Adelaide is known for its relatively sheltered gulf waters, metro jetties, and low-energy beaches.

Rock platforms within St Vincent and Spencer Gulfs are safer than those outside the gulfs.

These gulfs form a large part of South Australia’s coastline, with Adelaide located on the Fleurieu Peninsula on the east side of the Gulf of St Vincent. Gulf waters are mostly sandy and shallow, with extensive seagrass beds.

Although large sportfish are less common, the easy fishing for common small species is ideal for both locals and visitors.

The proliferation of jetties is a highlight for land-based anglers, both near Adelaide and in coastal towns around the gulfs and bays on the west coast.

Some jetties, originally built for shipping wheat or ore, now attract fishing holidaymakers.

Adelaide’s metro jetties include Brighton, Glenelg, Henley, Grange, Semaphore, and Largs Bay.

Port River estuary also includes the productive harbour rock walls.

West Lakes, a reclaimed marsh, is now a popular saltwater area for catching large black bream.

Outside the gulfs, mainland surf beaches facing the Southern Ocean offer different fishing experiences, as do Kangaroo Island’s mix of sheltered and ocean beaches.

Popular Fishing Spots & Coastal Areas

Victor Harbour is a favorite with good fishing from Granite Island causeway, Screwpile Jetty, and Port Elliot.

Onkaparinga River near Port Noarlunga is known for black bream, with small mulloway also caught. Rapid Bay’s jetty is another great spot, and the south peninsula has top fishing destinations like Cape Jervis.

Weekend trips often take anglers around the York or Eyre Peninsulas, including Port Lincoln, with the west coast known for its pristine waters and remote beach access. Yalata offers prime surf fishing for trophy mulloway.

Notable Fish Species

Top species include king george whiting, snapper, tommy ruffs, gar, salmon, mullet, bream, squid, and blue crabs.

Larger sportfish such as yellowtail kingfish, samsonfish, and tuna are also present, while species like red mullet, snook, morwong and barracouta add variety.

Adelaide Freshwater Fishing

Adelaide, Australia’s driest state capital, has freshwater fishing in the lower Murray River, with murray cod, yellowbelly, and redfin. Carp dominate.

Streams around Adelaide support small populations of redfin, tench, and trout, making day trips popular for freshwater anglers.

Fishing Tackle & Techniques

Locals use cockles (pipis) as bait, and lures such as soft plastics and minnows work well for black bream.

Pilchards, prawns, and other baits attract salmon, ruff, and snapper. Squid jigs are a must for catching the big squid found around SA waters.

Fishing Weather & Tides

Autumn and winter offer stable fishing weather. Summer brings higher temperatures and strong breezes. Tides are generally low, except for unique quirks like the “dodge tides” in the gulfs.

Unique Traditions & Species

Local fishing traditions include “dabbing” for garfish at night and “raking” blue crabs in the summer shallows. Blue crabs thrive in the gulfs, and flounder are speared at night.

Adelaide Tides
West Beach Webcam
SA Fishing Regulations
SA Marine Parks
Reservoir Fishing
Murray River Fishing Spots

NOTE: Special snapper regulations apply in South Australia – more info here.

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Leave a fishing tip or fishing report in the comments section.

Dundee Beach is the entry to Fog Bay, southwest of Darwin, Northern Territory, and immediately south of Bynoe Harbour.

Fog Bay provides many fishing opportunities, with numerous rock patches, shallow reefs, a FAD, and an engineered artificial reef, all sustained by the vast floodplains of the Finniss and “Little Finniss” Rivers.

This compact area offers diverse fishing.

With a well-planned approach, anglers can catch sailfish, reef fish, mud crabs, and barramundi in a single day, though it’s often best to dedicate a day or two to each.

Fog Bay is less affected by tidal currents than Darwin’s waters, allowing fishing on larger tides.

Approximately 70km from the boat ramp, you’ll find grounds with red emperor, large mangrove jacks, and nannygai. Pelagic species like Spanish mackerel and longtail tuna are common during the dry season.

South of Fog Bay lies the Finniss River and Peron Islands, while Bynoe Harbour lies to the north.

For shore-based anglers, the coastal rocks provide opportunities to catch large barramundi, blue salmon, goldspot cod, golden snapper, mangrove jacks, trevally, and queenfish.

Sailfish are abundant in the bay, with multiple hookups often possible, though availability varies with the local bait cycle.

