Fishing at Little Nerang Dam, Gold Coast, Queensland

• Overview

  The Gold Coast end of Queensland holds Little Nerang Dam. Elevation runs to 182 metres. The town to know is Bonogin, 6.8 km out. Tallebudgera Valley is 8.5 km away, with Tallai at 10 km. What else is close: Tallebudgera Creek Dam out at 8.1 km, 9.8 km away is Advancetown Lake, Mudgeeraba Creek out at 16 km, 17 km away is Burleigh Lake and Pelican Lake out at 17 km. A regional boundary runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Little Nerang Dam

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records collected within a few miles name Australian longfinned eel, Australian bass, flathead grey mullet and shortfin eel. Local agencies hold the definitive list for this water. On Little Nerang Dam a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 13°C in July to roughly 23°C in January. Nothing shuts down for cold, so the question is when in the day to go. Levels swing with the wet season, which moves the fishing about. Early spring brings the water on quickly here. It sets the rhythm of the year at Little Nerang Dam.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Mapping records boats as not allowed here, so plan to fish from the bank. Parking is close: a car park sits 530 m from the bank. Mapping records toilets within 490 m. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Tallebudgera Creek Dam, 8.1 km out. What applies at Little Nerang Dam may have changed since it was mapped.