Cleveland Point

Cleveland Point is the narrow headland that marks the town's waterfront, with a historic lighthouse at the tip and rocks and seawall running around both sides. Deeper water swings close to the point, and the tide runs around it, so this is one of the few places on the western bay shore where land-based anglers have a genuine shot at squid, snapper and tailor as well as the usual bream and flathead. A reserve with shady trees and picnic tables covers most of the point. The old lighthouse pointed boats in the right direction for more than a century, which is more than can be said for most fishing advice.

Squid are the main target in the cooler months: cast a natural or orange jig over the weed and rubble around the point at dawn, dusk or after dark. Bream sit tight against the rocks and seawall and take lightly weighted prawns, mullet strips or small plastics. Snapper are a winter dawn or night option on a lightly weighted pilchard or squid strip cast into the deeper water off the tip. Tailor and school mackerel can be caught on metal slugs thrown off the point when bait is around. Flathead and whiting feed over the sand either side of the point.

Squid and bream are the cool-month staples, with tailor and small snapper also in the mix. Flathead are best in spring, and whiting feed on the sand in summer. School mackerel pass through in summer and autumn when the water is clean. Bream 25 cm (possession limit 30, combined with tarwhine), snapper 35 cm (4, only 1 over 70 cm), tailor 35 cm (20), dusky flathead 40–75 cm (5), whiting 23 cm (30), school mackerel 50 cm (10), tiger squid 20.

The point sits on the edge of the Moreton Bay Marine Park's habitat protection zone, with a small general use zone just to the south-west; standard Queensland line limits apply in both: up to 3 lines and 6 hooks in total per person. Snapper are closed from 15 July to 15 August. Bivalves and gastropods other than pipis (oysters, mussels, whelks and the like) are no take in Moreton Bay Marine Park and the tidal waters that flow into it, so the oysters on the rocks stay where they are. Squid ink on the rocks is a reliable sign you've found the right spot, and a reliable way to ruin a good pair of shoes.

Cleveland Point Reserve is at the end of Shore Street North, Cleveland, with parking, toilets and picnic tables. The lighthouse sits at the tip of the point. The rocks are uneven and slippery, but there is easier access along the seawall sections.

The point faces north-east into the bay, so it is exposed to the summer north-easterly sea breeze and to south-easterly trade winds. A westerly or south-westerly flattens the water around the point. Clear water after a few calm days is best for squid. The tide runs strongly around the point on springs, so pick the start or end of a run for bait fishing.

The rocks around the point are slippery with weed and oyster shell, so wear shoes with good grip and don't fish them in big chop. Keep children back from the seawall edge. Boats pass close to the point, so watch your casts. Leave the point if a storm approaches.

Yes. Cleveland Point is one of the better land-based squid spots on the western side of Moreton Bay, especially from late autumn to spring. The possession limit for tiger squid is 20.

Squid, yellowfin bream, tailor, small snapper in winter, flathead, whiting and school mackerel in summer and autumn.

Small snapper are mainly a late autumn and winter catch here, but snapper are closed in Queensland from 15 July to 15 August.