Wolly's Western Port Landbased Guide

Pier Fishing, Rock Fishing and general land based fishing around Melbourne
Wolly Bugger
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Wolly's Western Port Landbased Guide

Post by Wolly Bugger » Sat Sep 01, 2012 7:29 am

Ok here goes, Western Port can be divided into three main areas. The Eastern, the Northern and the Western sides. Access is difficult and limited due to private property, shallow water, mangroves etc.

It should be noted that after rain in the western port catchment area the dirty water run off will take a few days to move down from the top end of the bay. So 3 or 4 days after rain, the water at Flinders will be murky and it can take a few tide changes before it becomes clear again.

The Western Side basically starts at;

Flinders, Shoreham, Point Leo, Merricks, Balnarring, Somers, Stony Point, and Hastings.

Flinders

There are two choices, the pier or the beach. The majority of Anglers choose the pier, that has a reputation for large calamari. Other species include grass whiting, king george whiting, wrasse, yellow eyed mullet, flat-head and sharks.

Divers frequent this pier at times. Take either a long handled net or a crab pot on a rope to lift your catch from the water to the pier.

Best time Before dawn, dusk, night time or tides changes.

Shoreham

The carpark gives close access to the water, anglers can be seen sitting back in their deck chairs. Weed can be a problem in this area. Species include yellow eyed mullet, grass and king george whiting, flathead.

Pt Leo Surf Beach, Point Leo Rocks,

The surf beach requires a bit of a stroll, parking fees on weekends. Species include grass whiting, king george whiting, wrasse, yellow eyed mullet, salmon, flathead and sharks.

Merricks, Balnarring.

Weed can be a problem at times, species include Whiting, mullet and sharks. Floundering at night when the water is clear.

Somers

Watch out for the rig eating reef. otherwise species as already mentioned.

Stony Point

The pier is small with limited access, it however provides access to deep water. The ferry from French Island docks here, it also has high tide flow.
Species include squid, trevally, mullet, snook and shark possibly a snapper.

Hastings

Species include, Mullet, Salmon and toadies


The Northern side, basically starts at;

Cannons Creek, Blind Bight, Warneet, and Tooridan and the drains/channels.

Warneet

At Warneet there are two piers, one at the boat ramp and the other smaller pier is a little further up RutherFord inlet.
The use of burley improves your catch rate, Species include, salmon, trevally, whiting, flathead, squid, with the possibility of a mulloway or gummy.

Tooridan

Species, mullet, possibly a mulloway,

Deep and Cardinia creeks

Species, Mullet, bream.

The Eastern side, the first access point I think is;

Lang Lang Beach, fishable only at high tide, The Jetty nolonger exists,

Species include elephant shark, other shark species, mullet, small salmon.

Jam Jerrup, Stockyard point,

fishable at low tide, requires a little bit of a stroll. This spot puts the angler in a position to be able to cast into the channel at low tide. Don't forget to fish the shallower water as well.

Species snapper, shark, elephant shark.

Grantville, has jetty, fishable only at high tide. even the world champion caster would not be able to get their bait anywhere near the water on a low, low tide.

Queensberry jetty road

work in progress

Tenby Point

work in progress

Corniella Pier .

work in porgress


Settlement Point

work in progress

Coronet bay

work in progress


There are a limited number of Piers on western port bay, Flinders, Stony Point, Hastings, Warneet, Grantville. Corinella.

French Island.

Access via the ferry or boat. It should be noted that the ferry schedule is affected by the weather and overnight stays might be a possibility.
Tankerton jetty

Phillip Island

Philip island Piers Cowes, rhyll, new haven and San Remo



Rhyll:

Mixed species pier that tends to fish better during the day than at night. There used to be a floating pontoon at Ryhll, but due to bad weather cracking the pontoon this has now been removed. There are a number of drop offs at the end of the pier where you can cast into deeper water. Fishing during the colder months is quite slow. In the warmer months When the wind conditions are right and there is plenty of bait at the pier a number of schooling fish will come into the pier including, yellowtail scad, horse mackerel, silver trevally and snook.

There is plenty of parking available and toilet facilities. At night there are a number of boats moored at the pier.

There is also a smaller boat ramp / floating pontoon to the left of the pier.

Species - Flathead, yellowtail scad, mullet, horse mackerel, silver trevally, snook, banjo sharks, rays, grass whiting, rock cod, australian herring, australian salmon, elephant sharks

Cowes:

The most popular pier on the island, also extremely busy during peak times. As you walk up the pier on the left hand side there are seaweed beds. At the end of the pier you can cast into deep water. Many people get snagged here either in the seaweed or the rocks so be prepared to lose some gear here.

Species - Squid, mullet, snapper, sharks, flathead, leatherjacket, sand crabs, australian herring, couta, australian salmon

San Remo:

Only fishable as the tide changes or with large sinkers as there is strong water flow in this area. At night only the left hand side is fishable as there are gates which close the areas where the boats / fishing trawlers are. At the end of the platform where the boats are moored there is sand and weed.

When fishing here for squid it is better to use a paternosta rig with the jig attached due to the strong current.

Species - Squid, king george whiting, australian salmon, silver trevally and wrasse.

New Haven:
Like San Remo there is extremely fast water movement through this area and muddy bottom. You can cast into the channel for a chance of a gummy.

