Bass Coast

Bass Coast Fishing

Bass Coast covers a broad mix of shore, surf, rock, river and estuary fishing rather than one single access point. Anderson Inlet can be reached around Inverloch, with launching options including Maher’s Landing and the Inverloch boat ramp, while other ramps are listed at Grantville, Venus Bay and Newhaven. Shore-based access is spread along Inverloch, Kilcunda, Cape Paterson, Wonthaggi beaches and the river systems, with car parks giving access to the Kilcunda surf beaches and fishing platforms available from River Drive at Tarwin Lower. Some spots are simple river or jetty options, while others are exposed rock or surf locations.

Local conditions matter because the region shifts quickly between sheltered inlet water, river mouths, open beaches and rock platforms. At Anderson Inlet, the entrance bar is specifically dangerous and should not be crossed by inexperienced operators or underpowered boats. Around Flat Rocks and The Caves, tide movement is a major safety issue because water can cut off the return to shore; low tide and calm seas are the safer window for fishing those platforms. Bunurong Marine National Park is closed to fishing, extending along part of the coast between The Oaks area and Eagles Nest and offshore to the Victorian waters limit. Around Cape Paterson and Wonthaggi, reef fish are also subject to no-take restrictions in specified areas.

For land-based anglers, the best approach is to match the spot to the water type. Inverloch offers surf, inlet edges, channels, weed beds and the jetty, with Pensioners Corner working around the tides and Maher’s Landing suited to casting into the channel with enough sinker weight to hold position. The Poles has a weed bed just off the beach, while the Bowling Club stretch and Inverloch Jetty provide accessible options. Kilcunda and Wonthaggi are more surf and rock focused, with daytime surf fishing and early or late sessions worth considering where sharks are a target. River-based options such as the Bass, Powlett and Tarwin rivers suit estuary tactics around mouths, banks and platforms.

Gear should be kept practical for the chosen section of coast. Light line is specifically useful on the rock platforms between Inverloch and Cape Paterson when the sea is calm and the tide is low, while Maher’s Landing calls for a fair-sized sinker to reach and hold in the channel. Beyond those details, conditions, access and legal boundaries are more important than carrying a long tackle list.