Phillip Island Fishing

Phillip Island, a popular destination off Victoria’s southern coast is a hot spot for fishing for local and international fishermen. Situated between Western Port and Bass Strait, this island has many types of fish species like gummy sharks and silver trevally. Phillip Island has fishing spots and experiences for the serious angler or the weekend warrior.

Fish within the Rules

Make sure you understand and follow local fishing regulations before you start fishing. These rules are in place to promote sustainable fishing practices and protect marine life. Get a valid recreational fishing license and follow minimum size limits and bag limits for each species. Know the restricted areas where fishing is not allowed and always use the right gear, like shank hooks, circle hooks, size sinkers, etc., so you can comply with the laws at all times. You’ll be on the right side of the law and help conserve the marine environment.

Techniques and Tips

Surf Fishing

Surf fishing on the beaches of Phillip Island with anglers targeting whiting and flathead. Use a heavy rod set-up and worm or pilchard bait. The best results are often casting past the breakers.

Pier Fishing

Pier fishing has easy access to many species. Try light tackle and use prawns, squid or small fish as bait. Expect to catch bream, flathead and whiting.

Rock Fishing

Safety first when rock fishing at places like Cape Woolamai. Wear appropriate foot gear and check the weather forecast. Salmon and King George Whiting are among the species you can target using heavier gear and bigger baits.

Boat Fishing

To get to deeper waters and catch other species, boat fishing around Phillip Island is the way to go. For a better experience in prime fishing spots consider hiring a boat charter service for snapper, tuna – even squid which is popular there now.

Best Fishing Spots

Phillip Island has many great fishing spots with different features and benefits. There’s something for everyone from private charters to shore based spots.

Cowes Jetty (Cowes Pier)

Cowes Jetty or Cowes Pier is popular with boaties and those who like to cast from the shores of Western Port Bay into its deep waters full of various fish species, including flatheads, whiting and more. On this pier, most people target flatheads, and if you’re lucky, you might get a Gummy shark in your catch, so if you have a family picnic planned, this is a great spot with all the amenities an experienced angler would need as well as Fresh bait such as blue bait and whitebait will get the best results. However, there are professional guiding services for those who want more inclusive fishing trips.

Rhyll Jetty

If you want a more relaxed fishing experience, go to Rhyll Jetty in the small town of Rhyll. This spot is renowned for squid fishing. The waters of Western Port Bay are calm, so you can use squid jigs and squid prongs to catch squid using different fishing techniques. Also, bream and garfish can be caught here as well, so this is a popular spot for those who don’t have a watercraft. To top it all off, you get a peaceful atmosphere and beautiful views.

San Remo Jetty

The beautiful scenery and productive waters make San Remo jetty a fishing hot spot. Located across the bridge from Phillip Island, this jetty gives you access to the fishing grounds of Western Port Bay and Bass Strait. Anglers will find many different species, including snapper, silver trevally and occasionally elephant fish, depending on when you visit. The jetty is good for light tackle and deep water fishing, which requires fresh blue bait while bait fishing or soft plastics, etc. However, if you want more challenging trips into deeper waters or want to try different techniques, then individual charters from San Remo are recommended.

French Island and Elizabeth Island

For example, French Island and Elizabeth Island are good places to fish if you want something more private than the normal spot. They have hidden fishing areas with less crowd, only accessible by boat. For instance, Murray Cod and estuary perch are found in the waters around these islands. When anglers go to these islands on a charter boat, they will have comprehensive and fun fishing trips and get to go to places with fewer people while catching different types of fish.

Cape Woolamai

Cape Woolamai beach is a popular surf and fishing spot. The area has strong currents and many different fish species including the rare pinkie snapper, silver whiting etc. Anglers can use bait fishing and soft plastic grubs to catch these fish. This type of fishing environment has rugged coastal lines and sand patches so it’s a great spot to catch reef fish and other common species. The beaches have areas where people do well with their fishing and you can see the beauty of Phillip Island.
Join our Phillip Island tours and explore Cape Woolamai, known for its strong currents and diverse fish species. Perfect for fishing enthusiasts and nature lovers alike, it’s an adventure you won’t want to miss!

Squid Fishing

One of the best things about squid fishing on Phillip Island is it’s fun. Squids are everywhere in the waters around the island, especially around Rhyll Jetty. You can do this by using squid jigs or prongs when casting for this type of fish on fishing trips. Squid, like other baits, loves fresh ones so that you can catch them during the daytime as well as at nighttime. They are most active in the early morning or late evening when you can get the best.

Types of Fish You Can Catch

There are different fish species in Phillip Island’s waters for all types of anglers. Here are some of the most common ones:

Gummy Shark: Gummies can be caught using bass yabbies and fresh blue bait and are known for their hard fight and great taste. They live in deeper waters.
Silver Trevally: A favourite with both boat and shore based anglers for their powerful battle, Silver Trevally can be seen around jetty pylons or weed beds.
Pinkie Snapper: Bait fishing, soft plastics, among others are some of the methods used to catch this tasty species.
Squid: At Rhyll Jetty squid fishing is a common activity where people use squid prongs or squid jigs. The flexibility of these types of bait make them attract different kinds of fish.
Murray Cod: Murray Cod are found around French Island and Elizabeth Island, so they are a prized target for those who want more challenging fishing.