Apollo Bay Harbour (Breakwaters & Wharf)

Apollo Bay's harbour is enclosed by two big rock breakwaters, with designated recreational fishing areas along the wharf and both walls. It is the most reliable deep-water land-based spot between Lorne and Port Campbell. Trevally and squid are the usual catch off the harbour wall, with salmon, barracouta, pinky snapper, King George whiting and flathead in the mix. It is also a working fishing port, so the local gulls have firm opinions about where your bait should go.

Fish the inside of the breakwaters for trevally, whiting and flathead on paternoster or running sinker rigs with pilchard, squid, pipi or bluebait. Squid jigs worked along the weed beds and rock edges at dawn and dusk pick up calamari. When barracouta or salmon push into the harbour, metal lures cast and retrieved fast are the quickest way to catch them. Berley helps hold trevally around your spot.

Silver trevally and squid are the staples, with salmon, barracouta, pinky snapper, King George whiting and flathead also caught. Victorian limits: silver trevally 20 cm and 20 combined, squid (including calamari), octopus and cuttlefish a combined bag of 10, Australian salmon 21 cm with 20 combined with Australian herring, barracouta no minimum and 20, snapper 28 cm and 10 (no more than 3 of 40 cm or over), King George whiting 27 cm and 20, flathead 27 cm and 20 combined. Snapper and whiting must be kept whole until you are away from the water. Rays cannot be taken within 400 m of the breakwaters or wharf.

Fish only the designated recreational fishing areas — the port manager sets conditions for set-aside areas, and the working wharf and berths belong to commercial boats. Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary lies just south-west of the harbour off Marengo and is no-take, so leave the reef there alone. While the harbour redevelopment is under way, the co-op building, port depot and slipway seawall are construction sites — stay out of fenced areas and follow on-site signs.

The harbour is at the southern end of Apollo Bay's main street, reached via Breakwater Road. While the harbour redevelopment is under way, the Mothers Beach car park and the area around the co-op and port depot are a fenced construction site — park in town and follow the signed alternative track to Mothers Beach and the breakwater. The Point Bunbury boat ramp stays open. The breakwaters are rock walls with uneven surfaces, and wharf access can change as the works move, so check the signs before setting up. Toilets and food are a short walk away in town.

The harbour faces east and is sheltered from the prevailing south-westerly swell, so it fishes on days when the beaches do not. A strong easterly or north-easterly makes the harbour choppy, and big southerly swells can wash over the outer breakwater. The entrance silts up and is dredged periodically, which shifts the sand and the fish. Dawn and dusk on a moving tide are best. This is Apollo Bay, so pack a rain jacket whatever the forecast promised; the harbour fishes fine in drizzle, which is just as well.

Breakwater rocks are uneven, slippery and can be washed by swell — wear non-slip shoes and a lifejacket (AS 4758, level 50S or above) on the outer walls, and keep children off the outer walls. Watch for boat traffic at the ramp and entrance. Do not touch sick or dead birds or other wildlife, because of the bird-flu risk. Stay out of fenced redevelopment works areas.

Yes, in the designated recreational fishing areas along the wharf and breakwaters — follow the port manager's signs on the day.

Trevally and squid are the usual catch, with salmon, barracouta, pinky snapper, King George whiting and flathead also caught.

Yes. A public boat ramp and landing jetty provide access for recreational boats; the harbour entrance silts and is dredged periodically.

No. Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary, just south-west of the harbour, is a no-take area.