Barwon Heads

Barwon Heads Fishing

Barwon Heads Fishing Guide

Barwon Heads sits at the lower end of the Barwon River estuary and has plenty of options for both land and boat fishing. You’ll find shallow banks, deeper holes, ramps, jetties, and tidal channels. If you follow River Parade, you’ll reach the Sheepwash area, and you can keep walking after the road ends. The Sheepwash boat ramp has a floating jetty, a fishing platform, and gravel parking, with free parking available. There are basic facilities like toilets near the ramp, but lighting is limited, so plan if you want to fish early or late. Sheepwash is a great spot for bream, estuary perch, and sometimes mulloway, with deeper water close to shore. For bait and tackle, bream and estuary perch are often caught using fresh or live prawns, scrubworms, or cut pilchard on light lines, with small hooks and sensitive rods. Mulloway are best targeted with larger strip baits, such as mullet or squid, on slightly heavier gear, especially after dark. Soft plastics and small vibe lures also work well for bream and perch near the structure around the ramp and platform.

On the Ocean Grove side, the Guthridge Street ramp is larger, with two lanes, a floating jetty, toilets, and sealed parking. It’s a good spot to try for Australian salmon or silver trevally, and you can also find flathead and mullet near the drop-offs.

A lot of people fish from the bridge landings, Ozone jetty, the sandbar downstream of the bridge, and the banks near the ramp jetties. The bridge area is popular for bream and school mulloway, especially at night. The Ozone jetty and sandbar are good for whiting and flathead during the day.

Significant Tidal Variation, Current and Depth

Tides matter when fishing here because water movement changes where and when fish will bite.

The lower river has shallow spots with sandbars and reef patches, but near Sheepwash and the ramps, you can reach deeper water from the shore. For the best results, try fishing during the last two hours of the incoming tide and the first hour of the outgoing tide, when fish are more active and the water is clearer. Sheepwash is best on a rising tide, either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. It’s also worth thinking about the seasons. Bream and estuary perch are most common and active in the cooler months from late autumn through spring. Mulloway tend to show up more often in late spring and early summer. Whiting and flathead are usually more plentiful during the warmer months, especially from November to April. Planning your trip around these seasonal peaks can help you target your preferred species.

The Ozone jetty and sandbar usually produce good catches through mid-morning on a rising tide. Strong currents can make fishing from platforms and jetties difficult during peak flow, so it’s best to fish during slack water or within an hour on either side. The bridge area is especially good after dark on an incoming tide for bream and mulloway. Heavy rain can make the water dirty, but the incoming tide brings in clearer saltwater. The bridge and lower river can get busy at night when bigger fish are around.

To get the best results here, pick your spot based on the tide and water depth. At Sheepwash, the deeper water near the bank is great for using natural baits like fresh or live prawns, scrubworms, or cut pilchards, fished close to the bottom.

A running sinker rig works well in the current. Soft plastics that look like baitfish and light vibe lures are also good for bream and estuary perch, especially near structure.

The floating jetties let you cast with the tide, which helps reduce line drag. Around Ozone and the reef patches near the river mouth, it’s important to keep your bait on the bottom when the tide is moving, especially if you’re after whiting. For whiting, try pipi, fresh mussels, or sandworms on small long-shank hooks, or use small worm-patterned soft plastics if the water is clear. The big sandbar downstream of the bridge is a more open, family-friendly spot, great for fishing with bluebait, pilchard pieces, or sandworm for flathead and mullet. The bridge area is best for fishing on an incoming tide or casting lures after dark when the conditions are right. At the bridge, live or strip mullet baits work well for school mulloway after dark, and soft vibes and paddle-tail plastics are popular for bream and mulloway.

Fishing by Boat or Kayak

If you’re heading out in a boat, keep in mind that the estuary is shallow and conditions can change quickly. The channel is marked from the Ocean Grove ramp to the bridge, but upstream it isn’t, and sandbars can be tricky. It’s a good idea to check the river during daylight before going out at night or in low light, especially if you’re new to the area.

Stick to safe speed limits and watch out for submerged obstacles, shifting sandbars, and other boats. Be considerate at ramps and jetties, slow down near other anglers, and keep noise to a minimum in busy or sensitive spots.

Lifejackets are recommended for everyone on board and are required in certain situations. By Victorian law, lifejackets must be worn by all children under 10 years old at all times, by anyone in kayaks, canoes, or small open boats under 4.8 metres, and by all occupants of any vessel when operating at night or in hazardous conditions. For your gear, use enough sinker weight to hold bottom in strong currents—for most shore and estuary fishing in Barwon Heads, a ball or bean sinker of 1 to 2 ounces is usually enough, but you may need up to 3 ounces when the current is stronger. Leader length can make a difference: a leader of 60 to 80 centimetres (around 2 to 2.5 feet) is a good starting point for most rigs, especially when fishing around reef patches or deeper holes. For bream and perch, use leaders rated from 6 to 10 pounds, while a heavier leader of 15 to 20 pounds is better when targeting mulloway or fishing near snags after dark. Adjust the breaking strain and sinker size depending on current strength and the target species. Longer leaders help around the Ozone and reef patches, and during big tides, while heavier leaders are useful for bigger fish after dark.

Remember, the Barwon River here flows straight into Bass Strait. Conditions outside the estuary are usually only suitable for larger boats and experienced skippers. The bar can be dangerous for anyone who isn’t prepared or experienced. Smaller boats should not try to cross it. No fish is worth risking your life!

Make sure you know the local fishing rules, including bag and size limits for bream, mulloway, and whiting, and check for any seasonal closures. You can find more information on the Victorian Fisheries website or on signs around the estuary.