | Gold Coast open coast |
| 9. SFAD 1A Gold Coast shelf | FAD (fish aggregating device) | Boat | Open water | Not in a marine park | Gold Coast open coast |
1. Narrowneck Reef
- Type
- Reef
- Access
- Boat; from The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar; our forecast plans a 6-hour trip; about 0.1 nm offshore
- What's good here
- Peak in October: Snapper, Cobia, Teraglin and Yellowtail kingfish (8 more in season).
- Best tide
- Any tide for cobia, teraglin and yellowtail kingfish; change of tide for snapper
- Best wind
- Open water: exposed to every wind
- Zone
- Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
- Note
- Artificial (geotextile) surf reef off Narrowneck; bream, tarwhine, trevally around it. Access: Boat only; surfers use it.
- Map
- -27.98694, 153.43361 · Open in Google Maps
- Tide times here
- Gold Coast open coast (heights estimated, from Gold Coast Seaway)
- Forecast
- Open in the forecast
2. South Stradbroke Artificial Reef
Artificial reef: some activities are prohibited here without a permit under special activity notices (check the QPWS reef page).
- Type
- Reef · artificial reef
- Access
- Boat; from The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar; or from Jacobs Well ramp or Cabbage Tree Point ramp, across the Jumpinpin Bar; our forecast plans a 6-hour trip; about 1.5 nm offshore
- What's good here
- Peak in October: Snapper, Cobia, Teraglin and Yellowtail kingfish (8 more in season).
- Best tide
- Any tide for cobia, teraglin and yellowtail kingfish; change of tide for snapper
- Best wind
- Open water: exposed to every wind
- Zone
- Habitat Protection Zone (dark blue) HPZ15 South Stradbroke Island (south): normal line fishing, trolling, crabbing and bait gathering (up to 3 lines and 6 hooks per person); no trawling.
- Note
- Artificial reef off South Stradbroke Island north of the Seaway; snapper, sweetlip, pelagics. Access: Boat only, via the Seaway.
- Map
- Centre of the QPWS reef area: -27.88157, 153.45578 · Open in Google Maps
- Tide times here
- Gold Coast open coast (heights estimated, from Gold Coast Seaway)
- Forecast
- Open in the forecast
3. FAD 1 Gold Coast 24s
- Type
- FAD (fish aggregating device)
- Access
- Boat; from The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar; or from Tallebudgera Creek – Awoonga Ave ramp or Palm Beach – Murlong Cres ramp, across the Tallebudgera Bar; or from Currumbin – Thrower Dr ramp or Currumbin – Duringan St ramp, across the Currumbin Bar; our forecast plans a 6-hour trip; about 5.2 nm offshore
- What's good here
- Peak in October: Yellowfin tuna (2 more in season).
- Best tide
- Any tide for yellowfin tuna
- Best wind
- Open water: exposed to every wind
- Zone
- Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
- Note
- Surface FAD 6 nm from the Seaway; mahi mahi, tuna. Access: Offshore boats only.
- Map
- -27.98780, 153.52912 · Open in Google Maps
- Tide times here
- Gold Coast open coast (heights estimated, from Gold Coast Seaway)
- Forecast
- Open in the forecast
FADs move: check it's deployed on the qld.gov.au FAD list (list last updated 31 Aug 2026, checked 8 Oct 2026).
4. FAD 12 Gold Coast 36s
- Type
- FAD (fish aggregating device)
- Access
- Boat; from The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar; our forecast plans a 6-hour trip; about 10.9 nm offshore
- What's good here
- Peak in October: Yellowfin tuna (2 more in season).
- Best tide
- Any tide for yellowfin tuna
- Best wind
- Open water: exposed to every wind
- Zone
- Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
- Note
- Surface FAD 11 nm from the Seaway. Access: Offshore boats only.
- Map
- -27.93400, 153.63885 · Open in Google Maps
- Tide times here
- Gold Coast open coast (heights estimated, from Gold Coast Seaway)
- Forecast
- Open in the forecast
FADs move: check it's deployed on the qld.gov.au FAD list (list last updated 31 Aug 2026, checked 8 Oct 2026).
5. FAD 3 Gold Coast 36s
- Type
- FAD (fish aggregating device)
- Access
- Boat; from The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar; our forecast plans a 6-hour trip; about 9.9 nm offshore
- What's good here
- Peak in October: Yellowfin tuna (2 more in season).
- Best tide
- Any tide for yellowfin tuna
- Best wind
- Open water: exposed to every wind
- Zone
- Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
- Note
- Surface FAD 12 nm from the Seaway. Access: Offshore boats only.
- Map
- -27.80680, 153.62453 · Open in Google Maps
- Tide times here
- Gold Coast open coast (heights estimated, from Gold Coast Seaway)
- Forecast
- Open in the forecast
FADs move: check it's deployed on the qld.gov.au FAD list (list last updated 31 Aug 2026, checked 8 Oct 2026).
