Budds Beach (Nerang River)
Summary for 24 Oct 2026
Bite Compass is showing a high fish activity bite score on 24 Oct 2026. Wind is around NE at 16 km/h. Solunar feeding windows are listed below.
Feeding Windows
Local Knowledge
Budds Beach is a strip of river sand on the Nerang River, tucked behind the towers of Surfers Paradise and a short walk from Cavill Avenue. The river here is wide and tidal, with deep water close to the bank, and the pontoons, moorings and rock edges along the reach hold bream, flathead and trevally. It is sheltered from the ocean swell, so it fishes when the beaches are unfishable. Few places let you go from a souvenir shop to a flathead in five minutes.
Fish the last of the run-out tide and the run-in from the sand, casting a light running sinker rig with a yabby, prawn or herring along the drop-off for bream and whiting. Flathead lie along the edge of the channel and take soft plastics or small whole baits worked slowly along the bottom. At dawn and dusk, trevally chase bait along the bank and take small metal slugs or soft plastics. In the warmer months, a live bait or soft plastic cast toward rock edges and pontoons can find mangrove jack. Fish early before the river traffic builds.
Bream and flathead are the main targets, with whiting on the sand and trevally chasing bait. Mangrove jack live around structure in the warmer months. Bream are 25 cm (possession 30, combined with tarwhine); dusky flathead 40–75 cm (5); sand whiting 23 cm (30); trevally have no minimum size, with 20 combined; mangrove jack 35 cm (5).
The beach is also used for swimming, paddling and river ferries, so fish early and keep casts clear of people and boats. Don't cast at or tie up to private pontoons and moorings. Bull sharks are common in the Nerang River and canals, so don't swim or wade after dark.
Access & Conditions
Budds Beach runs along River Drive at the end of Norfolk Avenue in Surfers Paradise, a short walk from Cavill Avenue and the light rail. Parking is street parking in the surrounding avenues, which fills quickly on weekends. The reserve has grassed areas and seats, and the sand is easy walking for families.
The last of the run-out and the run-in fish best. Heavy rain turns the Nerang River brown, which can bring bream and flathead on near the banks. The river is sheltered from ocean swell, though strong northerlies chop up the reach. Weekday mornings are the quietest.
Bull sharks are common in the Nerang River, so never swim or wade at dawn, dusk or at night, and don't clean fish at the water's edge. Watch for boats, ferries and paddleboards close to the beach. The sand drops off steeply into deep water in places.
Gear & Rigs
A light 7 ft rod with a 2500 reel and 6–10 lb line suits most of the fishing. Use a small running sinker and size 4–1 hooks for bream and whiting, and a 1/8–1/4 oz jighead with a soft plastic for flathead. For jacks and trevally, step up to a 3–6 kg rod and a 20–30 lb leader. Up to 3 lines and 6 hooks in total per person.
Seasons
Bream are best in the cooler months, and whiting and flathead from spring through summer. Trevally and mangrove jack are warm-water fish, best from November to March. Flathead are around all year.
If This Spot's Blown Out
Frequently Asked
Yes. Budds Beach on the Nerang River is a popular spot for bream, flathead and whiting. Keep clear of swimmers, ferries and private pontoons.
Yes. Bull sharks are common in the Nerang River and Gold Coast canals, so don't swim or wade at dawn, dusk or night.
Bream, flathead, whiting, trevally and, in the warmer months, mangrove jack.