Best Fishing Spots in Moreton Bay

Moreton Bay is one of the most productive fishing grounds within reach of Brisbane - a mix of sandbanks, reef, mangrove-lined passages and open channels that hold a genuinely wide range of species year-round. Rather than one "best" spot, the bay rewards matching the ground to the fish you're after and the tide you're fishing. Here are six areas worth building a trip around, all comfortably reachable in our Quintrex 430 Fishabout from our Marsden pickup.

1. Tangalooma Wrecks - Snapper & Reef Species

The sunken wrecks off Moreton Island's western side create an artificial reef that holds snapper, sweetlip and a mix of reef species around the structure. It's a longer, genuinely open-bay run - see our Tangalooma page for the honest crossing conditions before you plan a trip out there. Best fished outside the annual snapper closed season, on the turn of the tide.

2. Pumicestone Passage - Whiting, Flathead & Bream

The passage between Bribie Island and the mainland is one of the region's best-known light-tackle grounds. Its sandbanks and channels hold whiting and flathead on a running tide, with bream working the deeper edges and structure. Sheltered from ocean swell, it's a comfortable, low-stress trip - see our Bribie Island page for launch points and travel times.

3. Mud Island Flats - Local Anglers' Favourite

The flats and channels surrounding Mud Island, near Redcliffe, are popular with local anglers working for whiting, bream and flathead, and it's quieter than the more heavily fished spots closer to Manly. A short, sheltered run makes it an easy add-on to a Redcliffe-based trip - more on our Mud Island page.

4. St Helena Channels - Reliable All-Rounder

The channels surrounding St Helena Island fish well for a mix of species and are mostly sheltered, making this a solid choice when the wind picks up elsewhere in the bay. Combine a fish with a look at the island's historic penal settlement ruins - see our St Helena Island page.

5. Mangrove Creeks - Mud Crabbing

The mangrove-lined creeks and passages around Bribie Island and Mud Island are well suited to mud crabbing alongside a fishing session. Always check the current Queensland size and possession limits before you drop a pot, as rules are reviewed periodically.

6. Green Island Shallows - Easiest First Trip

Green Island's calm, shallow water is the shortest run in the bay from Manly, and while it's better known as an easy first outing than a serious fishing spot, its edges can still produce bream and the occasional flathead - handy if you're bringing along less experienced anglers. See our Green Island page.

Tackle, Rules and Getting There

Every Quintrex 430 Fishabout comes with a Fishfinder and GPS as standard, and we offer an optional fishing gear pack if you'd rather not bring your own tackle. Recreational fishing in Queensland doesn't require a general licence, but size, bag and possession limits apply to most species, and parts of Moreton Bay Marine Park carry zoning restrictions - check the current Queensland Fisheries rules before you head out, as they're reviewed periodically.

A current Queensland Recreational Boat Licence (RBL) is required to drive the Quintrex 430 - see our guide to boat licensing in Queensland if you're not yet licensed.

Fishing Spots FAQs

What anglers ask us before booking