Fishing On Bribie Island – There’s Something For Everyone

There's Something for Everyone

Whether you’re a novice angler with a hand reel restricted to the shore, or you’re primed and ready with a boat and all the latest gear, there’s a fishing spot to suit you somewhere on Bribie Island.

The Pumicestone Passage is teeming with fish throughout the year and is an important breeding ground for fish, crabs and prawns. The ocean side of the island has just as much going for it. So where should you go?

Popular fishing spots along the Pumicestone Passage

Bongaree Jetty

To the south of the bridge is the Bongaree Jetty. Here the water deepens to about 7.5m and is the main thoroughfare for a huge variety of fish. At any time you could encounter mulloway, juvenile snapper, bream, flathead, cod, parrot and Moses perch, to name a few. Tailor are also likely, but are seasonal from June until August.

The jetty is also popular with swimmers and jet skis, so it is best accessed very early or very late to avoid the crowds. Otherwise, cast off into the drop-off from the beaches on either side. Further south, at the bottom end of the island, Red Beach is a good option for winter whiting.

North of the Bribie Bridge, at Sylvan Beach, you can fish from the beach or hire a boat; while at Banksia Beach it’s shore fishing for tailor, bream and flathead.

Bribie’s canal estates

The canals can also provide good options for fishing on Bribie Island.

Between the Bribie Bridge and Bongaree Jetty, the entrance to the canals known as The Lock, is surprisingly good fishing, especially for mangrove jack; while the nearby beach has good whiting and flathead.

To the north, the Pacific Harbour canal system can yield great catches of juvenile snapper, trevally, bream and mud crabs, among others. At The Ripples, at the mouth of Pacific Harbour, you might also catch sweetlip.

Off the beaten track

The further north you go along the Passage, the more remote and inaccessible the good fishing spots are.

White Patch is the last point before you’ll need a 4WD to access the inland tracks in the Bribie National Park and campgrounds on the Passage. Here you’ll be rewarded with juvenile snapper, bream, flathead, the odd mulloway and sand crabs.

Gallaghers Gutter, which runs north-south near Gallaghers Camp Ground, is perfect for bream, whiting and flathead. A little further north, Poverty Creek Camp Ground has a similar catch but is also one of the best places to find mud crabs.

Further north again is Mission Point Camp Ground. This can only be accessed by boat, with the nearest boat ramp at Donnybrook on the mainland. This is where you’re most likely to find mangrove jack.

Beware... Fines for fishing in Pumicestone Passage

Before throwing your line in Pumicestone Passage, make yourself aware of the various fishing zones MAP HERE. There is a green zone around Long Island, which is a strict no-fishing zone, you can paddle or zip your boat through, just leave the fishing line in the vessel. The remainder of the passage, netting and trawling are strictly prohibited. If caught doing the wrong thing you will be fined.

Popular fishing spots on Bribie’s ocean side

The ocean side of Bribie Island offers wonderful opportunities for surf fishing. Woorim has summer and winter whiting, dart and bream. Just south of Woorim, Skirmish Point is popular for surf fishing and easily accessible.

North of Woorim is the 4WD beach access point. It’s possible to drive all the way to the Caloundra bar, however, you must purchase a Beach Access Permit, and book in advance for the campsites, as numbers are limited. From the beach, you’re likely to catch dart, whiting, flathead and bream.

Bribie Island reels in Fishing Australia!

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Looking for more things to do and see? Pop into one of the region's Accredited Visitor Information Centres, the volunteers have a wealth of local knowledge.

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Acknowledgement of Country - We would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands and waterways of the Moreton Bay Region, the Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi, Jinibara, and Turrbal people and pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We recognise the ongoing connection that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have to this land and recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the original custodians of this land.