Auckland Creek & East Shores (Gladstone Marina)

Auckland Creek is where Gladstone's estuary fishing starts: the tidal inlet runs past the East Shores parkland and the Gladstone Yacht Club and out into the harbour between the marina parklands and the port at Auckland Point. Along the way it is lined with jetties, wharves, decks and pontoons, and every one of them is structure for bream, mangrove jack and barramundi. It is a city-centre spot — playgrounds, paths and the harbour lookout are a short walk away — but the creek still fishes like a proper central Queensland estuary. The coal ships outside provide the backdrop; the fish don't seem to mind the industry.

Fish the incoming tide, when clean harbour water pushes up the creek and the fish move onto the structure. Live bait works best here — live prawns, herring or poddy mullet fished close to the jetty pylons and wharf edges for jacks and barra, or drifted with the current. Bream take peeled prawn or a small soft plastic worked tight to the structure. When schools of prawns are about, a cast net thrown from a jetty can fill the bait bucket — never from the bank or while standing in the water.

Bream are the everyday fish, with mangrove jack and barramundi the targets and trevally in the harbour end. Yellowfin bream are 25 cm minimum, in a combined possession limit of 30. Mangrove jack are 35 cm, limit 5. Barramundi are a 58–120 cm slot with a possession limit of 5 and are closed from 1 November to 31 January. Trevally share a combined limit of 20.

Stay on the public parkland, paths and jetties — the Auckland Point wharves and port roads next door are a controlled port area with gated access. Don't eat fish or seafood from Ship Creek beside Port Central, where a PFAS "do not eat" advice applies. Give way to boats at the marina and yacht club pontoons. Put scraps in the bins, not over the edge. Coral reef fin fish closures apply in these waters on set dates each year (6–10 November in 2026).

East Shores is on Flinders Parade in Gladstone Central, with parking off the parade and around the marina parklands across the creek. The parklands have public toilets, barbecues, playgrounds and wheelchair access, and the paths and decks are flat. It is a good family spot, provided children are kept back from the jetty edges.

The creek is sheltered from the south-easterly trade wind by the town and the parklands, so it fishes when the harbour is choppy. Big spring tides run hard and can carry weed; the neaps and the hours around the turn are easier. After heavy rain the creek runs brown and the fish push down toward the harbour.

Gladstone is crocodile habitat. Stay at least 5 m back from the water's edge where you can, keep arms and legs away from the edge of jetties and pontoons, never stand in the water to cast, and only throw a cast net from a boat or jetty. Reel fish in quickly and step back, and cut the line if a crocodile takes interest in your catch. Marine stingers, including box jellyfish and Irukandji, occur in these waters, typically November to May; carry vinegar. Jetty and pontoon decks are slippery when wet.

Auckland Creek along East Shores and the marina parklands is the city's main land-based spot, with jetties and wharves along the creek. The Calliope River near the power station and the Boyne River at Benaraby are the other popular shore spots.

Bream, mangrove jack and barramundi, best on the incoming tide with live bait. Barramundi are closed from 1 November to 31 January.

There is a PFAS "do not eat" advice for fish and seafood from Ship Creek next to Port Central (beside Mark Fenton Drive and Hopper Road), so don't keep a feed from there.