Williamstown Boat Ramp 6.8km From City – Great Bay 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 next to Williamstown.

It’s located in the same location as the famous Warmies fishing hotspot beloved of land-based anglers

It can get pretty busy at times, as trailer parking is very limited.

So it pays to be early. In fact – you can expect a queue of cars and trailers on weekends and public holidays from late spring through to early autumn.

This is the “snapper season.” The ramp can become very slow – peak hour traffic jam kind of slow. Tempers do flare – “ramp rage” really is a thing. Sadly.

Williamstown Boat Ramp Overview

Don’t forget – you need to be aware of the shipping channel and watercraft – both boats and ships. Taking appropriate precautions is a must throughout Port Phillip Bay, but particularly in the areas closer to Port Melbourne and the main shipping channels.

Big ships take a lot longer to turn around. So they have “right of way” by virtue of their sheer size.

One excellent aspect of this boat ramp as a launching place is its proximity to the Yarra and indeed Marrybinong estuaries.

You can navigate smaller watercraft all the way up to Flemington Racecourse on the Marrybinong.

While most recreational-sized watercraft should manage to reach Princess Bridge or even Swan St Bridge via the Yarra River.

Of course, access to Hobson’s Bay (within Port Phillip Bay) and the wider PPB area is the goal of most folks using the Williamstown boat ramp.

This would not be my choice for launching watercraft like kayaks. There are plenty of beaches towards Altona and at Williamstown itself that will be less stressful, accessible and work just as well for you.

Facilities such as toilets, cleaning etc are available. Though when I’ve been there their cleanliness has been less than stellar.

Williamstown / Newport Kayak Launching

Launching a kayak from the Williamstown boat ramp is simple and easier than some other bayside spots.

That’s because the ramp is reasonably well protected from offshore winds and wave action when compared to say the Altona boat ramp.

As always take care not to block the ramp when launching your kayak.

Do the preparation of your gear before launching from the ramp – back in the car park.

Williamstown Boat Ramp Fish Species

Fish Species	Quick Info
Australian Salmon Arripis trutta	Common for schools to move through, chopping up the water before moving on. Can be common during cooler months. Bait: Bluebait, Chicken Breast, Flathead Fillets, Mullet Fillets, Mussels, Pilchards, Pipis, Prawns, Sandworms, Squid Hoods, Squid Tentacles, Whitebait, Whiting Fillets
Snapper Mugilidae sp	Much more prevalent during warmer months. This name applies to juvenile specimens of Snapper. Bait: Bluebait, Chicken Breast, Flathead Fillets, Mullet Fillets, Mussels, Pilchards, Pipis, Prawns, Sandworms, Squid Hoods, Squid Tentacles, Whitebait, Whiting Fillets
Pinky Snapper (Juvenile Snapper) Mugilidae sp	Much more prevalent during warmer months. This name applies to juvenile specimens of Snapper. Bait: Bluebait, Chicken Breast, Flathead Fillets, Mullet Fillets, Mussels, Pilchards, Pipis, Prawns, Sandworms, Squid Hoods, Squid Tentacles, Whitebait, Whiting Fillets
Garfish Hemiramphidae sp	Bait: Maggots, Whitebait or Bluebait Pieces, Bread Doung, Pipies, Prawn, Squid pieces, Sand worm.
Flathead Platycephalus sp	But much more prevalent during warmer months.. Bait: Bluebait, Chicken Breast, Flathead Fillets, Mullet Fillets, Mussels, Pilchards, Pipis, Prawns, Sandworms, Squid Tentacles, Whitebait, Whiting Fillets
Mullet Mugilidae sp	Can sometimes be the only game in town during cooler weather. Bait: luebait, Chicken Breast, Earthworms, Mussels, Pilchards, Pipis, Prawns, Squid Tentacles
Southern Black Bream Acanthopagrus butcheri	Can become less active during Winter. Activity picking up in late August. Active during warmer months. Bait: Bluebait, Chicken Breast, Crabs, Earthworms, Mussels, Pilchards, Pipis, Prawns, Sandworms, Whitebait

Williamstown Boat Ramp Review Summary

Williamstown Boat Ramp -technically located in the suburb of Newport – is one of the better boat ramps in Melbourne, having relatively recently been upgraded.

It’s located in the same location as the famous “Warmies” beloved of land-based anglers.

It’s a good clean, two-lane ramp.

It can be hectic during peak season. But out of season is very accessible and easy to use.

Pros

• Close to Melbourne
• Calm Launching Conditions
• Free Trailer Parking
• Public Toilets
• Access Port Phillip Bay
• A good place to learn to launch your boat during quieter and cooler months

Cons

• Limited boat cleaning facilities that I have seen
• Limited catch cleaning facilities
• Only two boats can launch at a time
• The docking area is limited to a few boats at a time
• Limited Trailer Parking Bays During Peak Season
• Can be crazy busy during summer