Mornington Pier

Mornington Pier Fishing

Mornington Pier sits on the eastern side of Port Phillip Bay on the Mornington Peninsula, about 35 minutes from Dandenong. It is a heavily used land-based fishing platform, with the main pier, harbour area, smaller pier and nearby rock wall all giving shore-based anglers different water to work. The pier is popular year-round, so space can be a practical factor, especially when squid or snapper are drawing crowds.

The water around the pier is varied rather than uniform. Reef and rocky ground sit alongside sand holes and weed, which makes location choice important. Snapper are a major target here from about September to December, with the western-facing rock wall near the start of the pier and the end of the pier facing Melbourne both worth attention. Dawn, dusk, tide changes, a west or south-west wind and a rising barometer can all matter when timing a snapper session.

Fishing tight to reef and structure can cost rigs, but it is also where the better snapper opportunities come from. Squid are a regular year-round option, especially around the inner harbour lights, moorings, weed and the smaller pier, with smaller jigs suiting the generally smaller squid. Garfish can be found around the harbour, including the shallower areas, the smaller pier and the first half of the main pier, but depth changes quickly, so float depth and small baits need regular adjustment. A light berley trail with a wet sand consistency can help attract garfish without feeding them heavily.

For snapper, hook sizes around 3/0 to 7/0 are suitable, with baits such as pilchard, silver whiting, squid, garfish, barracouta heads or sauries. A paternoster-style rig with cork or cut foam above the hook can help lift bait above rough ground and keep it cleaner around the structure.