Fog Bay produces micro marlin, suggesting that a spawning area is nearby.

A local lodge offers cabins, camping, and supplies.

The arms of Bynoe Harbour and the freshwater stretch of the Finniss River run behind Fog Bay, with public boat ramps at Mackenzie and Milne Inlet arms and one at the freshwater Finniss on Hardcastle Rd.

With the tidal range reaching over 7m, the bay has numerous drying reefs and flats, requiring careful boating plans.

Each year, tagged barramundi valued at $10,000 are released in the area as part of the Million Dollar Fish promotion, with a chance to win a $1 million prize fish.

Detailed fishing maps of the area, including key fishing marks and rockbar locations, are available in the North Australian FISH FINDER book.

Dundee Beach Accommodation

To secure accommodations at Dundee Beach, book early.

Nearby in Bynoe Harbour, Sandpalms Roadhouse and Crab Claw Island Resort are also available.

How to Fish Dundee Beach

Sailfish can be caught year-round, with peak seasons following the wet season and leading into the buildup, both offering calmer weather compared to the mid-year dry season’s persistent southeast winds.

Standard techniques work for sailfish, but rigging for smaller fish is advisable, as the sails here are typically smaller. Black marlin up to 150kg can also be encountered.

Throughout the bay, Spanish, grey, and spotted mackerel are common, along with longtail and mackerel tuna. Look for seabirds to locate these fish.

For land-based fishing, high tide is best for barramundi, especially on calm mornings. Trolling the three coastal rock outcrops from north of the ramp toward Bynoe Harbour is also effective, especially at high tide.

During the wet season and afterward, the Finniss River provides productive barramundi fishing, and mud crabs are abundant.

Note that the upper tidal areas of the Finniss and “Little Finniss” Rivers are closed to boaters due to Aboriginal Land restrictions.

The dry season offers pleasant temperatures but is often accompanied by steady southeast winds. During these conditions, small boats can fish the shorelines, shallow reefs, and headlands.

Larger tides are generally more favorable for fishing in Fog Bay, though clearer water conditions on neap tides make the Finniss River particularly suitable for lure fishing at these times.

For larger fish, big jewfish can be caught on the shallow reefs near the boat ramp, though many anglers prefer to target the shoals and artificial reefs further offshore for coral trout, tricky snapper, and golden snapper.

For reef fishing on wider grounds, flat rubble areas are ideal—use a sounder to locate productive spots. The gas pipeline is a proven deep-sea fishing location.

More detailed maps, including rockbar and jewfish reef locations, are in the North Australian FISH FINDER book.

Native Point (Dundee Beach) tides |
Recent NT rainfall |
NT fishing accommodation |
Million Dollar Fish promotion |
NT fishing regulations |
North Australian FISH FINDER book.

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Most fishing in Victoria is done in Melbourne’s two large, shallow enclosed bays, Port Phillip and Western Port, but the city also has nearby stocked waters, with surf and rock fishing within easy reach.

Melbourne’s two giant bays are primarily sandy, featuring seagrass beds that provide excellent habitats for various fish species. Both boat and land-based fishing are popular within these bays, supported by numerous boat ramps and jetties.

Geelong’s jetties alone offer ample opportunities for family anglers, with reliable catches of juvenile salmon, squid, and bream.

Artificial reefs have been installed to enhance fishing spots, and recent shellfish reef restoration projects have begun. These reefs are strategically placed to benefit both boaters and jetty anglers.

Main catches in the bays include pink snapper, spotted and sand whiting, yellow-eye mullet, black bream, luderick, garfish, flounder, flathead, salmon, silver trevally, elephant fish, gummy sharks, seven-gill sharks, school sharks, various rays, estuary perch, and squid.

In the surf, salmon are predominant, with gummy and school sharks, mulloway, pink snapper, and tailor adding excitement to the catches.

Gummy and school sharks are highly regarded as table fare. After storms, mulloway and snapper tend to move closer to shore, making them easier targets, especially when rain flushes estuaries and creeks.

Offshore fishing targets include pink snapper, flathead, and kingfish. Additionally, bluefin tuna, albacore, and striped tuna are available for those seeking larger catches. Dedicated anglers often pursue mako and thresher sharks.

Rock fishing along Victoria’s rugged coastline is excellent and accessible for day trips from the city. A highlight for many is the southern rock lobster, found along reefy foreshores up to about 100 meters deep.

