Guide
Brisbane Squid Fishing
Where and how to catch squid around Brisbane: Moreton Bay tiger squid over seagrass, Redcliffe, Wynnum, Wellington Point and Cleveland, with jig and tide tips.
Brisbane squid fishing happens in Moreton Bay, and the main prize here is the tiger squid (northern calamari) - aggressive, hard-hitting and excellent eating - alongside some southern calamari. They live over the bay’s seagrass banks, so squidding Brisbane is really about finding weed near accessible structure and fishing the tide across it.
For the method behind the spot choice, start with Eging Australia and the full how to catch squid walkthrough.
Where to fish around Moreton Bay
- Redcliffe peninsula - the Woody Point and Redcliffe jetties and Scarborough are classic, easy land-based options.
- Bayside suburbs - Wynnum, Manly Harbour, Wellington Point, Victoria Point and the Cleveland / Raby Bay foreshore all sit near seagrass.
- Amity Point (North Stradbroke) - a well-known tiger squid spot over clean seagrass if you take the ferry across.
- Jetty lights and channel edges - fish the weed margins and lit structure, not the open mud flats.
If you need the structure-reading system first, use how to read water for squid fishing.
How Moreton Bay water behaves
Moreton Bay is broad and shallow, so it often carries some colour from wind, tide and run-off - which pushes your colour choice toward visibility. The constant is the seagrass: tiger squid ambush from the weed, so work the edges, sand holes and channel margins where weed meets deeper water. When the bay does clean up, drop back toward natural.
Best time and tide
Winter and spring are usually the most consistent, though tiger squid are around much of the year in the subtropics. A making or higher tide brings squid up onto the seagrass and closer to jetties; fish it around dawn, dusk or the first hours of night. See best time to catch squid for the broader logic.
Squid jig size and sink rate
Tiger squid are aggressive and often want a slightly bigger profile, so 3.0 to 3.5 is the Moreton Bay range, dropping to 2.5 only in shallow, calm, clear water. Over shallow seagrass, a slow-sink jig keeps the lure in the strike zone above the weed for longer. Run light PE 0.6-0.8 braid with a fluorocarbon leader.
See what size squid jig to use and the squid jig sinking rate guide.
Colours for Moreton Bay
- Coloured or stained bay water - pink, orange, gold foil or UV (your everyday starting point here).
- Genuinely clean water - natural prawn, olive or silver.
- Night under jetty lights - glow, white glow or a dark-backed glow.
For the full decision system, read squid jig colours Australia.
Access, seagrass and etiquette
The seagrass that holds squid is also protected habitat for turtles and dugong - fish it, don’t damage it, and take all ink, line and rubbish home. Jetties get busy on weekends and in the school holidays, so give other anglers room and watch your footing on lit structure at night. On higher rails, use a landing net or a squid gaff rather than lifting squid by the line.
Check current Queensland rules in the squid fishing regulations guide before keeping a feed.
Recommended gear and where to buy
A light egi rod setup, a 2500 reel, PE 0.6-0.8 braid, a fluorocarbon leader, and a small spread of 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 jigs - leaning on visible and glow colours for the bay - will cover most Brisbane sessions.
Browse squid jigs Australia, and use the squid jig size calculator if you are unsure on size. RUI ships Australia-wide.
Squid fishing elsewhere in Australia
- Gold Coast squid fishing - the Broadwater and Seaway, just south.
- Sydney squid fishing - the harbour, Botany Bay and ocean rocks.
- Perth squid fishing - Cockburn Sound and the WA seagrass.
- How to catch squid in Australia - the full beginner walkthrough.
FAQ
Where can you catch squid in Brisbane?
Moreton Bay is the squid ground. From land, try the Redcliffe and Woody Point jetties, Scarborough, Wynnum, Manly, Wellington Point, Victoria Point and the Cleveland and Raby Bay foreshore. Amity Point on North Stradbroke is a well-known tiger squid spot over the seagrass.
What kind of squid do you catch in Brisbane?
Mostly tiger squid (northern calamari), which are aggressive and hit hard, plus some southern calamari. They live over the seagrass banks of Moreton Bay, so fish the weed edges and channel margins rather than open mud.
What is the best time of year for squid in Brisbane?
Winter and spring are usually the most consistent in Moreton Bay, though tiger squid are caught much of the year. Fish a making or higher tide over the seagrass, around dawn, dusk or the first part of the night.
What colour squid jig works in Moreton Bay?
Moreton Bay water often carries some colour, so brighter jigs earn their keep - pink, orange, gold foil and UV. Drop back to natural when the water is genuinely clean, and use glow around jetty lights at night.