6. FAD 14 Gold Coast 36s
- Type
- FAD (fish aggregating device)
- Access
- Boat; from The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar; our forecast plans a 6-hour trip; about 8.3 nm offshore
- What's good here
- Peak in October: Yellowfin tuna (2 more in season).
- Best tide
- Any tide for yellowfin tuna
- Best wind
- Open water: exposed to every wind
- Zone
- Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
- Note
- Surface FAD 18 nm from the Seaway. Access: Offshore boats only.
- Map
- -27.68797, 153.61387 · Open in Google Maps
- Tide times here
- Gold Coast open coast (heights estimated, from Gold Coast Seaway)
- Forecast
- Open in the forecast
FADs move: check it's deployed on the qld.gov.au FAD list (list last updated 31 Aug 2026, checked 8 Oct 2026).
7. FAD 2 Gold Coast 50s
- Type
- FAD (fish aggregating device)
- Access
- Boat; from The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar; our forecast plans a 6-hour trip; about 17 nm offshore
- What's good here
- Peak in October: Yellowfin tuna (2 more in season).
- Best tide
- Any tide for yellowfin tuna
- Best wind
- Open water: exposed to every wind
- Zone
- Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
- Note
- Surface FAD 16 nm from the Seaway. Access: Offshore boats only.
- Map
- -27.92983, 153.75330 · Open in Google Maps
- Tide times here
- Gold Coast open coast (heights estimated, from Gold Coast Seaway)
- Forecast
- Open in the forecast
FADs move: check it's deployed on the qld.gov.au FAD list (list last updated 31 Aug 2026, checked 8 Oct 2026).
8. FAD 13 Gold Coast 50s
- Type
- FAD (fish aggregating device)
- Access
- Boat; from The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar; our forecast plans a 6-hour trip; about 15.2 nm offshore
- What's good here
- Peak in October: Yellowfin tuna (2 more in season).
- Best tide
- Any tide for yellowfin tuna
- Best wind
- Open water: exposed to every wind
- Zone
- Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
- Note
- Surface FAD 20 nm from the Seaway. Access: Offshore boats only.
- Map
- -27.73947, 153.73857 · Open in Google Maps
- Tide times here
- Gold Coast open coast (heights estimated, from Gold Coast Seaway)
- Forecast
- Open in the forecast
FADs move: check it's deployed on the qld.gov.au FAD list (list last updated 31 Aug 2026, checked 8 Oct 2026).
9. SFAD 1A Gold Coast shelf
- Type
- FAD (fish aggregating device)
- Access
- Boat; from The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar; our forecast plans a 6-hour trip; about 23.2 nm offshore
- What's good here
- Peak in October: Yellowfin tuna (2 more in season).
- Best tide
- Any tide for yellowfin tuna
- Best wind
- Open water: exposed to every wind
- Zone
- Not in a marine park (Fisheries rules still apply)
- Note
- Subsurface FADs on the shelf 25 nm out; marlin, tuna, wahoo. Access: Offshore boats only.
- Map
- -27.92570, 153.89607 · Open in Google Maps
- Tide times here
- Gold Coast open coast (heights estimated, from Gold Coast Seaway)
- Forecast
- Open in the forecast
FADs move: check it's deployed on the qld.gov.au FAD list (list last updated 31 Aug 2026, checked 8 Oct 2026).
Reefs and offshore marks
9 boat-only marks off the Gold Coast: Narrowneck Reef, South Stradbroke Artificial Reef, FAD 1 Gold Coast 24s, FAD 12 Gold Coast 36s, FAD 3 Gold Coast 36s, FAD 14 Gold Coast 36s, FAD 2 Gold Coast 50s, FAD 13 Gold Coast 50s and SFAD 1A Gold Coast shelf. South Stradbroke Artificial Reef is also on the artificial reef GPS marks page; FAD 1 Gold Coast 24s, FAD 12 Gold Coast 36s, FAD 3 Gold Coast 36s, FAD 14 Gold Coast 36s, FAD 2 Gold Coast 50s, FAD 13 Gold Coast 50s and SFAD 1A Gold Coast shelf are also on the FAD GPS marks page, with GPX and CSV downloads.
