Mon
14 Sep
Light Drizzle
Range
12.2°C to 17.5°C
Rain
0.1 mm
Fishing Times, Solunar, Reports
Cunningham Pier
Fishing may be harder work at Cunningham Pier today, with short windows more likely than steady activity. The overhead moon during the peak period offers the best fish activity chance today. Light precipitation; often fishable with minimal impact.
Scheduled update AEST
Moon Phase
Waxing Crescent
Estimated Fish Feeding Activity
42%
Cunningham Pier is subdued at 28%, with only minor feeding activity likely.
Solunar Overview
Cunningham Pier Solunar Fishing Times
Check today’s major and minor bite windows, moon phase and seven-day solunar outlook for Cunningham Pier.
Today’s Solunar Score
42%
Next Bite · Major
1:30pm
Moon Phase
Waxing Crescent
Tide Overview
Cunningham Pier Tide Times
The tide is rising across Port Phillip Bay as water levels move towards the next high tide.
Next Tide
High at 17:37
1.05 m
Current Tide
The tide is currently rising
Estimated Height
0.36 m
Weather
Current conditions and 7 day outlook
Conditions here can shift quickly through the day, so use this as the broad weather picture alongside the separate wind and pressure sections below.
Right now
Partly Cloudy
15.7°C
Today
Maximum
17.5°C
Minimum
12.2°C
Rain
0.1 mm
Tue
15 Sep
Light Drizzle
Range
8.4°C to 13.2°C
Rain
1.3 mm
Wed
16 Sep
Overcast
Range
8.2°C to 12.3°C
Rain
0.0 mm
Thu
17 Sep
Overcast
Range
6.1°C to 13.6°C
Rain
0.0 mm
Fri
18 Sep
Overcast
Range
3.6°C to 20.9°C
Rain
0.0 mm
Sat
19 Sep
Clear Sky
Range
11.8°C to 24.1°C
Rain
0.0 mm
Sun
20 Sep
Light Drizzle
Range
10.2°C to 18.6°C
Rain
1.8 mm
Pressure
Barometric pressure
Pressure is most useful for fishing when it shows movement. A stable, rising, or falling trend can add context to the rest of today’s fishing forecast.
Right now
1020
hPa
⮟
Falling
Interpretation
Pressure changes tend to matter more than the absolute value, especially when conditions are shifting.
Pressure is only one signal. Wind, tide, solunar timing, water movement, and local structure still matter.
Pressure movement
Recent readings build the pressure trend used for interpretation.
Wind
Current wind and 7 day outlook
Wind direction and strength can change how exposed a location feels, especially around open water, beaches, piers, and headlands.
Right now
Current speed
19.6 km/h
Direction
W
Today max
20.3 km/h
Reading the wind
Wind direction and strength can affect comfort, casting, and exposure around this location.
Wind gusts can be stronger than the average wind speed, so it's worth checking the gust forecast if you're planning to fish from an exposed location or need to know about potential changes in conditions.
Even modest wind can affect comfort and casting, especially where the water is exposed.
The marker shows the current wind direction, while the daily outlook below shows whether conditions are likely to build or ease over the coming days.
Marine Conditions
Waves, water, boating comfort & water temperature
Marine forecasts are guidance only. Conditions can change quickly on exposed water.
Current marine state
Current wave
0.74 m
Max wave
0.86 m
Wave period
9.95 s
Swell
0.82 m
Wind wave
0.26 m
Water temp
14.8 C
Marine interpretation
Wave: caution
Water: cold
Wave conditions look relatively calm in the current marine data.
Marine caution
Higher waves suggest a conservative approach, especially in exposed areas. Forecast wave heights are averages rather than peak conditions. Individual waves may exceed the forecast height at times. Wind and local chop can quickly affect comfort and control. Wave period around 12.05 s can influence how conditions feel on the water. Conditions in open water can change quickly, so keep checking throughout the session.
Water temperature
Water temperature is around 14.8 C, making immersion a more significant factor to plan for. Cool or cold water can affect grip, coordination, and swimming ability. Hypothermia is a real risk, particularly if you become immersed in the water. Wind and rough water can increase the impact of an accidental immersion.
Check local marine warnings, ramps, vessel limits and current conditions before heading out.
Fishing Reports
Cunningham Pier recent fishing reports
Recent catch activity for this location.
Reports analysed
14
This year
0
This season
0
Species mentioned
7
Reported species
Snotty Nose Trevally
Snapper
Australian Salmon
Flathead
Garfish
Species most often mentioned in local reports
Cunningham Pier reports span a broad range of species, with Snotty Nose Trevally, Snapper and Australian Salmon.
Location-level reports can still vary by season, access and reporting source, so read this as a local guide.
Based on local Getfished fishing report species data.
* Note that report summaries will sometimes display the same species under different names. This is because they are being reported that way. This is intentional.
Share of the displayed top 5 species mentions for this location.
Local bait trends
Bait turning up in reports
There's a fair spread of bait being used here, though squid, blue bait and chicken feature more consistently than others.
Worth staying flexible, because the reports are not all pointing one way.
Built from all-time reported bait mentions: 30 mentions across 8 distinct bait entries.
Share of the displayed top 5 bait mentions.
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What are today's best fishing times at Cunningham Pier?
Today's sunrise is 6:27 am and sunset is 6:10 pm. As a general guide, the hour before and after sunrise and sunset are often among the most productive fishing periods. A minor solunar period overlaps the morning fishing period today. The sea-surface temperature is 14.8°C, some species may be less active in cooler water.
Find out what we learned from analysing 20,000 fishing reports about moon times and fish.
Being a land-based location using berley is extremely important in order to bring the fish towards pier and you.
