Cunningham Pier Fishing

Cunningham Pier Fishing

Fishing Areas and Conditions

• Cunningham Pier extends just under 350 m, giving land-based anglers access to relatively deep water.
• Fish unweighted pilchard strips close against the pier pylons for trevally and pinkies.
• A summer high tide often brings pinkies through; low tide tends to produce flathead. The pier is lit for night fishing, when sand eels, scorpionfish and stingrays can also be caught.

Rigs, Bait and Lures

• Baits used here include pilchards, blue bait, bass yabbies, chicken, pipis, squid and sandworms. A running sinker rig or paternoster rig can be used; change the paternoster sinker size to suit casting distance.
• Soft plastics, blades and mid-diving hardbody lures are options for pinkies, flathead, bream, mullet and trevally.
• An all-round setup is a 2–5 kg rod with a 3000 size reel, 10 lb braid and matching leader.
• For garfish, leatherjackets and whiting, use a 1–3 kg or 2–4 kg rod with a 1000–2500 size reel and light line. Present small pieces of pilchard, prawn or silverfish, or maggots, on small long-shank hooks under a float or on a light running sinker rig.
• A long net or gaff can help land larger fish from the high pier.

Access and Hazards

• Walking trails and restaurants are near the pier.
• Sea snakes have been caught from the pier.
• Gurnards have venomous spikes, and flathead have sharp spines behind their gill plates. Use caution when handling these species. A net and fish grips are highly recommended.