Gold Coast Seaway South Wall

The Gold Coast Seaway is the man-made entrance that drains the Broadwater, and its south wall at the tip of The Spit is the most popular piece of land-based rock on the coast. Every tide pours the whole of the southern bay through a gap a few hundred metres wide, and the deep, fast channel beside the wall is a highway for bait and everything chasing it. Mulloway, tailor, bream, luderick and trevally all use the walls, and big snapper turn up in winter. On a good night the wall has more rods than the Broadwater has jet skis.

Fish the channel side of the wall around the tide changes, when the current slows enough to hold a bait near the bottom. For mulloway, drift a live mullet or a fresh slab bait down the rocks on the last of the run-out and the first of the run-in, especially at night. Ganged pilchards or metal slugs cast off the outer end find tailor at dawn and dusk in winter. Bream and tarwhine take small baits fished close to the rocks, and luderick are caught on green weed under a float along the wall. Use enough lead to get down, but expect to lose rigs in the rocks.

Mulloway are the trophy fish, with most taken at night on live bait. Tailor run in winter, bream and luderick are present year-round, and trevally hunt the channel in the warmer months. Snapper come in during the cooler months, and flathead hold on the sandy edges inside the walls. Mulloway are 75 cm with a possession limit of 2; tailor 35 cm (20); bream and tarwhine 25 cm (30 combined); luderick 30 cm (10); snapper 35 cm (4, only 1 over 70 cm) and closed 15 July to 15 August; dusky flathead 40–75 cm (5).

The sand bypass jetty on the beach just south of the Seaway is closed to the public, with the Gold Coast Waterways Authority listing it as closed until the end of 2026 — fish the walls, not the jetty. Snapper are closed to take from 15 July to 15 August, and any caught then must be released. Doug Jennings Park, behind the wall, has vehicle gates that close at night, though walkers can still get in. The waters just north of the Seaway are in Moreton Bay Marine Park, but the wall itself is outside it.

Drive to the northern end of Sea World Drive on The Spit and park at Doug Jennings Park, then walk out along the Federation Walk and the wall. The park has toilets, showers, water and the Seaway Kiosk. The wall is broad and well formed near the shore but rougher towards the outer end. Vehicle gates on the park close at night and overnight parking isn't allowed, so check the gate times signposted at the entrance before a night session.

The tide changes are the main event, with the run-out to low and the start of the run-in the best for mulloway. A big east or south-east swell breaks across the entrance and can wash over the outer end of the wall. Light westerly winds give the cleanest conditions. Dirty water after rain flushing out of the Broadwater often switches on the mulloway and bream.

The current through the Seaway is extremely strong, and a fall from the wall into the channel is life-threatening. A lifejacket is strongly recommended on the wall (AS 4758 level 50S or higher for adults), particularly on the outer end, at night or in any swell. The rocks are steep and slippery, and swell can surge up the outer end without warning. Keep clear of boats running the Seaway, and never swim in the channel. Bull sharks hunt the Seaway, especially at night.

Yes. The south wall at The Spit is open to fishing and is one of the most popular land-based spots on the Gold Coast. The nearby sand bypass jetty is closed to the public.

Mulloway, tailor, bream, luderick, trevally, tarwhine and flathead, with snapper in the cooler months outside the 15 July to 15 August closure.

Mulloway are 75 cm minimum with a possession limit of 2 per person.

The waters just north of the Seaway are part of Moreton Bay Marine Park, but the south wall itself sits outside it. Normal Queensland fisheries rules apply.