Melbourne Land Based Fishing

Land Based Fishing around Melbourne offers you the chance to fish without a boat – or when using a boat is risky or too much hassle.

Both freshwater rivers, creeks and lakes to the saltwater bays, estuaries and surf beaches. There’s a range of easy and challenging environments to get out there and GetFished!

You can choose to fish light for smaller species like Mullet, Bream, Flathead or Redfin or set yourself up for bigger targets like Snapper, Mulloway and Murray Cod.

You can even finesse fish for species like Trout and Chinook Salmon.

Land Based Locations

Diamond Creek

Diamond Creek fishing is largely overlooked by locals when it comes to locals, let alone people from other areas of Melbourne. While large sections are difficult to access…

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Plenty River Fishing

Plenty River fishing can be challenging.  The banks can be steep.  The water is often very shallow. The Plenty River stretches from the Great Dividing Range as a stream.…

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Werribee South Beach

The Werribee South Beach extends from the Werribee River mouth north to the rock wall at Wyndham Harbour. The beaches to the south of the river are off-limits due to Melbourne Water Board usage. The…

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Melbourne Land Based Fishing Review Summary

Melbourne’s Land Based fishing is probably the most common way to wet a line.

Popular choices include Piers, Beaches, Rivers, Creeks and lakes.  Most of which can be fished from the land.

Common saltwater species caught include flathead, pinky snapper, silver trevally and black bream.

While in freshwater Murray Cod, Trout, Redfin and even European Carp are popular target species that can be found in many rivers such as the Yarra.

Melbourne Land Based Target Fish Species

Fish Species Quick Info
Australian Bass
Percalates novemaculeata
Australian Salmon
Arripis trutta 		All Year Round
Common for schools to move through, chopping up the water before moving on. Can be common during cooler months.
Black Bream
Acanthopagrus butcheri 		All Year Round. But much more prevalent during warmer months.
Blue Spotted Flathead
Platycephalus caeruleopunctatus 		All Year Round
More commonly caught in warmer months. But can be caught year round in many places.
Bronze Whaler Shark
Carcharhinus brachyurus
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
Season: All Year Round. Has a Closed Season in Some States of Australia. Victoria’s Trout Season can be checked here. Seasonal Note: More active during cooler months. Suggested Bait: Bardi Grub, Earthworms, Soft Plastic Lures, Spinners, Spoons, Flys
Dusky Flathead
Platycephalus fuscus 		All Year Round
More commonly caught in warmer months. But can be caught year round in many places.
Eel

Estuary Perch
M. colonorum
European Carp
Cyprinus carpio
Season: All Year Round – Noxious Imported Species. Must *not* be returned to waterways alive. Help our freshwater systems – actively target carp. Seasonal Note: Suggested Bait: Earthworms, Corn, Chicken
Flathead
Platycephalus sp 		All Year Round
Flathead Gudgeon

Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Suggested Bait:
Garfish
Hemiramphidae sp*
Season: All Year Round – More common in cooler months. Seasonal Note: 40 or More Species found in Victorian Waters Suggested Bait: Small pieces of fish, bread, pippis or chicken suspended beneath either a float or feeder float are popular garfish rigs.
Golden Perch
Macquaria ambigua
Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Suggested Bait: Bardi Grub, Chicken Breast, Earthworms, Scrub Worms, Yabbies
Goldfish
crassius Auratus
Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Invasive Imported Pest species. Do Not return to water. Suggested Bait: Bardi Grub, Chicken Breast, Corn, Earthworms, Scrub Worms
Grey nurse shark
Carcharias taurus
Gummy Shark
Mustelus antarcticus 		All Year Round
Larger species are caught in Port Phillip & Western Port during April to July. With the Peak Month considered too be May.
King George whiting
Sillaginodes punctata 		November to April
Known to migrate from Victoria to South Australian waters during cooler months.
Macquarie Perch
Macquaria australasica
Mullet
Mugilidae sp 		All Year Round
Can sometimes be the only game in town during cooler weather.
Mulloway

Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Suggested Bait: Squid, Pilchards, Whitebait, Bluebait, Pippis, Prawn, Chicken, Fish Fillets
Murray Cod
M. peelii
Season: Fishing Season Closed 1st Sept to 30 Nov Inclusive. Some Exceptions Apply (eg: Lake Eildon Exception) Seasonal Note: More active during warmer months. December through to April and early May Suggested Bait: Bardi Grub, Chicken Breast, Earthworms, Yabbies
Pinky Snapper
Chrysophrys auratus 		All Year Round. But much more prevalent during warmer months.
This name applies to juvenile specimens of Snapper
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Has a Closed Season in Some States of Australia. Victoria’s Trout Season can be checked here. Suggested Bait: Bardi Grub, Earthworms, Scrub Worms,Soft Plastic Lures, Spinners, Spoons, Flys
Redfin (English Perch)
Perca fluviatilis
Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Sometimes known as English Perch. Can be less active in warmer weather. Suggested Bait: Bardi Grub, Chicken Breast, Earthworms, Scrub Worms, Yabbies. Soft plastics. Spinners – love dashes of Red and even a bit of green colour on lures
Roach

Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Invasive Imported Pest species. Do Not return to water. Suggested Bait: Earthworms
Short-head Lamprey
Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Blood sucking species. Attach themselves to other fish like a parasite. Suggested Bait: None
Silver Perch
Bidyanus bidyanus
Snapper
Chrysophrys auratus 		All Year Round. But much more prevalent during warmer months.
Adult specimens often come closer towards shore to feed on reefs during rougher weather in warmer months.
Squid
Sepioteuthis australis 		All Year Round.
Best fished when waters are clear with little turbulence. Top times can be during June to September.
*Some fish species vary according to time of year and local environmental conditions.

Melbourne Land Based Fishing Map

Landbased Fishing FAQ

What Are The Best Land Based Fishing Spots In Melbourne?

The best spots depend largely on what type of fishing you want to enjoy.

If you prefer saltwater fishing to target species like flathead, some of Melbourne’s piers are an excellent choice. You can also target snapper, whiting, bream, garfish and squid from piers. Another great saltwater spot in Melbourne’s Yarra River Estuary and the ever-popular Warmies.

Top Land Based Freshwater spots include the Yarra River, Goulburn River and Murray River.

Close to Melbourne, you might like to try Mordialloc Pier and Werribee South.

Winter Land Based Fishing In Melbourne

Winter land based fishing in Melbourne can be slower due to the very cold water temperatures. However, it is a great time to focus on Garfish, Squid, and Australian Salmon species.

In Freshwater European Carp are still present, though a little sluggish. As are Redfin and of course Trout (except during the seasonal closure.)

Spring Land Based Fishing In Melbourne

As the water starts to warm in Spring species such as larger Snapper start to move into the bays. Usually from late September. Flathead becomes less sluggish and bream start to bite.

In freshwater Murray Cod season is usually closed until early December. However, species such as Trout, Redfin and even European Carp can be targeted.

Summer Land Based Fishing In Melbourne

Summer is considered the peak season for fishing in Melbourne. Land based opportunities include Snapper, Pinky Snapper, Flathead, Bream, Squid, Mullet, Mulloway and Gummy Sharks.

In freshwater species like Murray Cod, Redfin, Trout, Yellow Belly and European Carp are very active.

Autumn Land Based Fishing In Melbourne

Autumn land based fishing in Melbourne starts with most of the summer species still active in March. Like Snapper, Whiting and Flathead. As the temperatures start to decline so does the fish activity. With species such as Whiting migrating to South Australia.

In freshwater Murray Cod fishing starts to slow down as the fish become more sluggish. Redfin, Trout and European carp activity continue through Autumn. Starting to taper for most species with the onset of winter temperatures.

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