Despite increasing fishing pressure, Victorian fishing has seen improvements in recent years. Snapper populations around Melbourne are often abundant, and big tuna have made a notable comeback in the state’s west. Kingfish also appear in good numbers, providing ample opportunities for anglers.

Inland areas around Melbourne feature numerous lakes and streams stocked with both native fish and trout. For detailed locations, refer to our Victorian fishing map.

Regular fish stocking in freshwater locations is conducted, and there are considerations for stocking some marine waters as well. Significant rivers for Melbourne anglers include the Ovens, Goulburn, Patterson, King, Loddon, Barwon, Rubicon, Snowy, Yarra, Mitta, Hopkins, Merri, and Kiewa. Notable lakes with good fishing include Bullen Merri, Burrumbeet, Eildon, Eppalock, Hume, Mulwala, and Purrumbete.

A recreational fishing licence is required to fish in Victoria. Gear and bag restrictions apply, including a maximum of two hooks per angler. Set lines, mesh nets, cast nets, snares, and mussel rakes are banned.

How to Fish Melbourne

Seasons

In Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay, juvenile salmon bite year-round, while bream are best targeted from June to November.

Flathead, garfish, and spotted whiting are most active in summer, with whiting biting through to April. Silver trevally and snapper peak from October to May, mullet from April to October, and kingfish are best in summer. Squid can be caught all year but are usually most abundant from June to October. Mulloway are particularly active around Melbourne in winter.

Bait, Lures, and Tackle

Popular baits include pilchards, bluebait, prawns, and squid. For pink snapper, fish fillets or small whole fish are effective. Local baits such as worms and bass yabbies can significantly enhance your catch.

Lure fishing is popular, especially for salmon and kingfish, where chrome slices serve as versatile lures. Bream and estuary perch are often targeted with small minnow lures and soft plastics. Paternoster rigs are favored for bait fishing.

In Victoria’s estuaries, characterized by small tides and often clear water, a light-tackle approach is essential. Fishing tends to be more productive when the water is murkier.

Weather

Victoria’s climate is diverse despite the state’s relatively small size. It ranges from semi-arid temperate with hot summers in the northwest to temperate and cool conditions along the coast. The Great Dividing Range influences a cooler, mountainous climate in the center, while coastal winters remain mild.

Victoria is the second wettest state in Australia after Tasmania. The Victorian Alps in the northeast are the coldest region. Rainfall increases from south to north and is more abundant at higher altitudes, particularly in the Otway Ranges and Gippsland in southern Victoria, as well as the mountainous northeast. Rainfall is most frequent in winter, with heavier summer rainstorms.

At Melbourne Airport, the mean wind speed ranges between 20km/h and 24km/h annually, with April, May, and June being the calmest months and August and September the windiest. Winds in Melbourne typically blow northerly in winter and southerly in summer, with easterlies being rare. Winter fronts can bring gale-force winds, while summer afternoons are often accompanied by strong sea breezes.

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

Special Features

A seasonal elephant fish run occurs in Western Port between March and May. The unusual and often large seven-gill shark is a common sight in both of Melbourne’s bays.

The volcanic crater at Lake Purrumbete fosters unusually high growth rates in trout and is also stocked with chinook salmon, as is Lake Bullen Merri. Many Victorian estuaries host estuary perch, resembling Australian bass. These fish can respond well to baits and lures on ultralight gear but are notoriously fickle.

Squid, snapper, and spotted whiting are staples for Victorian anglers. Snapper can sometimes be caught from surf beaches, alongside mulloway, salmon, tailor, and gummy sharks.

Luderick are primarily caught around Mallacoota but extend further west, along with the similar zebra fish.

Fishing Holiday Locations

Victoria boasts numerous coastal towns ideal for fishing holidays.

To the west, major destinations include Lorne, Apollo Bay, Port Fairy, Portland, and Nelson (Glenelg River).

To the east, popular spots include Port Albert, Lakes Entrance, the Ninety Mile Beach, and Mallacoota.

Many smaller communities also offer excellent fishing facilities and holiday accommodations.

Melbourne (Williamstown) tides
Victorian stocked fishing spots
Port Phillip fishing spots
Western Port fishing spots
Melbourne dam levels
VIC fishing regulations
VIC marine parks

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