The Nerang River is arguably the Gold Coast region’s premium fishing river.

It is a perennial river 62km in length, with its mouth flowing into Southport Broadwater.

The river rises in the McPherson Range in Numinbah Valley on the NSW and Queensland border and flows north, then east.

The upper section is in the McPherson Range and Springbrook Plateau, eventually flowing into Hinze Dam and Little Nerang Dam.

Tributaries include Mudgeeraba Creek, Bonogin Creek, Wyangan Creek, Worongary Creek, Gin House Creek, Little Nerang Creek, Crane Creek and Mooyumbin Creek.

Several islands are located in the residential canal region of the lower tidal section, including Girung, Paradise, Chevron, Cronin and McIntosh Islands.

Two man-made lakes are also in the lower catchment, Lake Rosser and Lake Capabella.

The Nerang River’s mouth has moved with the drift of sand along the coast.

In the early 1800s it entered the ocean further south at Broadbeach and by 1930 its mouth was where the Sea World tourist facility is now.

The river is a great fishing location with a variety of species to be caught in the tidal waters, including the manmade canals.

A cartopper dinghy or yak is perfect to fish much of the river, but a special feature for landbased fishos, and for all Gold Coast region waterways, are the many riverside parks and fishing platforms.

These public parks are listed below. Some can be accessed by public transport.

The tidal waters have mainly bream, flathead and whiting, but with a chance of many other species, including tarpon, mulloway, grunter, trevally, cod, moses perch, luderick, tailor, tarwhine, giant herring, queenfish, catfish, prawns and mud crabs.

The upper reaches have bass, with mangrove jacks throughout.

Hinze Dam is stocked with bass.

Occasional barramundi have been caught in the Nerang River.

There are many manmade structures in the river such as bridge pylons, these often hold fish.

Current bottlenecks in the canals are always worth a look for fish.

Bass are most commonly caught from Nerang upstream past Weedons Crossing.

Week days and night often produce the best fishing in the tidal section, when boating traffic drops off. Big tides tend to produce the best bites.

Like other Gold coast estuaries, nippers are the ideal local bait, but fish such as bream and grunter can be caught on a variety of baits.

Jacks and mulloway respond to lures and livebait.

Being a busy location, fishing as light as possible with live or fresh bait will bring the best results.

Nerang River landbased fishing spots

The river has many bankside parks and reserves that make for an easy fishing experience. Reserves located next to structure such as bridges or bottlenecks that create tidal rips are often the best spots, but fish move through the river with the tide and be caught almost anywhere.

This is not an exhaustive list, but includes some of the better locations.

Sundale Bridge, Gold Coast Highway and Waterways Drive, Main Beach – this spot has nearby parking, sandy foreshore, nearby bridge pylons, boat ramp. The pylons can be fished from north and south banks. Best on week days and/or at night on big tides. Mainly bream, luderick, tarpon, trevally, grunter, school mulloway.

Pelican Beach, Waterways Drive, Main Beach – this spot has nearby parking, a sand foreshore, and toilets. Its location on the lower Nerang River can be busy, but big fish pass through here. Best fished at night during the week. flathead, whiting, bream, luderick with chance of mulloway.

Bill And Ursula Birmingham Park, Nerang Connection Road, Nerang – this spot has nearby parking. There is a rocky river bank, and it is near shops and transport. This is a nice spot on the upper tidal Nerang River, with mainly bream, grunter, tarpon and mangrove jacks caught. Prolonged heavy rain will push fish downstream into the lower reaches.

Arthur Earle Park, Nerang Connection Road, Nerang – this spot has nearby parking. There is a rock foreshore, boat ramp, skate park, toilets and transport. Another nice spot on the upper tidal Nerang River, with mainly bream, grunter, tarpon and mangrove jacks . Prolonged heavy rain will push fish downstream into the lower reaches. Best on week days and at night.

Budds Beach Reserve, River Drive, Surfers Paradise – this spot has nearby parking, a sandy foreshore, boat ramp, toilets, taps, playground, barbecues, transport and is near shops.
This lower Nerang River location is a good sheltered spot within Surfers Paradise. Casting from the reserve’s beach produces mainly flathead, bream and whiting.

Remembrance Drive Reserve, Remembrance Drive, Surfers Paradise – nearby parking, rocky foreshore, bridge pylons, near shops and transport. One of the better landbased location on the Nerang River. Fish the pylons on big tides and at night.

Via Roma Reserve, 2a Amalfi Drive, Surfers Paradise – nearby parking, rock foreshore, bridge pylons, near shops and transport. One of the better landbased location on the Nerang River. Fish the pylons on big tides and at night.

Tranquility Park, 2 Kawana Crescent, Ashmore – nearby parking, manmade rock foreshore, playground. Bream fishing into the Nerang River.

Pidd Family Park, 21 Carrara Road, Carrara – nearby parking, rock foreshore, boat ramp. Bream fishing into the Nerang River.

Sir Bruce Small Park, 407 Benowa Road, Benowa – nearby parking, manmade rocky foreshore, playground. Bream fishing into the Nerang River.

Bruce Park, 165 Sir Bruce Small Boulevard, Benowa – nearby parking, manmade rock foreshore. Bream fishing into the Nerang River.

Campbell Street Reserve, 1 Campbell St, Bundall – nearby parking, rock foreshore, playground. Bream fishing into the Nerang River.

Waterview Crescent Reserve, 15 Waterview Crescent, Bundall – nearby parking, sand foreshore. Bream fishing into the Nerang River.

Neddy Harper Park, 2840 Gold Coast Hwy, Surfers Paradise – nearby parking, rock foreshore, playground, toilets, near shops and transport. Good fishing location on the Nerang River, flathead, bream, occasional mangrove jacks .

John Fraser Memorial Park, 14 Remembrance Drive, Surfers Paradise – nearby parking, rocky foreshore, near shops and transport. Fish the entrance rip into the Nerang River on big tides.

Watson Esplanade Reserve, Watson Esplanade, Surfers Paradise – nearby parking, long sandy beach, near shops and transport. Canal offshoot of the Nerang River that is a great place to walk the beach and cast for flathead.

Furlong Street Park, Furlong Street and Rio Vista Boulevard, Broadbeach Waters – nearby parking, manmade rock foreshore. Bream fishing into the Nerang River.

Monaco Street Reserve, 88 Monaco Street, Broadbeach Waters – nearby parking, rock foreshore, pylons. Great bream and luderick spot on big tides.

Sunset Boulevard Park, Sunset Boulevard, Surfers Paradise – nearby parking, rocky foreshore. Bream fishing into the Nerang River.

Korman Family Park, 183 Stanhill Drive, Surfers Paradise – nearby parking, fishing platform, rock foreshore, playground, taps, toilets, near shops and transport. Bream fishing into the Nerang River.

Harry Bond Park, Regatta Parade, Southport – nearby parking, long sandy beach, playground, taps, near transport. Great place to walk, wade and cast lures for flathead.

Wells Street Reserve, Regatta Parade and Wells Street, Southport – nearby parking, rock foreshore, near transport. Bream fishing into the Nerang River.

Darrambal Street Reserve, Darrambal Street and Stanhill Drive, Surfers Paradise – nearby parking, manmade rock foreshore. Near shops and transport. Limited fishing area. Bream fishing into the Nerang River.

Here is a list of recommended tackle for SEQ waters.

Book your fishing stay early at Booking.com