Summer Fishing
Yellowtail Kingfish can be targeted at the pier during summer. Activity is strongest for these species during the warmer part of the year. Actual catches will vary according to temperature trends, localised weather and tides.
Autumn Fishing
Australian Salmon, Flathead, Snapper and Snotty Nose Trevally are a good choice for anglers to target during autumn. With the water temperature dropping the pier provides an opportunity to concentrate on these species.
Winter Fishing
Australian Salmon, Garfish, Snapper and Snotty Nose Trevally are the species to focus on because Winter is when the water drops below 15c and this pier is no different. Fish can be slower to bite with reduced activity levels. As always what you catch varies with the prevalent temperature trends, localised weather and of course tides.
Spring Fishing
Spring sees the water temperature begin to rise with Snapper and Snotty Nose Trevally becoming more active. Later in spring summer species such as Yellowtail Kingfish begin to move into the area and can become more common at the pier.
Cunningham Pier Fishing
Cunningham Pier
Cunningham Pier stretches almost 350 meters into Corio Bay from the Geelong waterfront, giving shore anglers access to deeper water. It’s near walking trails and town facilities. Its length, sturdy pylons, night lights, and easy access to bay fish without a boat make it a favorite fishing spot.
You can fish at the pier all year, but the types of fish you catch change with the seasons. In summer, high tides often bring pinkies, while flathead are more common at low tide. The pier’s lights make night fishing easier, but you might catch tricky or dangerous fish like sand eels, scorpionfish, stingrays, gurnards with venomous spikes, and flathead with sharp spines. If you fish at night, bring a headlamp or torch to see what you’re doing, wear something bright or reflective to stay visible, and try to fish with a friend for extra safety.
To spot venomous fish near the pier, look for certain features. Scorpionfish and gurnards have strong spines on their backs and rough or bumpy heads. Stingrays have long, whip-like tails with a sharp barb. If you’re not sure, avoid handling any fish with obvious spines or a tail barb. For safety, use long-handled pliers or a thick towel to handle these fish, gripping them firmly behind the head or just in front of the tail, and keep your hands away from spines or venomous spots. If you get stung by a spine or barb, put the area in hot (not scalding) water to help with the pain, and get medical help right away. If you’re not sure how to handle a fish safely, it’s better to cut the line than risk getting hurt.
If you catch a fish you don’t want or one that’s dangerous, here’s how to release it safely:
Keep the fish in the water as much as possible to avoid injury to both you and the fish.
Use long-handled pliers or a dehooking tool to remove the hook, keeping your hands well clear of any spines or barbs.
If you cannot safely remove the hook, cut the line as close as you can to the hook.
Gently slide the fish back into the water, avoiding any direct contact with spines or venomous parts.
Wash your hands and check yourself for any small injuries after handling fish.
These steps help beginners stay safe and protect the fish when releasing them.
The pylons under the pier are great places to fish. Try unweighted pilchard strips near the supports to catch trevally and pinkies, especially on summer evenings or when the tide is coming in. Soft plastics, blades, and mid-diving hardbody lures work well for flathead, bream, and mullet, as well as trevally. Flathead and bream are usually more active in spring and autumn, especially early in the morning or late in the day when the water is cooler. If you prefer bait, simple running sinker or paternoster rigs work well. Adjust your sinker size to suit your casting distance and the conditions. For the best results, fish the deeper spots near the pylons during higher tides.
A 2-5kg rod with a 3000-size reel and about 10lb line is a good all-round setup. For smaller fish like whiting, garfish, or leatherjacket, lighter gear (1-3kg or 2-4kg) with small long-shank hooks and small baits works better. The pier is high above the water, so bring a long net or gaff to help land bigger fish. Parking, toilets, and walking paths are nearby, making it easy to stay for a while. You can’t drive onto the pier, so you’ll need to carry your gear from the car park. Local fishing rules apply at Cunningham Pier, including limits on how many and what size fish you can keep. For example, pinkies must be at least 27 cm with a daily bag limit of 10; flathead must be at least 30 cm with a combined bag limit of 20; and whiting must be at least 27 cm with a daily bag limit of 20. Rules can change, so check the Victorian Fisheries website or signs at the pier entrance for the latest size and bag limits. Make sure you have a valid fishing license. The pier is accessible on foot and by wheelchair, but some uneven surfaces may need extra care. Signs at the entrance list more fishing rules for Cunningham Pier.
Can Getfished tell if fish are biting at Cunningham Pier, today?
No. Because a forecast cannot truthfully guarantee whether fish are biting at a specific spot right now. Getfished shows the current fishing conditions instead: tide movement, solunar timing, weather, wind, pressure, marine conditions and fishing report derived species history.
Use this information to make informed decisions about where to fish, and to compare conditions across nearby locations. We hope you enjoy using Getfished to find your next great fishing spot!
✨Find out what we learned from analysing 20,000 fishing reports about moon times and fish told us.
Cunningham Pier is a location within the region of:
Geelong.
Cunningham Pier Overview
| Latitude | -38.1471 |
|---|---|
| Longitude | 144.3607
View on Google Maps |
| Nearest city | Melbourne |
| Environment | Saltwater |
| Distance from Melbourne (as the crow flies) | 73.61 km |
| Platform | BeachesLand basedPiers |
| Bays | Port phillip bayCorio bay |
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🛈 Getfished Fishing Report, Solunar & Conditions Summaries Source
Fishing report summaries are derived from Getfished’s structured fishing report database system. More information on this on how we collect and structure fishing report data can be found on our Fishing reports information.
Forecasts are based on the Getfished Meteorological and Solunar Forecasting System, which combines data from the BOM, and other sources. Our custom software systems use these inputs to establish solunar, tides and other forecasts for fishing conditions.
For more information on our systems and data sources please see our Datasources page. You can also Contact us for more information or details on commercial reuse.