Lorne Pier Fishing

Lorne Pier Fishing

Fishing Areas and Conditions

• Visible weed beds halfway along both sides of the pier are areas to target squid. Ink stains on the pier can indicate squid activity.
• Cast from the end of the pier for snapper, aiming for distance. The article places their arrival in spring and summer and describes a run of smaller snapper in summer.
• Schools of Australian salmon are common in cooler months.
• Early morning, particularly on a rising tide toward high tide, is described as productive. Fish also move beneath the pier to feed around its structure at high tide.
• Squid and gummy sharks are described as more active at night. The pier has lighting for night fishing.

Rigs, Bait and Lures

• For snapper at the pier’s end, use a light to medium surf rod for long casts. The article suggests a dropper, paternoster or running sinker rig with a squid strip or pilchard tail on a 4/0 or 5/0 hook. Freshly caught squid is also suggested as bait.
• For smaller snapper and flathead, use a paternoster rig with pilchard tail or raw chicken breast on a 2/0 or 3/0 hook.
• Longer 6–10 kg surf rods help cast heavy sinkers and hold line above the surf. One suggested setup is a paternoster rig with a star sinker, presenting two baits at different heights; a surf popper can be attached above.
• Soft plastics and blades can be worked near the bottom with slow hops, pauses and erratic lifts for smaller snapper, flathead and silver trevally. The article also reports using 4-inch soft plastics on jig heads from 1/8 to 1/2 ounce.
• Keep long-casting metal slugs and a suitable long rod for passing salmon schools.
• For squid, choose a jig that reaches the required depth and casting distance over the weed beds. The article suggests smaller, slow-sinking size 2.5 or 3.0 jigs where snagging is a concern. Let the jig sink, work it with lifts and pauses, then maintain tension with a gentle lift and slow retrieve when squid take it.

Access and Hazards

• Parking is available at the pier entrance, off the main road.
• The pier is elevated above the water. A long drop net helps land larger fish, particularly snapper.
• Conditions are often windy and rough, with waves sometimes crashing onto the pier.
• Seals shelter beneath the pier and may steal hooked fish. Rays are also present.
• The pier can be crowded, especially in spring, summer and peak holiday periods.