Wellington Point Jetty

Wellington Point sticks out into Moreton Bay north of Cleveland, and the jetty on the end of the point looks across to King Island, a small mangrove island joined to the point by a sand bar at low tide. The jetty gets you over the channel edge, while the sand bar and weed flats either side are prime whiting and flathead ground. Squid come into the weed beds in winter, and the point gets a bit of tidal run that keeps the bream interested. It is a picturesque spot with a picnic-ground crowd, and most of them are not there for the fishing.

Whiting and grunter are caught on worms or yabbies on a light running sinker cast onto the sand either side of the jetty on the rising tide. Flathead lie along the edges of the sand bar and channel, so work a small soft plastic or a whitebait slowly along the drop-off. Squid hunt the weed beds around the point in the cooler months, and a natural-coloured jig cast over the weed at dawn or dusk works well. Bream sit around the jetty pylons and rocks, especially at night. At low tide, walk the sand bar toward King Island and cast into the channels on either side, but keep a close eye on the tide.

Sand whiting and grunter are the summer staples, while flathead are around all year and best in spring. Bream and squid are the winter targets, along with the odd tailor and small snapper. Whiting 23 cm (possession limit 30), dusky flathead 40–75 cm (5), bream 25 cm (30, combined with tarwhine), grunter 40 cm (10), tailor 35 cm (20), snapper 35 cm (4), tiger squid 20.

The water around the point is in the Moreton Bay Marine Park's habitat protection zone, where standard Queensland line limits apply: up to 3 lines and 6 hooks in total per person. Snapper are closed from 15 July to 15 August. Bivalves and gastropods other than pipis (oysters, mussels, whelks and the like) are no take in Moreton Bay Marine Park and the tidal waters that flow into it, so leave the oysters and whelks on the rocks. Raw prawns, yabbies and worms must not leave the white spot movement restriction area unless cooked. King Island itself is a mangrove-and-sand dot that photographs better than it fishes.

Wellington Point Reserve is at the end of Main Road, Wellington Point, with parking, toilets, barbecues, a café and plenty of shade. The jetty is a short walk from the car park. The King Island sand bar is only walkable for a couple of hours either side of low tide.

The point faces north into the bay, so north-easterly winds roughen the jetty side while southerlies leave it sheltered. Clear water after a few calm days is best for squid and whiting. Strong spring tides run hard past the end of the point, which suits lure fishing for flathead.

The incoming tide covers the King Island sand bar quickly, and walkers regularly get caught out, so start back well before the tide turns. Stingrays are common on the flats; shuffle your feet when wading. The jetty deck is high above the water at low tide, so supervise children. Leave the jetty if a storm approaches.

Yes, along the sand bar for a couple of hours either side of low tide. The incoming tide covers it quickly, so start back early.

Sand whiting, dusky flathead, yellowfin bream, grunter and squid, with tailor and small snapper in winter.

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