Nerang River Platform (Weedons Crossing)

This council platform sits on the bank of the Nerang River at the northern tip of Burchill Park, just downstream of the M1 at Nerang. Weedons Crossing is a significant inflow point for the river system, so there is plenty of food moving past and plenty of fish waiting for it. Upstream of the Gold Coast's glitter, the river here is darker, snaggier and more jack-shaped. The motorway hums overhead, but the trevally don't seem to mind the traffic.

Fish the last of the run-out tide and the run-in. Bream and flathead take yabbies, herring or mud worms on a light running sinker rig cast toward the channel edges. In the early morning, cast small metal lures or poppers for trevally as they push bait along the bank. On summer nights, a live mullet or herring fished near snags and bank structure is the way to find mangrove jack. Whiting move over the sandier patches in summer.

Bream, flathead and mud crabs are the year-round regulars. Mangrove jack, whiting and sharks are summer-night fish, and trevally hunt in the early mornings. Bream are 25 cm (possession 30, combined with tarwhine); mangrove jack 35 cm (5); dusky flathead 40–75 cm (5); sand whiting 23 cm (30); trevally have no minimum size, with 20 combined. Mud crabs are 15 cm (7 per person), and female mud crabs are no take.

Mangrove jack bolt for the snags the moment they are hooked, so use a heavier leader and keep pressure on from the first second. Crab pots and dillies are limited to 4 per person, tagged with your surname and address, and inverted dillies are banned. Sharks are part of the summer-night catch here, so take care when unhooking them; only 1 shark or ray per person may be kept, and it must be no longer than 150 cm.

Take exit 71 off the M1 at Nerang and head west along Nerang–Broadbeach Road, then turn into Arthur Earle Park. Park there and walk about 500 metres downstream along the riverbank, under the M1, into Burchill Park; the platform is at the park's northern tip. The walk is on grass and paths, with no facilities at the platform itself.

The last of the run-out and the run-in are the productive tides. After heavy rain the river runs fresh and dirty, which can push bream and flathead downstream for a while. Hot, humid summer nights with a run-in tide are prime for jacks. Early mornings suit trevally.

Bull sharks use the Nerang River, so never swim or wade, and don't clean fish at the water's edge. The bank can be muddy and slippery, especially after rain. Take a torch for night sessions, and keep an eye on footing around the platform.

At the northern tip of Burchill Park, under the M1 at Nerang. Park at Arthur Earle Park off Nerang–Broadbeach Road and walk about 500 metres downstream along the bank.

Yes. Mangrove jack are caught here on summer nights around snags and bank structure. They are 35 cm minimum with a possession limit of 5.

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