Altona Pier

Altona Pier was rebuilt and reopened in January 2024, a new pier stretching more than 300 metres into the bay with a Y-shaped head and an accessible lower landing. The headline act sits off the end: in 2012 an artificial reef of 99 hollow concrete domes was laid about 40 to 50 metres from the end of the pier, in 3 to 4.5 metres of water, specifically for land-based anglers. That reef draws pinkies, flathead, leatherjackets and salmon, and in the right conditions a proper snapper. The sides are a different fishery again — weed beds and sand in two or three metres of water for calamari and whiting, with black bream around the pylons.

Fish the end for snapper and pinkies by casting a running-sinker or paternoster rig toward the reef and letting the bait sit; a long cast from the head reaches it. Work the sides with light gear: squid jigs over the weed when the water is clear, paternoster rigs on the sand for whiting, and a float and a light berley trail for garfish. Drop a small bait straight down the pylons for bream. To the right of the pier the shallows hold flathead, and locals wade and cast soft plastics there in summer. The reef eats sinkers with real enthusiasm, so tie up spares before you walk out.

Snapper are the drawcard: pinkies are around most of the year and bigger fish come in from spring into autumn, and the big ones often bite when it is rough or just after. Snapper are 28 cm minimum with a bag of 10, of which no more than three may be 40 cm or longer. Calamari and King George whiting work the weedy sides (squid combined bag 10; KGW 27 cm, bag 20). Garfish come in under berley, flathead patrol the sand, leatherjackets and salmon visit the reef, and bream live under the deck.

When a southerly has been blowing and the bay looks unappealing, that is the window the snapper regulars wait for. Alcohol is prohibited on Altona Pier, and so is jumping or diving off it. Skates and rays can't be taken within 400 m of a pier, so release any banjo or stingray. Toadfish are part of the deal and must be returned — they are not to be eaten. Berley is capped at 10 litres in Port Phillip Bay. The deck fills shoulder to shoulder when the reds are on; arrive early or bring patience.

The pier runs out from the Altona foreshore at the end of Pier Street, with cafes, barbecues, picnic areas, a playground and public toilets on the foreshore. The new deck is wide and level with an accessible lower landing, which makes it one of the friendlier piers in Melbourne for wheelchairs, prams and small kids. Parking along the Esplanade is tight on summer weekends, and the queue for a foreshore flat white often moves faster than the scramble for a spot on the pier head. Dogs must be on a lead.

The pier points south into the bay, so northerlies blow off the land and leave the sides calm and clear for squid and whiting. A southerly or south-westerly pushes chop straight at the structure — uncomfortable, but that is when the snapper switch on. The shallow sides need clear water; after a long southerly blow they go milky and the calamari disappear. Low light around a tide change is the prime time.

The deck sits well above deep, cold water at the head, and a southerly can throw spray and chop over the end quickly — don't get stuck out there as it builds. Wet timber and concrete are slippery. Watch for flying sinkers and ganged hooks when the head is crowded. Handle banjo sharks, rays and toadfish with care and return them. A lifejacket is sensible for anyone fishing the end alone in rough weather or at night.

Yes. The rebuilt pier reopened in January 2024 and is one of the west side's most popular fishing platforms. Alcohol and jumping or diving off the pier are prohibited, and dogs must be on a lead.

Ninety-nine concrete reef modules sit about 40–50 metres off the end of the pier, in 3–4.5 m of water, deployed in 2012. Cast from the head of the pier to reach it; it holds pinkies, flathead, leatherjackets, salmon and sometimes big snapper.

Snapper (including pinkies) are 28 cm minimum in Victoria, with a bag of 10 per person of which no more than 3 may be 40 cm or longer. There is no snapper closed season.

Yes — calamari hold over the weed beds off the sides in two to three metres of water and fish best when it is clear, peaking from April to October. Squid, octopus and cuttlefish share a combined bag of 10.