| Mark | Position (decimal, DMS, DDM) | Launch from | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narrowneck Reef | -27.98694, 153.4336127°59′13″S 153°26′01″E27°59.216′S 153°26.017′E | From The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar | Not in a marine park |
| South Stradbroke Artificial Reef | -27.88157, 153.4557827°52′54″S 153°27′21″E27°52.894′S 153°27.347′E | From The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar; or from Jacobs Well ramp or Cabbage Tree Point ramp, across the Jumpinpin Bar | Dark blue zone HPZ15; artificial reef: some activities need a permit |
| FAD 1 Gold Coast 24s | -27.98780, 153.5291227°59′16″S 153°31′45″E27°59.268′S 153°31.747′E | From The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar; or from Tallebudgera Creek – Awoonga Ave ramp or Palm Beach – Murlong Cres ramp, across the Tallebudgera Bar; or from Currumbin – Thrower Dr ramp or Currumbin – Duringan St ramp, across the Currumbin Bar | Not in a marine park; FAD: check it's deployed (list 31 Aug 2026) |
| FAD 12 Gold Coast 36s | -27.93400, 153.6388527°56′02″S 153°38′20″E27°56.040′S 153°38.331′E | From The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar | Not in a marine park; FAD: check it's deployed (list 31 Aug 2026) |
| FAD 3 Gold Coast 36s | -27.80680, 153.6245327°48′24″S 153°37′28″E27°48.408′S 153°37.472′E | From The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar | Not in a marine park; FAD: check it's deployed (list 31 Aug 2026) |
| FAD 14 Gold Coast 36s | -27.68797, 153.6138727°41′17″S 153°36′50″E27°41.278′S 153°36.832′E | From The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar | Not in a marine park; FAD: check it's deployed (list 31 Aug 2026) |
| FAD 2 Gold Coast 50s | -27.92983, 153.7533027°55′47″S 153°45′12″E27°55.790′S 153°45.198′E | From The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar | Not in a marine park; FAD: check it's deployed (list 31 Aug 2026) |
| FAD 13 Gold Coast 50s | -27.73947, 153.7385727°44′22″S 153°44′19″E27°44.368′S 153°44.314′E | From The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar | Not in a marine park; FAD: check it's deployed (list 31 Aug 2026) |
| SFAD 1A Gold Coast shelf | -27.92570, 153.8960727°55′33″S 153°53′46″E27°55.542′S 153°53.764′E | From The Spit – Muriel Henchman Dr ramp or Southport – North St ramp (Broadwater), across the Gold Coast Seaway Bar | Not in a marine park; FAD: check it's deployed (list 31 Aug 2026) |
Positions are a guide only, not for navigation: check your chart and the official zoning maps. An artificial reef's position is the centre of its QPWS reef area.
What's biting here in October?
In peak season off the Gold Coast in October: snapper, cobia, teraglin, yellowtail kingfish and 5 more. Of the 17 species in our Offshore Gold Coast guide that these spots reach, 9 peak in October 2026 and 5 more are in season.
Also in season: Amberjack and samsonfish, Yellowfin tuna, Pearl perch, Tuskfish, Moses perch, Longtail tuna, Mahi mahi, Wahoo, Mulloway and Spanner crab.
Out of season in October: Spotted mackerel (best Dec–Mar); Spanish mackerel (best Jan and Apr–May); Marlin (best Dec–Feb).
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, green zones 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. None of the 9 spots on this page is in a green zone.
Size and bag limits: Queensland tidal size and possession limits (our species guides were checked 8 Oct 2026). Fishing rules for South East Queensland.
Bars and open water
Trips to sea from here cross the Gold Coast Seaway Bar, the Jumpinpin Bar, the Tallebudgera Bar or the Currumbin Bar. MSQ: only experienced skippers with local knowledge should cross. Lifejackets must be worn crossing a designated bar in an open boat, or in an open area of any boat (the law since 1 Dec 2024, enforced from 1 Jul 2025; MSQ, checked 9 Oct 2026). We never call a crossing safe: check the conditions yourself.
Marine rescue
Log on and off with MRQ Southport East (ask the unit for log-on details) and MRQ Currumbin (ask the unit for log-on details); for trips across the Jumpinpin Bar, MRQ Jacobs Well (ask the unit for log-on details). Emergency: 000 (112 from mobiles) · VHF 16 for distress (checked 8 Oct 2026).
Weather and zones
Read the official forecast and warnings in the Bureau of Meteorology's own words: Gold Coast Waters forecast and Current warnings. Marine park zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official zoning maps and app.
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
- Gold Coast Broadwater and Seaway (about 23 km west)
- Jumpinpin and Jacobs Well (about 26 km north-west)
- Burleigh to Point Danger (about 30 km south-west)
- Victoria Point and Redland Bay (about 41 km north-west)
Distances are between the middle of each area's spots.
Sources and checked dates
- Place names and positions: Queensland place names gazetteer, © State of Queensland (Department of Resources), CC BY 4.0
- Artificial reefs: Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Moreton Bay Marine Park series, CC BY 4.0
- FAD positions: qld.gov.au FAD list, © State of Queensland, 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 (Offshore Gold Coast), 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.