Kirra Groyne

The Kirra groyne is the rock wall at Kirra Point that splits Coolangatta Beach from Kirra Beach, built to hold sand on one of the most famous point breaks in the country. The rocks drop into a permanent hole on the tip and gutters run along both sides, which is exactly where tailor, bream and dart like to hunt. It is a far tidier platform than the natural rock at Snapper Rocks, so it suits anglers who'd rather not scramble. When Kirra is pumping it belongs to the surfers; the rest of the year it belongs to whoever gets there first with a pilchard.

Fish from the mid-section of the groyne rather than the very tip, casting into the gutter on whichever side the swell is less direct. Ganged pilchards or a metal slug thrown into the white water at dawn and dusk find tailor in winter. For bream, drift a lightly weighted prawn, mullet strip or pilchard piece down into the wash at the base of the rocks. Off the sand either side, a running sinker rig with worms or pipis finds whiting and dart in the gutters on a rising tide. Flathead sit on the sand edges and take a soft plastic hopped along the bottom.

Tailor are the winter draw, with bream around the rocks year-round and swallowtail dart patrolling the beach gutters. Whiting and flathead hold on the sand either side, and mulloway are a chance after dark on a bigger swell. Tailor are 35 cm with a possession limit of 20; bream 25 cm (30, combined with tarwhine); dart 30 cm (30); sand whiting 23 cm (30); dusky flathead 40–75 cm (5); mulloway 75 cm (2).

Shark control nets and drumlines operate off Kirra, North Kirra and Coolangatta — stay more than 20 m from them; it is an offence to be inside that zone. The Coolangatta Creek stormwater outlet onto Kirra Beach is covered by a PFAS do-not-eat advisory for fish from the creek and airport stormwater system; the advice does not apply to the ocean, but don't keep fish caught in the creek itself. Queensland possession limits include fish already in your freezer.

Park along Marine Parade or Musgrave Street at Kirra, or use the carparks at the Kirra Point end of the beach. The groyne is reached straight off the beach, with the Oceanway path running behind it. Kirra and Coolangatta have toilets, showers, cafes and a surf club within a short walk. Summer weekends turn the parking into a contact sport.

A small to moderate south-east swell with offshore westerly or south-westerly wind gives fishable white water and clean gutters. A big swell makes the end of the groyne dangerous and puts surfers all over the point. North-easterlies bring bluebottles and weed. The run-up to high tide at dawn or dusk is the best window for tailor and bream.

Waves can wash over the groyne, especially at the tip on a big swell or high tide — fish from the higher, drier rocks and never turn your back on the sea. A lifejacket is strongly recommended on the groyne (AS 4758 level 50S or higher for adults). The rocks are uneven and slippery with weed. Keep well clear of surfers paddling around the point, and watch for bluebottles on north-easterly days.

Tailor in winter, bream around the rocks year-round, dart and whiting in the beach gutters, flathead on the sand, and mulloway after dark.

Yes. Shark control nets and drumlines operate off Kirra, North Kirra and Coolangatta. Stay more than 20 m from them, as it is an offence to be inside the 20 m zone around shark control equipment.

The PFAS do-not-eat advice covers Coolangatta Creek and the Gold Coast Airport stormwater system, including the creek outlet onto Kirra Beach. It does not apply to the ocean at Kirra or North Kirra.

No. Queensland has no licence for recreational fishing in tidal waters.