Manly Boat Harbour Walls

Manly Boat Harbour is one of the biggest recreational boat harbours in the country, and its rock walls run out across the flats to deeper water in the bay. The walls hold bream in numbers, especially after dark, and the rocks and pontoon lights draw squid in the cooler months. The harbour is surrounded by yacht clubs, cafés and the Manly village, so it is an easy spot to fish for an hour at the end of the day. Watching other people reverse boat trailers down the ramp is a recognised local pastime in its own right.

Bream are the night target: fish a lightly weighted prawn, yabby or mullet strip right against the rocks on the rising tide and let it sink naturally. Squid come in after dark from late autumn to spring and can be caught on small jigs worked slowly along the walls. Whiting and flathead feed on the sand outside the walls, especially on the higher tides. In late summer, cast a metal slug off the outer wall for passing school mackerel. Small snapper sometimes take baits fished near the rocks in winter.

Yellowfin bream are the staple, with the bigger fish in winter. Squid are a cool-season target, while whiting and flathead fill in through spring and summer. School mackerel can show up in summer and autumn, small snapper move in during winter, and tailor run through in the cooler months. Bream 25 cm (possession limit 30, combined with tarwhine), snapper 35 cm (4), school mackerel 50 cm (10), whiting 23 cm (30), dusky flathead 40–75 cm (5), tiger squid 20.

The harbour is a working boat harbour managed by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, so fish from the walls, not from private marina berths or club pontoons. Stay well clear of the boat ramp and the harbour entrance channel. The walls 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.

Park at the Manly Harbour car parks off the Esplanade or in nearby streets, then walk out along the harbour walls. Toilets, cafés and fish and chips are close by in Manly village. Parts of the walls are concrete walkway, while others are rock, which is uneven and slippery.

The harbour walls face north and east into the bay, so a westerly gives the calmest water. Strong north-easterly or south-easterly winds push chop against the outer walls. Squid fishing is best after a few calm, clear days, while bream can come on when the water carries a little colour after rain.

The rock walls are uneven and slippery, especially at night and when wet. Wear shoes with good grip and carry a torch. Keep clear of boat traffic at the ramp and the harbour entrance. Don't climb down onto the rocks to retrieve gear, and stay out of the water.

Yes, from the public harbour walls. Keep clear of private marina berths, club pontoons, the boat ramp and the harbour entrance channel.

Yellowfin bream (especially at night), squid, whiting, flathead, small snapper in winter and school mackerel in summer and autumn.

No. The harbour walls are in the Moreton Bay Marine Park's habitat protection zone, where line fishing is allowed under standard Queensland limits.