Palm Beach Groyne (21st Avenue)

Palm Beach has two short rock groynes, at 11th and 21st Avenues, and the one at 21st Avenue is the pick for anglers: it pushes out past the shore break and leaves a permanent gutter along each side. Those gutters are where whiting, dart and bream wait for the swell to dig up their lunch. It is a suburban, low-key stretch with none of the parade of Burleigh or Coolangatta. If Snapper Rocks is the Gold Coast's stage, the Palm Beach groynes are its backyard.

Fish the gutters beside the groyne on a rising tide with a light running sinker rig and a beach worm, pipi or yabby for whiting and dart. From the groyne itself, drift a lightly weighted prawn or mullet strip into the wash at its base for bream. In winter, ganged pilchards or a 30–40 g metal slug thrown into the white water at dawn and dusk find tailor. Flathead sit on the sand at the edge of the gutter and take a soft plastic. After dark, a whole mullet or a slab bait in the deepest gutter is a chance at a mulloway.

Whiting and dart are the most reliable catches, with bream around the rocks and tailor in the white water in winter. Flathead lie on the sand edges and mulloway prowl the gutters at night. Sand whiting are 23 cm (possession 30); dart 30 cm (30); bream 25 cm (30); tailor 35 cm (20); dusky flathead 40–75 cm (5); mulloway 75 cm (2).

Shark control nets and drumlines operate off Palm Beach — stay more than 20 m from them; it is an offence to be inside that zone. Pipis dug from the beach make the best bait here; feel for them with your feet at the water's edge on a falling tide. Beach worms have a possession limit of 30. Worms and pipis dug here are fine to use on the spot, but raw marine worms can't be taken out of the white spot movement area (Caloundra to the NSW border) unless cooked.

Park on 21st Avenue or the nearby side streets at Palm Beach and walk straight onto the beach; the groyne is at the end of the street. The Oceanway path runs behind the dunes, and the Palm Beach surf club and cafes along the Gold Coast Highway are a short walk away. Parking is easier here than at most Gold Coast beaches, which is half the appeal.

A small to moderate south-east swell and light westerly or south-westerly wind give the best gutters and fishable water. A big swell makes the groyne wet and the gutters too rough for light gear. North-easterlies bring weed and bluebottles. The rising tide at dawn or dusk is prime time.

Waves can wash over the groyne on a big swell or high tide, so fish from the beach in those conditions. A lifejacket is strongly recommended if you fish from the groyne rocks (AS 4758 level 50S or higher for adults). The rocks are slippery, and rips form along groynes, so don't wade out past knee depth. Watch for bluebottles on north-easterly days and swimmers between the flags.

The gutters beside the groynes, especially the 21st Avenue groyne, hold whiting, dart and bream, with tailor in winter. Tallebudgera Creek mouth at the northern end is the sheltered alternative.

Beach worms and pipis gathered on the beach, plus yabbies, prawns and pilchards. Beach worms have a possession limit of 30.

Yes. Shark control nets and drumlines operate off Palm Beach. Stay more than 20 m from them — it is an offence to be inside that zone.