Bass Coast Fishing Times, Locations & Reports

Bass Coast Fishing

Bass Coast Fishing Guide

Bass Coast has lots of fishing spots, including shore, surf, rock, river, and estuary areas. Anderson Inlet near Inverloch is easy to get to, with boat ramps at Maher’s Landing and Inverloch. There are also ramps at Grantville, Venus Bay, and Newhaven. For shore fishing, check out the beaches at Inverloch, Kilcunda, Cape Paterson, and Wonthaggi, or try the rivers. Car parks make it easy to reach the Kilcunda surf beaches, and you’ll find fishing platforms on River Drive at Tarwin Lower. Some places are simple river or jetty spots, while others are more open rock or surf areas.

Spring and summer are the best seasons to catch most fish, especially snapper, whiting, and flathead in the inlets and on the beaches. In autumn and winter, you’ll find more salmon and tailor along the surf beaches at Inverloch and Kilcunda. For gummy sharks, try the deeper surf and channel areas from late summer into autumn. Bream and estuary perch are in the rivers all year, but you’ll have better luck after rain in the cooler months. For the latest tips, check local fishing reports or ask at tackle shops.

Local conditions are important because the area can change quickly between sheltered inlets, river mouths, open beaches, and rock platforms. The entrance bar at Anderson Inlet is dangerous, so only experienced boaters with strong boats should cross it. At Flat Rocks and The Caves, tides can make it unsafe by cutting off your way back to shore. It’s safest to fish these spots at low tide and when the sea is calm.

Fishing is not allowed in Bunurong Marine National Park, which stretches from The Oaks to Eagles Nest and out to the Victorian waters limit. Some areas near Cape Paterson and Wonthaggi also have no-take rules for reef fish. You need a recreational fishing licence for most Victorian waters. There are size and bag limits for key fish species such as snapper, whiting, bream, flathead, and gummy shark. Some species, such as rays and native freshwater fish, have strict rules or may be completely closed to fishing. No-take species include all marine life in Bunurong Marine National Park and reef fish in sanctuary zones. Always check the latest size, bag limits, and rules before you go to help protect local fish and avoid fines. For current fishing regulations and updates, visit the Victorian Fisheries Authority website or ask at local tackle shops.

If you’re fishing from land, choose your spot based on the water and the fish you want to catch. Inverloch has surf, inlet edges, channels, weed beds, and a jetty where you can often catch whiting, flathead, bream, and salmon. Pensioners Corner is best for whiting and bream when the tides are right, while Maher’s Landing is good for casting into the channel for flathead and gummy shark if you use a heavy sinker. The Poles has a weed bed just off the beach that attracts whiting and mullet. The Bowling Club stretch and Inverloch Jetty are easy to reach for bream, trevally, and sometimes tailor. Kilcunda and Wonthaggi are better for surf and rock fishing, especially if you want salmon, tailor, or the occasional gummy shark. Try surf fishing during the day for salmon, or go early or late if you’re after sharks. For river fishing, the Bass, Powlett, and Tarwin rivers are good for estuary fishing near the mouths, banks, and platforms. Bream and estuary perch are the main targets, and you might also find mullet.

Use gear that matches the area you’re fishing. A light line works well on the rock platforms between Inverloch and Cape Paterson when the sea is calm and the tide is low. At Maher’s Landing, you’ll need a heavier sinker to reach and hold in the channel. For bait, try pipis or sandworms for whiting, pilchards or bluebait for salmon and tailor, and squid or cut pilchard strips for gummy shark. Soft plastics and small hard-body lures can also work well for flathead and bream in the estuaries. Basic running sinker rigs or paternoster rigs are popular and effective in most local waters. It’s more important to watch the conditions, access points, and fishing rules than to have lots of tackle.

For safety, always check local tide charts and weather forecasts before you go. The Bureau of Meteorology is the preferred source for up-to-date marine conditions when out on the water. Watch for local warning signs such as a sudden change in wind direction, quickly rising swell, or dark clouds building over the ocean, which can indicate dangerous weather or incoming tides. In some spots, fast-running water or exposed rocks that are becoming covered again are signs that the tide is turning. Pay attention to unexpected drops in temperature or shifting gusts, which can signal a change in conditions. In an emergency, call 000 or contact the Coast Guard for help. Keep your phone with you and know where the nearest car parks and access roads are. Staying informed and prepared helps you stay safe and respond quickly if conditions change.