Estuary cod (goldspotted rockcod)
Goldspotted and blackspotted rockcod in South East Queensland: a 38–120 cm slot, 5 per person in total across all cods and groupers, no closed season. Rules checked 8 Oct 2026. Best months SEQ-wide: November to March.
Updated
Scientific name: Epinephelus coioides. Also called goldspotted rockcod and cod.
| Scientific name | Epinephelus coioides |
|---|---|
| Other names | goldspotted rockcod, cod |
| Limits shown for | Goldspotted and blackspotted rockcod |
| Minimum size | 38 cm |
| Maximum size | 120 cm |
| Bag (possession) limit | 5 per person in total across all cods and groupers |
| Closed season in SEQ | None |
| Best months (SEQ-wide) | Nov–Mar |
| Also in season | Apr–May and Sep–Oct |
| Best tide | No clear tide preference |
| Best light | Dawn and dusk |
| Habitats | Estuaries and creeks; the open bay and passages; rocks, walls and bar entrances |
Estuary cod size and bag limit in QLD
Goldspotted and blackspotted rockcod: 38-120 cm, 5 in total across all cods and groupers. No closed season. That is a slot limit: keep only fish from 38 cm to 120 cm and release the rest.
Checked 8 Oct 2026 against the Queensland Government pages: size and possession limits and closed seasons.
Limits are possession limits: they count everything you hold, including any at home in the freezer. In yellow (conservation park) zones: max 2 lines and 2 hooks in total per angler. Green zones: no fishing. All QLD fishing rules
When to catch estuary cod in South East Queensland
October 2026: Estuary cod is in season across South East Queensland, though not at its peak.
| Where | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEQ-wide | January: peak season | February: peak season | March: peak season | April: in season | May: in season | June: off season | July: off season | August: off season | September: in season | October: in season | November: peak season | December: peak season |
- peak season
- in season
- off season
- closed season for at least part of the month
Time of day: Dawn, dusk and night on the reefs.
Weather: not fussy about wind; rain makes little difference.
Seasons partly come from Coastwatch report mentions, not catch numbers.
| Area | How common | Best | Also in season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noosa | Main area | Nov–Mar | Apr–May and Sep–Oct |
| Sunshine Coast | Main area | Nov–Mar | Apr–May and Sep–Oct |
| Pumicestone Passage & Bribie | Also caught | Nov–Mar | Apr–May and Sep–Oct |
| Northern Moreton Bay | Occasional | No season given | – |
| Western Moreton Bay | Also caught | Jan–Mar (local season) | Apr and Nov–Dec |
| Straddie & Jumpinpin | Also caught | Nov–Mar | Apr–May and Sep–Oct |
| Gold Coast | Main area | Nov–Mar | Apr–May and Sep–Oct |
Not in our guide for Brisbane River, Southern Moreton Bay, Moreton Island, Offshore Sunshine Coast, Offshore Moreton and Offshore Gold Coast.
Around Scarborough and the Redcliffe Peninsula
Our local Redcliffe Peninsula notes come from local fishing columns and reports, and for estuary cod they differ from the South East Queensland picture. Around Scarborough the best months are January, February and March, with April, November and December also worth a try.
| Where | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarborough | January: peak season | February: peak season | March: peak season | April: in season | May: off season | June: off season | July: off season | August: off season | September: off season | October: off season | November: in season | December: in season |
| SEQ-wide | January: peak season | February: peak season | March: peak season | April: in season | May: in season | June: off season | July: off season | August: off season | September: in season | October: in season | November: peak season | December: peak season |
Shallow inshore rocky reefs around the peninsula, the Newport canals, Scarborough Boat Harbour and other estuary structure.
When: Dawn, dusk and night on the reefs.
Spots in our local notes: Scarborough Boat Harbour walls, Reef Point / North Reef.
Where to catch estuary cod in SEQ
Rocky structure, holes and canals: Noosa River and Lake Cooroibah, Maroochy and Mooloolah rivers, Gold Coast canals and Seaway rocks, Pumicestone Passage, Moreton Bay inshore reefs (Redcliffe, Peel), Newport canals and Scarborough harbour.
Catch Signal forecast areas that rate estuary cod: Noosa River & Noosa Heads, Laguna Bay & Noosa offshore, Maroochy, Mooloolaba & Coolum, Caloundra & northern Pumicestone Passage, Bribie Island & southern Pumicestone Passage, Redcliffe Peninsula & Deception Bay, Bramble Bay, Pine River & Sandgate, Jumpinpin, Jacobs Well & Pimpama, Gold Coast Broadwater, Seaway & Nerang River, Burleigh to Point Danger, Ocean side of Straddie & Moreton.
| Spot | Area | Tide times |
|---|---|---|
| Noosa River mouth groyne | Noosa River and Noosa Heads | Noosa River mouth |
| Cotton Tree – Maroochy River mouth | Maroochy, Mooloolaba and Coolum | Mooloolaba |
| Scarborough Boat Harbour walls | Redcliffe Peninsula and Deception Bay | Scarborough |
| Gold Coast Seaway – south wall (The Spit) | Gold Coast Broadwater, Seaway and Nerang River | Gold Coast Seaway |
| Burleigh Head | Burleigh to Point Danger | Gold Coast Seaway |
| Bulcock Beach (Pumicestone Passage mouth) | Caloundra and northern Pumicestone Passage | Brisbane Bar |
| Bongaree Jetty | Bribie Island and southern Pumicestone Passage | Bongaree |
| Shorncliffe Pier | Bramble Bay, Pine River and Sandgate | Shorncliffe |
Picked because the water each spot reaches suits estuary cod (our habitat match), not from catch reports. Each spot links to its place on the area page; tide times are for the place our forecast reads for that spot.
How to catch estuary cod: best baits, lures and rig
Baits
- Live herring or mullet
- Fresh fish strips
Lures
- Hard-bodies and soft plastics worked tight to structure
Estuary cod rig
As for mangrove jack: heavy leader and a locked drag near snags.
Good to know about estuary cod
Often a by-catch when chasing jacks. The coral reef fin fish closures do not apply in SEQ.
Open in the forecast
See estuary cod in the Catch Signal app: seasons for the area you fish, closed-season warnings and the best days this week.
Sources
- Queensland Government: size and possession limits for tidal waters (last updated 25 Sep 2026; checked 8 Oct 2026)
- Coastwatch weekly reports (seasons from report mentions, not catch numbers; we use the facts only)
- Catch Signal’s own Redcliffe Peninsula notes (from local fishing columns and reports)
Rules are short, dated summaries: always check the official pages before you keep a fish. Species notes are in our own words from the sources listed.