Species - Elephant sharks, gummy sharks, wrasse, silver trevally, mullet, king george whiting, snapper

Woolamai:
There are 2 surf beaches here, anzacs which is the first carpark then woolamai which is the second. Anzacs if you head right has a more rocky bottom. There is more parking at woolamai. There are strong rips along this beach and where the wind conditions have been right plenty of monster sized weed. However during the winter months there is always a chance of catching a humpback whale in the distance which adds to the fishing experience. The biggest issues facing fishermen at these beaches are the surfers which tend congregate around close to the beach entry points.



Western Port land based rigs

Some areas have a high tidal flow, and the bay floor varies from very soft mud to reef, sinkers will sink deeply in the soft mud.

Remember if you are not catching fish, experiment with the rig you are using, change leader length, swap from running sinker to paternoster,

Andersons Inlet / Inverloch & Venus Bay fishing spots with map http://rodbendingsworld.com/fishing.php?D=39" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If anyone wants to contribute you are welcome, what i will do is merge it all into one document.

Contributers;
Wolly Bugga, Psara1. Poodoo. Davjak.

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Re: Western Port Landbased Guide

Post by davjak » Sat Sep 01, 2012 12:18 pm

Would this be helpful.
Andersons Inlet / Inverloch & Venus Bay fishing spots with map http://rodbendingsworld.com/fishing.php?D=39

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Re: Western Port Landbased Guide

Post by Wolly Bugger » Sat Sep 01, 2012 5:37 pm

davjak wrote:Would this be helpful.
Andersons Inlet / Inverloch & Venus Bay fishing spots with map http://rodbendingsworld.com/fishing.php?D=39

Yes it is, but I thought we should cover Western Port first, then expand it further.

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Re: Western Port Landbased Guide

Post by poodoo » Sun Sep 02, 2012 10:34 pm

Adding somemore detail

Rhyll:

Mixed species pier that tends to fish better during the day than at night. There used to be a floating pontoon at Ryhll, but due to bad weather cracking the pontoon this has now been removed. There are a number of drop offs at the end of the pier where you can cast into deeper water. Fishing during the colder months is quite slow. In the warmer months When the wind conditions are right and there is plenty of bait at the pier a number of schooling fish will come into the pier including, yellowtail scad, horse mackerel, silver trevally and snook.

There is plenty of parking available and toilet facilities. At night there are a number of boats moored at the pier.

There is also a smaller boat ramp / floating pontoon to the left of the pier.

Species - Flathead, yellowtail scad, mullet, horse mackerel, silver trevally, snook, banjo sharks, rays, grass whiting, rock cod, australian herring, australian salmon, elephant sharks

Cowes:

The most popular pier on the island, also extremely busy during peak times. As you walk up the pier on the left hand side there are seaweed beds. At the end of the pier you can cast into deep water. Many people get snagged here either in the seaweed or the rocks so be prepared to lose some gear here.

Species - Squid, mullet, snapper, sharks, flathead, leatherjacket, sand crabs, australian herring, couta, australian salmon

San Remo:

Only fishable as the tide changes or with large sinkers as there is strong water flow in this area. At night only the left hand side is fishable as there are gates which close the areas where the boats / fishing trawlers are. At the end of the platform where the boats are moored there is sand and weed.

When fishing here for squid it is better to use a paternosta rig with the jig attached due to the strong current.

Species - Squid, king george whiting, australian salmon, silver trevally and wrasse.

New Haven:
Like San Remo there is extremely fast water movement through this area and muddy bottom. You can cast into the channel for a chance of a gummy.

Species - Elephant sharks, gummy sharks, wrasse, silver trevally, mullet, king george whiting, snapper

Woolamai:
There are 2 surf beaches here, anzacs which is the first carpark then woolamai which is the second. Anzacs if you head right has a more rocky bottom. There is more parking at woolamai. There are strong rips along this beach and where the wind conditions have been right plenty of monster sized weed. However during the winter months there is always a chance of catching a humpback whale in the distance which adds to the fishing experience. The biggest issues facing fishermen at these beaches are the surfers which tend congregate around close to the beach entry points.

Species - Australian Salmon

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Re: Western Port Landbased Guide

Post by johnat24 » Mon Sep 03, 2012 10:38 am

A wealth of information! Thanks for sharing guys!! Especially helpful for someone relatively new to Melbourne and very new to sea fishing!!

John

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Re: Western Port Landbased Guide

Post by johnat24 » Mon Sep 03, 2012 2:05 pm

What size bait and hook do I need to be catching humpback whales off woolamai??

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Re: Western Port Landbased Guide

Post by davjak » Mon Sep 03, 2012 3:54 pm

Hi guys, I know a little off topic but I have been left in charge of sourcing a max of 10 books for purchase for our library I work at. As this is based on the same sort of advice we are all trying to share here. I thought you all might be able to suggest some..

If you can help please respond via the thread in my signature

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Re: Western Port Landbased Guide

Post by Tomcat1 » Mon Sep 03, 2012 4:51 pm

johnat24 wrote:What size bait and hook do I need to be catching humpback whales off woolamai??
takes a really small hook to put the plankton on to catch them lol

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Re: Western Port Landbased Guide

Post by poodoo » Mon Sep 03, 2012 5:16 pm

something special! :captain:

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Re: Western Port Landbased Guide

Post by Wolly Bugger » Tue Sep 04, 2012 6:41 am

Anybody experienced trying to fish after a pod of dolphins have been through

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