Boasting sun-drenched beaches, lush forests and a vibrant cityscape, it’s easy to see why visitors from far and wide are drawn to Australia’s Gold Coast. On top of that, the angling action here is more than worth its weight in gold! The deep offshore waters are brimming with reefs, wrecks and big game fish. Yep, if you’re looking to take part in some unforgettable deep sea fishing, Gold Coast is waiting for you.
Although it’s possible to cast a line in the Gold Coast’s lakes, creeks and shallow waters, there’s one big reason why Aussies with a penchant for fishing flock here. With access to the Coral Sea and the Pacific Ocean, the chances of coming face-to-gills with some hard-fighting fish are pretty high! No matter your level of experience, you’ll find a deep sea fishing adventure that suits you.
Before you get ready to see what’s in store, you probably want to know a little more. What species can catch when deep sea fishing in Gold Coast – and how you can catch ’em? Let’s dive in…
Top Gold Coast Deep Sea Fishing Catches
Deep sea fishing is all about heading out in search of those monster fish that lurk around reefs and wrecks, as well as inhabiting open bluewaters. It’s no different in the Gold Coast. The main appeal of fishing here is the sheer diversity of species that can be found in these waters! You’ll have the chance to encounter anything from inshore species to jumbo-sized bottom dwellers, to huge pelagics.
Billfish
If there’s one species that’s real deep sea fishing royalty in Gold Coast, it has to be Billfish. You’ll find a healthy population of Black Marlin inhabiting these waters, usually first showing up around late November. These fish are capable of stripping lines at an astonishing speed and can grow over 400 kilos. They also prefer to spend their time feeding near the surface and above reefs, meaning they’re one of the most accessible Billfish around.
That’s not all that’s on offer in the Gold Coast area, though. Mighty Blue Marlin appear around January. These fish are beloved for their high speeds and acrobatic stunts, and can also grow pretty hefty. You’ll be able to target both of these species by trolling, which allows you to attempt to match their speed.
Finally, there’s one more Billfish you’ll have the chance to encounter on a deep sea fishing trip. Visit during January and you may be lucky enough to spot the majestic dorsal fin of the Sailfish appearing above the waters around Gold Coast. This species may be on the smaller end of the Billfish scale, but it’s capable of traveling up to 110 kilometres per hour, and puts up an incredible battle.
Black Marlin often lurk in waters around 15 minutes from shore around the reefs and wrecks. You won’t have to travel much further to encounter Sailfish and Blue Marlin, either. They usually inhabit these waters from the beginning of the summer (around the end of November) until February time.
Tuna
Looking for a species that fights hard, grows huge and makes for some of the most delicious table fare this side of the equator? We have one word for you: Tuna. There’s the world-famous Yellowfin, for one, as well as Bluefin. You’ll also find more local varieties such as Mackerel and Striped (also known as Skipjack) Tuna.
Not only can these species be found in impressive numbers here, they also inhabit these waters throughout the season. Depending on the specific variety you’re looking to target, you’ll find them in December, January and between March–November. This means you’ll have a good chance of encountering them no matter when you choose to visit.
Similarly to Billfish, a popular way to deep sea fish for Tuna all along the Gold Coast is by trolling. You’ll usually troll artificial lures and wait for your target to bite – and when they do, you’ll definitely feel it! If a Yellowfin hits your line, for example, it’ll be hard and fast and you can expect some reel-screaming action. Tuna love to switch up the action, often coming close to the surface before making deep dives to the bottom of the water column.
You can also choose to bait fish for Tuna, with a local technique known as “burleying.” This involves dripping a mix of live bait off the side of your boat. Then, you drop your line topped with live bait or a lure into the water.
Mahi Mahi and Wahoo
So there’s an abundance of Tuna and Billfish on offer here – two species that already top many anglers’ bucket lists. What could possibly make a deep sea fishing adventure along the Gold Coast even more exciting? The addition of two world famous big game species! We’re talking about Wahoo and Mahi Mahi, of course.
First up is Mahi Mahi, a colourful pelagic predator that is known for its acrobatic leaps and rod-bending action. It also tastes delicious. It inhabits a wide array of fishing grounds here, from the reefs 15 minutes from shore to deeper blue waters. It’s one of the most photogenic fish in sea, and you’ll find the best photo ops between December and April.
Next, the mighty Wahoo. Similar to the Mahi Mahi, this fish is much-loved for the fight it puts up on a line. Often referred to as the fastest fish in the sea, Wahoo are known for reeling off plenty of line within seconds. If you’re looking for a real work-out, this species will provide it in spades! This fish inhabits Gold Coast’s waters from November to May, meaning there’s ample opportunity to target it.
Again, the name of the game when fishing for these two hard-fighters is trolling. Both fish respond to a variety of bait, both live and artificial. One thing’s for sure – you’ll feel it when they bite. From there you’ll be treated to an unforgettable battle of strength and wits!
Reef Fish
When most people think of deep sea fishing, they usually conjure up images of huge, hard-fighting fish in their heads. Although that’s one exciting aspect of this type of angling, it’s not all that’s on offer. Deep sea fishing in the Gold Coast can also involve going after some juicy table fair, as well as tough reef species.
You’ll have the chance to encounter anything from Amberjack, Yellowtail, Cobia and a variety of Snapper species. Perhaps the most famous Snapper in the Gold Coast region is the Pink Snapper. These chunky fish grow to impressive sizes and are especially delicious when served up as table fare. They tend to turn up around the shallow water reefs during Australia’s winter months, usually between April and November.
