Coochiemudlo Island Jetty

Coochiemudlo is a small island in the southern bay, a short ferry ride from Victoria Point, and its jetty on the south-western shore, facing Victoria Point, is where the ferries land. The jetty and the beaches either side look out over weed beds, sand flats and a deeper channel, which hold whiting, flathead, bream and squid. The island is small enough to walk around in a few hours, so a fishing trip here easily becomes a beach day with a rod. Locals call it Coochie, and few visitors manage to say the full name the same way twice.

Off the jetty, fish lightly weighted prawns, yabbies or worms for bream and whiting, and cast small plastics along the weed edges for flathead. Squid hunt the weed beds in the cooler months and can be caught on natural-coloured jigs worked slowly at dawn and dusk. On the beaches, fish the rising tide with worms or yabbies for whiting, wading quietly and casting along the edges of the gutters. In winter, a pilchard or squid strip fished into the deeper water at dawn can find a small snapper or a tailor.

Whiting are the summer staple, and flathead are on the weed edges year-round with a spring peak. Bream and squid are winter targets, along with tailor and small snapper. Whiting 23 cm (possession limit 30), dusky flathead 40–75 cm (5), bream 25 cm (30, combined with tarwhine), tailor 35 cm (20), snapper 35 cm (4), tiger squid 20.

The jetty is the island's ferry landing, so give way to ferries and passengers, and keep lines clear of the pontoon when boats are berthing. The waters around the island are in the Moreton Bay Marine Park's habitat protection zone, where standard Queensland limits apply: up to 3 lines and 6 hooks in total per person. Snapper are closed from 15 July to 15 August, and bivalves and gastropods other than pipis are no take in Moreton Bay Marine Park. The ferry timetable is the only clock that matters here.

Ferries and a vehicle barge run from Victoria Point. The jetty is a short walk from the island's shop and cafés, and the beaches are all within walking distance. There are toilets and picnic areas near the jetty.

The island sits in the sheltered southern bay, so swell is never an issue. The western side, where the jetty is, is calmest in easterly winds, while the eastern beaches are calmest in westerlies. Clear water after a few calm days is best for squid and whiting.

Ferries manoeuvre close to the jetty, so watch your lines. Don't swim near the jetty or jump from it while ferries are operating. Stingrays are common on the flats; shuffle your feet when wading. Carry water and sun protection, because shade on the beaches is limited.

Take the ferry or vehicle barge from Victoria Point; the trip is short. The jetty where the ferry lands is also a fishing spot.

Sand whiting, dusky flathead, yellowfin bream, squid, tailor and small snapper in winter.

Yes, but it is the ferry landing, so give way to ferries and passengers and keep lines clear of the pontoon.