Port Phillip Bay Fishing Locations Fishing location guide
Port Phillip Bay Fishing Locations
Explore Port Phillip Bay fishing locations with local forecasts, reports, species guidance, bait context and nearby location comparisons.
Guide
Port Phillip Bay Fishing Locations
Curated Getfished location guide.
This guide groups fishing locations related to Port Phillip Bay Fishing Locations. Use these locations to compare conditions, access, and fishing opportunities across the area.
Locations
20 locations found in this guide.
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Port Phillip Bay is one of the largest inland seas in the Southern Hemisphere.
| Lat: -37.81532368, | Long: 144.977075 |
| 1,930 km² | Nearest city: Melbourne |
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Connected to Bass Strait and the associated Southern Ocean.
This beautiful bay operates, as far as fish species are concerned, like a giant estuary. That means the fish we like to catch, such as snapper and whiting, migrate into the bay for breeding during the summer months. Indeed Port Phillip bay has cycled between estuary, for the Yarra River, and bay several times over the last 8,000 years. Each time rising sea levels and storms have opened up “The Heads” to the ocean and flooded the lowlands.
Nearly the entire shoreline of the bay encompasses the city of Melbourne and its bayside suburbs. Including the regional city of Geelong.
Port Phillip Heads
The heads are narrow leading into a shallow, broad and very beautiful bay. It is its size and shallowness that result in conditions that can change rapidly from calm and docile to life-threatening when it comes to small boats.
The heads are geographically interesting as they were in fact where the old Yarra River estuary met Bass Strait millennia ago.
This bay is in effect an enormous estuary. Thousands of years ago, as reflected in geology and aboriginal stories, the bay suddenly filled with water. Previously being drier ground with swampy terrain. The Yarra River flowing out to Port Phillip Heads.
Snapper Fishing
Snapper are probably Port Phillip Bay’s most well known and sought after fish species.
Snapper are a highly prized fish that are known for their delicious taste and fighting ability. They can be caught year-round in the bay, but the best time to target them is during the warmer months from October to May.
Popular bait for snapper includes pilchards, squid, or pipis.
Anglers can also use soft plastic lures and jigs to target snapper, but bait fishing is generally the most popular method.
Bream, Flathead and Squid are also popular recreational fishing targets on the bay.