Queenscliff built it’s history on fishing fleets and couta boats. While it is no longer a commercial fishing port, it still caters well for the recreational fisher.

POPULAR FISHING SPOTS

The Cut at Queenscliff Harbour

Queenscliff Pier and Point Lonsdale Pier

Rock fishing off Point Lonsdale

Beach fishing off Point Lonsdale back beach

Swan Bay

Off the coaster gutters in front of Santa Casa (boat required)

Bass Straight fro game fishing (fishing charters available from Queenscliff Harbour)

WHAT TO CATCH

In the harbour – silver trevally and squid

From the piers – white snapper, whiting and salmon

From the boat – gummy shark, snapper, whiting, calamari, flathead and salmon

From the Rocks at Point Lonsdale – salmon, barracouta and mullet

Swan Bay – flathead, whiting, snook, garfish, gummy shark and salmon.

HINTS AND TIPS

Soft plastic lures work well in these waters, especially on trevally in the harbour

Try a mix of breadcrumbs and tuna oil or pellets

Fish in and around structures and piers; trevally feed off the weed on underwater objects

Tides are very important in the harbour. The best fishing is 90 minutes either side of the tide change

Fast-flowing water is generally hard to fish

In slow-running water, target species such as salmon, trevally, pike, snapper and whiting

The best baits for fishing in the harbour are pippies, squid, pilchards and soft plastic lures

Grab a copy of the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide 2013 from the Visitor Information Centre

Organise a fishing charter to discover the best spots and for safe access around The Rip.