Williamstown Fishing
| Address | Williamstown |
| Lat/Lng | -37.861, 144.885 |
| Distance | 8.7 km from Melbourne |
| Current Temp | 11.6 °C- Stable - Station: Melbourne |
| Barometer | 1011.0 hPa - Stable |
| Wind | SW - 13 km/h |
| Fishability |  |
Williamstown Fishing Overview
Williamstown fishing goes back to the early days of Melbourne. Located on Port Phillip Bay right around the corner from the mouth of the Yarra River.
It offers a wealth of piers and fishing opportunities. Plus it’s right next door to the heart of Melbourne.
Major Piers include Gem Pier and Ferguson Pier. There are a number of other piers and walkways that you can explore.
Fishing sees species such as Pinkie Snapper, Snapper and Flathead. Not to mention the Bream and barracouta.
In other words some pretty awesome fish species to be sought at Williamstown – right in close to the city!
The Warmies is an excellent spot for land-based fishing. The Warmies is technically located in the suburb of Newport. But it is frequently grouped by people as Williamstown due to the naming of the boat ramp there.
Upstream from the awesome Yarra River Estuary, the Maribyrnong River flows into the Yarra. This provides a significant estuary with excellent flows and a variety of fish species – including mulloway.
The area is partially composed of industrial and marine industries in some areas. Of note is the naval dockyard.
Williamstown pier is a great fishing spot for people in the west or inner city, but I find it’s not that near me to make it a personal favourite.
Having said that – don’t let my northeastern suburban Melbourne location put you off because a lot of folks fish the area with great success!
Admittedly I do fish the area, however. Normally heading down to the Warmies, sometimes known as The Hotties which a personal favourite.
FAQ
Where is Williamstown Located?
Williamstown is located to the south-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 37.8610° S, 144.8850° E.
It is an inner suburb. It is famous for docking ships from the Australian Navy as well as being the home base for many commercial and non-commercial ships and boats.
It offers excellent historical and contemporary fishing.
Gem Pier Fishing
Gem Pier is steeped in history. So if you’d like to try an awesome experience of mixing fishing along with some fantastic Melbourne history – give Gem Pier a try!
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.
Fishing Ferguson Street Pier
Ferguson Street Pier is close to the city of Melbourne, which means it can get a bit crowded during the peak season of warmer summer weather.
However, during the week and cooler weather, it can be a great spot attracting fewer people.
It is a great pier for targetting flathead and bream on soft plastics!
I’ve seen a lot of kids targeting mullet and garfish over the years.
Warmies Fishing
The Warmies (aka “Hotties”) is considered to be one of the finest spots for fishing in Melbourne, by many.
I’ve got to admit I love fishing the Warmies myself.
Back when the area was the industrial heart of Melbourne old-timers loved to say “If the stack’s blowing… I know where I’m going!”
Keep reading to find out why they said this…
Williamstown Boat Ramp Fishing
Williamstown Boat Ramp is one of the better boat ramps in Melbourne, having relatively recently been upgraded.
Sometimes referred to as Newport Boat Ramp due to the fact it is actually in the suburb of Newport, which is right next door.
It’s located in the same location as the famous Warmies beloved of land-based anglers.
Williamstown Fishing - Boat Ramps & Kayak Fishing
There are boat facilities at Williamstown boat ramp, some great piers, nice beaches and plenty of spots to launch a Yak for Kayak fishing.
The protection provided by Hobson’s Bay makes boating and kayak fishing relatively protected and safer than more exposed spots.
So much so it’s not uncommon to see several kayaks out around the anchored boats, paddling or peddling around, pulling in flathead.
The same for small craft like tinnies. Small (less than 14 foot) tinnies are often seen launched from the Williamstown Boat Ramp where they travel upstream to the Yarra or Marrybinong. Or move within Hobson’s Bay.
Extreme care, none the less, should be taken with this smaller craft as even Hobson’s Bay can be dangerous fairly quickly in the right (or wrong) weather conditions.
[adinserter block="1"]Williamstown Fishing - Fish Species To Target
| Fish Species | Quick Info |
|---|---|
 Australian Salmon | Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Common for schools to move through, chopping up the water before moving on. Can be common during cooler months. Suggested Bait: Bluebait, Chicken Breast, Flathead Fillets, Mullet Fillets, Mussels, Pilchards, Pipis, Prawns, Sandworms, Squid Hoods, Squid Tentacles, Whitebait, Whiting Fillets |
 Black Bream | Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Can become less active during Winter. Activity picking up late August. Active during warmer months. Suggested Bait: Bluebait, Chicken Breast, Crabs, Earthworms, Mussels, Pilchards, Pipis, Prawns, Sandworms, Whitebait |
 Flathead | Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Suggested Bait: Bluebait, Chicken Breast, Flathead Fillets, Mullet Fillets, Mussels, Pilchards, Pipis, Prawns, Sandworms, Squid Tentacles, Whitebait, Whiting Fillets |
 Garfish | 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. |
 Gummy Shark | Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Larger species are caught in Port Phillip & Western Port during April to July. With the Peak Month considered too be May. Suggested Bait: Flathead Fillets, Mullet Fillets, Pilchards, Squid, Squid Hoods, Squid Tentacles, Whiting Fillets |
 Mullet | Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Can sometimes be the only game in town during cooler weather. Suggested Bait: Bluebait, Chicken Breast, Earthworms, Mussels, Pilchards, Pipis, Prawns, Squid Tentacles |
 Pinky Snapper | Season: All Year Round. But much more prevalent during warmer months. Seasonal Note: October through to March. Suggested Bait: Bluebait, Chicken Breast, Flathead Fillets, Mullet Fillets, Pilchards, Pipis, Squid Tentacles, Whitebait, Whiting Fillets |
 Snapper | Season: Later September to end of March. Seasonal Note: Adult specimens often come closer towards shore to feed on reefs during rougher weather. Suggested Bait: Bluebait, Chicken Breast, Crabs, Flathead Fillets, Mullet Fillets, Mussels, Pilchards, Pipis, Prawns, Sandworms, Squid, Squid Hoods, Squid Tentacles, Whitebait, Whiting Fillets |
 Squid | Season: All Year Round. Seasonal Note: Best fished when waters are clear with little turbulence. Top times can be during June to September. Suggested Bait: Squid Jig - artificial or with a bait such as minnow, whitebait, bluebait, pilchard or prawn. |
 Whiting | Season: November to April Seasonal Note: Known to migrate from Victoria to South Australia during cooler months. Suggested Bait: Bluebait, Chicken Breast, Mussels, Pilchards, Pipis, Prawns, Sandworms, Squid Tentacles, Whitebait |
Map
If your fishing Williamstown for Bream and Squid fish light.
You don't need heavy lines and lots of lead here. The current in Hobson's Bay is minor unless there's a blow on.
During a blow, some excellent snapper models can come in close. Making Williamstown Fishing pretty exciting.
At those times you'll need a heavier line and some extra led.
The area is well worth fishing. Williamstown is pretty good for families for the most part.
Pros
- Close to Melbourne - only 8.7km from GPO
- Several Piers to Choose from
- Locally the Boat Ramp and the Warmies are popular fishing spots
- Consistent fishing reports for Bream, Pinkies, Squid and even Snapper
Cons
- Can be busy on weekends and public holidays
- Parking can be hard as its limited at times
Features At A Glance
| Fishability | | Public Toilets | | Parking | |
| Family Friendly | | Environment & Pollution | |
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