In fact, the majority of the Gold Coast’s reef fish tend to inhabit these waters during the winter months. Local anglers have a rule of thumb that they like to stick with. Focus on big game during the summer and get ready for some delicious dinner options and reef monsters in winter. Amberjack, Cobia and Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel swarm the reefs between April–November, too.
There’s a wide variety of techniques that Gold Coast anglers like to implement when it comes to these species. With snapper, “drift lining” or “bottom bashing” techniques are common. Deep dropping is popular when it comes to Amberjack, with anglers here often putting their own unique spin on it.
Gold Coast Deep Sea Fishing Techniques
As we mentioned above, there are many ways to go deep sea fishing near Gold Coast. This stretches from universal techniques such as trolling to bottom fishing Aussie-style. Because of this, you really can’t beat hopping aboard a local charter boat. Not only will you be able to cover plenty of ground and follow the fish, but you’ll also be able to rely on your guide to show you the best techniques.
Trolling
If you’ve been fishing for big game species before, chances are you already know a thing or two about trolling. This technique involves rigging your live or artificial bait onto multiple lines, which are then trolled behind your boat at varying lengths and deeps. The goal is to trick your target fish into thinking that your bait is live, in the hope that they’ll bite.
When it comes to deep sea trolling, speed is the one of the factors to consider. You’ll usually want to be travelling at around 10 knots to attract the big fish, although some local anglers recommend 5–8 knots for Tuna. The gear you’ll be using will be more heavy-duty, too – not only are your target fish pretty sizeable, but they’re usually strong and feisty too. You may also use outriggers to cover even more ground, and droppers to reach deeper waters.
The type of bait, tackle and rods you’ll be using depend on the fish you want to catch. If you’re fishing alone, we recommend taking a mixed bag with you, or checking out the specifics for your chosen catch. If you fish on a Gold Coast charter boat, you won’t have to worry about this, as your captain will have it covered.
Drift Fishing
We know, we know – for many anglers, drift fishing is definitely not synonymous with big game angling action! We’re not talking about lazily drifting down a waterway, taking in the scenery and waiting for your fish to bite, though. Although that definitely has its place in some settings, we’re here to focus on deep sea fishing. And there are some forms of deep sea fishing around the Gold Coast area that actually use drifting as their basis.
First, let’s talk about burleying, the Australian equivalent of chumming. This technique involves drifting over reefs or deep waters, equipped with a mixture of fish parts (usually pilchard) mashed together. As you drift, you’ll slowly feed this mixture over the side of the boat. Once you’ve got a good burley trail going, set your baits among it and wait for your fish to bite. Local anglers recommend using live bait, preferably Mackerel, and adding balloon floats.
Pink Snapper fishing in the Gold Coast region can also involve drift fishing. A popular technique known as “drift lining” or “drift baiting” involves basically drifting your boat over a reef and then drifting your bait along the bottom of the water. This results in natural-looking bait that glides along the part of the water column where these fish are typically feeding. You’ll want to cast around 10 metres in front of your boat and use a light sinker attached to a hook.
Bottom Fishing
Okay, back to another more traditional deep sea fishing technique. If you’re looking to hit the reefs for bottom dwellers, you’ll likely be trying out a form of bottom fishing. We say “a form” because this name is actually more of an umbrella term for a whole host of different fishing techniques. Again, the type of bottom fishing you’ll be doing will depend on what you want to catch and where your chosen target spends its time.
In simple terms, bottom fishing involves lowering a weighted hook topped with bait to the bottom of the water. Most anglers use sinkers, which are basically lead weights that’ll take your hook to a certain depth, depending on the heaviness. For more information on which weights, lines and hooks you should use, you can check out our handy guide to bottom fishing here.
Along the entire Gold Coast, a popular form of bottom fishing is “bottom bashing.” You’ll attach a heavy weight to the bottom of your line and set your hook slightly above, to avoid getting caught in the reefs. A snapper led is a common choice as it sits above the reefs and allows your hook to bounce back without getting caught. As the name of the weight suggests, this technique is especially popular when it comes to fishing for Snapper species!
Rules and Regulations
The legalities of deep sea fishing around Gold Coast are pretty simple. You don’t need a license in order to recreationally fish in the state of Queensland. This goes for anglers who are fishing on a charter boat or fishing independently. However, there are some local regulations you need to know about, such as closed seasons and size limits.
For example Mahi Mahi have to measure at least 50 centimetres, with a daily limit of 5 fish. Snapper must be at least 35 centimetres. Queensland’s government website has a full list of species that are subject to size and bag limits, and there is a general limit of 20 fish for all species not mentioned on this list.
Gold Coast Deep Sea Fishing: A Jewel in Queensland’s Crown
Incredible weather, endless sandy beaches and a real “who’s-who” of world-famous fish on offer? It’s easy to see why the city of Gold Coast is a must-visit destination for all deep sea fishing enthusiasts. Whether you’re a local angler looking to step your fishing know-how up a notch, or are ready to make the pilgrimage to this fantastic location from further ashore, the Gold Coast area is waiting to show you the time of your life!
If you crave more information on how to fish in Australia, take a look at our Australia fishing guide and learn about fish species, hotspots, angling techniques, and regulations.
Have you ever been deep sea fishing along the Gold Coast? What did you catch? Any tips, tricks, or local advice to share? Let us know in the comments!
