Melbourne can be cold in winter, but the weather is often calm, and there’s no shortage of winter species to be caught.

There is also less traffic at the boat ramps.

Keep an eye on storm fronts, which roll through fairly regularly.

The Weather Bureau says April, May and June are the calmest months in Melbourne, and August and September the windiest.

Melbourne winds tend to blow northerly in winter, and southerly in summer.

Winter fronts bring gales, while summer heat brings strong afternoon sea breezes. Keep this is mind when planning your trips.

Inside the two bays of Port Phillip and Western Port, lee shores are for calmer landbased fishing.

Rock fishing outside the bays can be dangerous as wave action is far more severe, but winter northerlies can calm the seas.

Victoria’s tidal range is small, being near 1m at Portland and under 2m at the NSW border.

Nonetheless, high tides tend to be the best time for landbased anglers.

Winter water is clear, so fish light for success.

Melbourne winter fish …

Garfish – best in winter.
Barracouta – all year.
Black bream – these are in the lower parts of estuaries in winter.
Elephant fish – usually between March and May.
Estuary perch – these are also in the lower parts of estuaries in winter.
Flathead – flathead bite all year.
King george whiting – these bite well around Melbourne in winter.
Mulloway – can fish well during winter in the lower parts of rivers.
Pink snapper – smaller fish are around in the shallows at night. Bigger fish can be caught from rock walls and jetties during and just after winter storms.
Red mullet – a whiting bycatch often caught in winter.
Salmon – autumn and winter.
Silver trevally – winter for bigger fish.
Tailor – all year but best in spring.
Trout, brown and rainbow – usually very good in winter.
Squid – these fish well around Melbourne in winter anywhere the water is clear. Try jetties with night lights, but many locations will produce at dawn and dusk.
Yelloweye mullet – best April to October.

Some winter fishing suggestions around Melbourne …

Whiting at St Leonards
Snapper in deeper water of Corio Bay
Gummy sharks in Western Port Bay
Snapper at Docklands
Salmon in southern section of Port Phillip Bay

Further afield …

Bluefin tuna at Portland
Bream and estuary perch in the Great Ocean Road lower estuaries
Salmon on the surf beaches

Here is a list of recommended tackle for Victorian waters.

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Melbourne (Williamstown) tides
Melbourne dam levels
VIC fishing regulations
VIC marine parks

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Westerly winds bring clearer water to Sydney Harbour, and calmer seas.

Squall fronts come through, but with generally calm weather in between.

Thanks to Weather Bureau radar and forecasts, it is easy to know when the weather will be right for fishing.

Sydney has some migratory tropical fish that leave when the water cools, including most of the gamefish species.

Winter species caught around Sydney include Australian salmon, silver trevally, john dory, luderick, tailor, bream and hairtail.

In the freshwater bass and estuary perch migrate downstream to the lower river estuaries in winter.

Note that closed seasons exist.

Kingfish and mulloway are caught in winter, but they slow down somewhat and livebait may be needed to tempt them.

Sydney winter fish …

Australian salmon – late winter and spring.
Bream – all year. They tend to swim up rivers in summer and down rivers in winter.
Flathead – flathead are all year.
John Dory – fish deep over bait grounds with livebait.
Garfish – all year.
Hairtail – all year but best in winter.
Luderick – these move upstream in winter.
Mulloway – winter in the lower estuary and beaches.
Pink snapper – autumn but mostly into summer.
Silver trevally – winter for bigger fish.
Tailor – all year, but best late winter and spring.
Squid – all year. Try jetties with night lights, but many locations will produce at dawn and dusk.

Here is a list of recommended tackle for NSW waters.

Book your fishing stay early at Booking.com

Sydney tides
Sydney offshore artificial reef
Sydney estuarine artificial reefs
NSW stocked waters
Sydney dam levels
NSW dam levels
NSW fishing regulations
NSW marine parks

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Winter is a great time to fish in and around Perth because the weather is usually mild and calmer than the summer months.

There will be squall fronts come through, but with calm weather in between.

Thanks to Weather Bureau radar and forecasts, it is easy to know when the weather will be right for fishing.

Not also that the fronts do bring the big snapper in close enough even for landbased fishos, so get out there as soon as the weather settles enough for safe fishing.

Perth winter fish …

Garfish – best in winter (a ban was introduced, check before fishing).
Bream – all year. They tend to swim up rivers in summer.
Flathead – flathead are all year, but best in summer in the Swan River.
Herring – all year. They bite day and night.
Bonito – can be caught in autumn. Can be caught landbased at North Mole, Woodman Point and Trigg.
Dhufish – all year, usually found around deeper reefs, but some are caught on shallow reefs and from shore.
Mulloway – winter in the lower estuary and beaches, best up the Swan River in early summer. Try Mosmans and the Narrows, and Scarborough and Mandurah beaches.
Pink snapper – can be caught from rock groynes during winter storms. Snapper restrictions apply in Cockburn Sound.
Salmon – autumn and winter.
Skippy – winter for bigger fish.
Tailor – all year.
Trout, brown and rainbow – trout prefer cool weather. Many WA trout waters are open all year.
Squid – May to August is usually best. Try jetties with night lights, but many locations will produce at dawn and dusk.
Crabs – can be caught in autumn, though summer is better. Mandurah is popular, but before Christmas try deeper parts of the Swan River for bigger crabs.

Here is a list of recommended tackle for WA waters.

Book your fishing stay early at Booking.com

Perth tides
Perth stocked waters
Perth dam levels
WA fishing regulations
WA marine parks

Email corrections, additions, pictures or video here.