Ferguson Street Pier

Ferguson Street Pier Fishing

Ferguson Street Pier Fishing Guide

Ferguson Street Pier is near Melbourne, so that it can get crowded during the summer holidays. For a quieter trip, go early in the morning or on weekdays, especially from Tuesday to Thursday. Cooler or cloudy days outside school holidays are usually much less busy and more relaxing.

I’ve often seen kids fishing for mullet and garfish here, especially on weekends and during school holidays when the pier is busy. These fish are popular with younger anglers and are commonly caught at Ferguson Street Pier.

Even though you might see kids catching mullet and garfish at the pier, bigger fish like snapper and gummy sharks are also caught here from time to time.

You’ll also find plenty of black bream and flathead here. Sometimes, schools of Australian Salmon appear and make things exciting.

Ferguson Street Pier Fishing Bait & Tackle Choices

I recommend using a spinning rod that’s no longer than 9 feet.

Keep your mainline and leader fairly light—no more than 10lb for most fishing. If you’re after garfish or mullet, use 3- 6 lb line. For these smaller fish, a size 10 to 12 long-shank hook and a small sinker, like a size 00 to 1 ball or split shot, work well. Use just enough weight to keep your bait in place without scaring the fish. If you’re targeting snapper or gummy sharks, switch to a heavier line and leader, around 15 to 20lb, to handle bigger fish. For snapper and gummies, use hooks in the 3/0 to 5/0 range and a sinker weight from 2 to 4 ounces, depending on the current. Flathead and pinkies do well on a size 1 to 2/0 hook with a small bean or ball sinker suited to the conditions. For bait, pilchards, squid, and even chicken are good choices around Port Phillip Bay.

Quick tackle reference for Ferguson Street Pier:

• Garfish/mullet: 3 to 6lb line, size 10 to 12 long-shank hook
• Flathead: 6 to 10lb line, size 1 to 2/0 hook
• Pinkies: 8 to 10lb line, size 1 to 2/0 hook
• Bream: 6 to 8lb line, size 2 to 4 long-shank hook
• Snapper/gummy sharks: 15 to 20lb line, size 3/0 to 5/0 hook

Fresh or frozen prawns are another good bait option.

Both paternoster rigs and running sinker rigs work well at Ferguson Street Pier.

Use smaller hooks. A flathead or whiting rig is ideal here.

If you’re using soft plastics, paddle tails are a popular choice and often catch nice flathead.

I like using motor oil coloured lures because they work well in many land-based fishing spots around Melbourne.

I always say it’s important to use berley. Use just enough to attract the fish, so you don’t have to cast as far. Here’s a tip: throw a few small handfuls of berley into the water at regular intervals near your spot, instead of dumping it all at once. This keeps a steady trail and brings fish closer, making it easier for beginners to get bites.

Try using some of the great rub-on scents available. They work well on both lures and bait.

Only two fishing lines are permitted per angler. It is important to know and follow local fishing regulations, including size and bag limits for each species, to avoid fines. For quick reference, common limits at Ferguson Street Pier are: flathead (minimum size 27cm, bag limit 20), bream (minimum size 28cm, bag limit 10), and snapper (minimum size 28cm, bag limit 10). Remember to double-check for any updates to these limits before you go. Most adults will need to carry a valid Victorian recreational fishing license when fishing here. However, children under 18, people aged 70 or over, and certain concession card holders are usually exempt from the requirement to hold a license. Make sure to check the latest requirements to see if you need to purchase a license before heading out.

Ferguson St Pier Review Summary

I really enjoy catching bream at Ferguson Street Pier, and it’s worth a visit just for that. My favourite way to target bream here is with small soft plastics, like 2-inch paddle tails in natural colours, worked slowly along the bottom near the pier pylons. Lightly weighted baits, such as peeled prawns or pieces of fresh chicken on a size 2 or 4 long-shank hook, also work well when fished close to structure.

You’ll usually find pinkies here from late spring to early autumn, especially when the water warms up. Pinkies bite best at the start of a rising tide, especially at dawn or dusk. Squid are common from autumn to early winter, and they show up in good numbers on overcast days and at high tide when the water is clear. Flathead are here all year, with the best bites on an incoming tide and when the wind is light. Bream fishing is best from late autumn into winter, and they feed more actively around the top of the tide, especially after rain or on cloudy days. For mullet and garfish, late spring to mid-summer is ideal. You’ll have better luck on calm mornings and during a flooding tide with some berley in the water. Watching these seasonal patterns, along with tides and weather, can help you plan your trips if you’re after a certain species.