Redcliffe Jetty

Redcliffe Jetty is the centrepiece of the Redcliffe foreshore, a concrete jetty that runs out from Redcliffe Parade into the open water of Moreton Bay. Because it faces east into the bay rather than into a sheltered inlet, it gets cleaner water, more squid and a shot at mackerel in summer. The town has been building jetties on this spot since the 1880s, and the current one is busy with walkers, market-goers and anglers most days. Fishing here involves a lot of explaining to tourists that, no, there are no dolphins on the line.

Squid are the jetty's speciality, caught after dark under the lights on a size 2.0–3.0 jig. Bream and small snapper take lightly weighted baits such as prawns, squid strips or pilchard pieces fished near the pylons. In winter, a ganged pilchard or a metal slug thrown off the end at first light finds the tailor. In late summer, keep a slug or a pilchard on a wire trace ready for passing school and spotted mackerel. Flathead and whiting sit on the sand either side, so a light rod with a small plastic or a worm bait fishes the edges.

Squid and yellowfin bream are year-round regulars, peaking in the cooler months. Tailor run from May to September, and small snapper show up in winter but are closed from 15 July to 15 August. School and spotted mackerel can come through in the warmer months when the bay water is clean. Bream 25 cm (possession limit 30, combined with tarwhine), tailor 35 cm (20), snapper 35 cm (4), school mackerel 50 cm (10), spotted mackerel 60 cm (5), tiger squid 20.

The jetty is in the Redcliffe habitat protection zone of the Moreton Bay Marine Park, where ordinary Queensland line fishing limits apply: up to 3 lines and 6 hooks in total per person, and you must stay with your lines. Bait jigs for herring and yellowtail scad are handy, and baitfish such as herring have no possession limit. Snapper are closed from 15 July to 15 August. When the Sunday markets are on, expect the jetty to be full of people with prams who think your bait bucket is a souvenir.

The jetty is at the end of Redcliffe Parade in the middle of the Redcliffe foreshore. There is parking along the parade and in nearby streets, though it is scarce on market days. Toilets, cafés, playgrounds and the lagoon are all close by. The deck is flat and railed, and lights make it a good night spot.

The jetty faces east across Moreton Bay, so westerly winds flatten the water and give the best squid and pelagic fishing. A north-easterly or south-easterly pushes a chop onto the jetty and clouds the water near the shore. Clean, blue water after a run of westerlies is when mackerel and squid are most likely. Floodwater from the Brisbane and Pine rivers can colour the whole bay after heavy rain.

The jetty is busy, so check behind you before casting and keep hooks and knives out of walkways. Ink and bait make the deck slippery at night. Don't swim or climb down from the jetty to retrieve gear; bull sharks and stingrays are present in the bay. Leave the jetty if a storm approaches.

Yes. Fishing is one of the main uses of the jetty, especially at night for squid. It is in a habitat protection zone, where normal Queensland line limits apply (up to 3 lines and 6 hooks in total).

Squid, yellowfin bream, tailor, small snapper, flathead and whiting, with school and spotted mackerel in the warmer months.

After dark from late autumn to spring, especially on calm nights after a few days of westerly winds have cleared the water. The possession limit for tiger squid is 20.