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