Gem Pier

Gem Pier Fishing

Gem Pier in Williamstown is steeped in history. So if you’d like to try an awesome experience of mixing fishing with some fantastic Melbourne history, give Gem Pier a try!

Plus, you can get pretty close to some of the Australian Navy’s ships when they’re docked.

Gem Pier in Williamstown is listed as a historical site due to its connection with the navy. The pier is close to Melbourne, which means it gets pretty busy with both people fishing and tourists, however being steeped in history.

Weekdays and Evenings are Quieter

I’d look at fishing on weekdays, evenings or early mornings to avoid crowds in warmer weather. During weekends and on public holidays, Gem Pier is really too busy for my taste. But it is an excellent land-based fishing option.

A lot of Pinkies, Flathead and Bream get reported as caught from the pier at times. Often on pilchards and prawns.

But I’ve seen some effective use of soft plastics for Flathead, too.

Some fishos claim it tends to get more bites than when fishing Altona Pier. But in my own experience, this hasn’t been the case.

I tend to find it a bit busy quite often. There’s a lot of shipping traffic, and at times, the navy berths here.

In terms of bait. The most common bay baits seem to work well. Pipis, squid, pilchards, whitebait, sandworms, chicken and of course prawns.

I’d recommend keeping the hook size down and the lines lightweight. Some of the smaller flathead and whiting rigs sold commercially would be a good fit.

Paddle-tail soft plastics perform well on flathead, bream and pinkies. They should not be overlooked as an effective alternative to the bait.

Keep your rods on the shorter side. I wouldn’t consider anything over a 9-foot spinning rod in length. Paired with a 300 spinning reel would see you about right.

If fishing bait, in my opinion, you can’t go too far wrong with a nice lightweight paternoster rig.

This should keep your bait above the weeds and debris at the bottom. While giving you the chance of trying out bait cocktails to see which works. Eg: One bait on one hook, another kind on the other.

Finally – I’d definitely use berley – mostly because it works, but also because other anglers rarely do. It can make the difference between landing a fish and random nibbles.

Gem Pier Summary Review

Gem Pier, even just for a visit if you are not fishing, is well worth the trip.

It has a history going back to the 19th century and the early years of Melbourne.

Fishing-wise, it’s always been productive.

Bream and flathead are fairly common catches.

I have found it a little too busy usually for my taste.

I’ve also found it less productive in recent decades than in the past. But that could be down to my own techniques, preferring to rig larger to avoid smaller catches.

Your experience may have been different, and I welcome your review and comment below.

Pros

• Close and easy access to most Melbourne suburbs
• Family-friendly – children under strict supervision
• Good range of fish habitats and fish species
• In the right conditions, you can target big Snapper.
• In clear, calm conditions, squid fishing can be productive.

Cons

• Parking is good, but it can work out expensive during the day.
• Toilets I’d rate as fair but often poor, not at all predictable.
• Busy during summer months and school holidays.