Labrador Fishing Platforms (Marine Parade)

A string of council fishing platforms lines the Marine Parade esplanade at Labrador, between the Grand Hotel and just south of Whiting Street, looking straight across the Broadwater to the Seaway. Each one has seating and a blue shade sail, which makes this the most civilised fishing on the Gold Coast. The water in front gets the full flush of the Seaway tides, so bream, luderick, whiting and flathead move along the foreshore in good numbers. It is a favourite with older locals, who can tell you exactly which platform fished best in 1987.

Fish the last of the run-out tide and through the run-in. A light running sinker rig with a yabby, bloodworm or herring cast a short way off the platform finds bream and whiting. In the cooler months, luderick come along the foreshore and take green weed or wrigglers under a float. Flathead sit on the sandy bottom in the warmer months and take a strip of mullet or a soft plastic worked slowly back. Squid move in during the cooler months and take a small jig at dusk.

Bream are the staple and luderick the cool-season specialty, with whiting and flathead taking over in the warmer months. Tarwhine, garfish and squid fill in the gaps. Bream and tarwhine are 25 cm (possession 30 combined); luderick 30 cm (10); sand whiting 23 cm (30); dusky flathead 40–75 cm (5); garfish have no minimum size, with 50 combined.

Moreton Bay Marine Park begins north of here, across the Broadwater; the Labrador foreshore is outside it, and normal Queensland rules apply. Because these waters flow into Moreton Bay Marine Park, bivalves and gastropods other than pipis are still no take. Spearfishing is banned in this southern part of the Broadwater (south of the Currigee–Hollywell line) and within 100 m of any public jetty. Crab pots and dillies are limited to 4 per person, tagged with your surname and address, and inverted dillies are banned.

Park along Marine Parade at Labrador, close to the platforms. The esplanade has a sealed path and foreshore parks, and the platforms are level and easy to reach. There is also a concrete platform at the western end of Burrows Street facing Biggera Creek, opposite the Biggera Waters shopping centre. Parking is easy outside weekend mornings.

The last of the run-out and the run-in are the productive tides. Strong north-easterly winds blow straight onto the foreshore and make light-line fishing hard. Clear water on the run-in suits whiting, while discoloured water after rain brings bream on. Dawn and dusk are prime, especially in winter.

The platforms are low and easy, but watch children near the water's edge. Bull sharks use the Broadwater, so keep hands out of the water and don't clean fish at the edge. Take care with hooks around walkers and cyclists on the esplanade path.

Along the Marine Parade esplanade at Labrador, between the Grand Hotel and just south of Whiting Street, facing the Gold Coast Seaway. Each platform has seating and a shade sail.

Bream year-round, luderick and squid in the cooler months, and whiting and flathead in the warmer months.

The last of the run-out tide and the run-in.

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