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.
