Clifton Springs Jetty
Summary for 18 Oct 2026
Bite Compass is showing a medium fish activity bite score on 18 Oct 2026. Wind is around NE at 16 km/h. Solunar feeding windows are listed below.
Feeding Windows
Local Knowledge
Clifton Springs is one of the Bellarine's best shore-based options: the jetty at the boat ramp has had a significant renovation that doubled its length, which puts anglers within casting range of habitat for whiting, calamari, garfish, pinkie snapper, flathead and even mullet. The breakwall beside it is good for Australian salmon on a rising tide. The ramp has a toilet block and an undercover fish-cleaning table, so it is a full day out — the only thing that runs short is car-park space on a summer weekend.
Cast from the end of the jetty onto the seagrass and sand for whiting and squid, using a light berley trail for whiting and garfish. Work the breakwall with small metals or a bait under a float on a rising tide for salmon. Pinkies and flathead take squid strip or soft plastics cast wider.
Whiting, calamari, garfish, pinkies, flathead and mullet from the jetty. Salmon from the breakwall. King George whiting 27 cm and 20. Squid (including calamari), octopus and cuttlefish: combined bag 10. Garfish no minimum and 40. Snapper 28 cm and 10, no more than 3 of 40 cm or over. Flathead 27 cm and 20. Mullet no minimum and 40. Salmon 21 cm and 20 combined with Australian herring.
This is an active boat ramp — keep lines away from boats launching and retrieving, and stay off the ramp jetty when crews are using it. The fish-cleaning table is for fish, not for the bait-stained esky lid you forgot to wash. Port Phillip Bay (including Corio Bay) berley is capped at 10 litres, and in its intertidal zone you may only take marine worms, bass yabbies, squid, octopus and cuttlefish.
Access & Conditions
The jetty sits beside the Clifton Springs boat ramp on Corio Bay, which has a toilet block and an undercover fish-cleaning table. The car park fills fast in summer and on weekends. The ramp has some protection from northerly winds.
Corio Bay side of the Bellarine. The ramp has some protection from northerlies, but strong north-easterlies make the jetty rough. Rising tide for salmon on the breakwall. Calm mornings for squid and whiting. The town is named for mineral springs that drew steamer-loads of health-seekers in the 1870s; the modern cure is a calm morning and a feed of whiting.
Wet jetty boards and slippery breakwall rocks — wear grippy shoes and a lifejacket on the wall. Boat traffic at the ramp. Wear a lifejacket if you fish the lower landings or ladders — adults AS 4758 level 50S or greater, level 100 or greater for children.
Gear & Rigs
A 7 ft light spin rod, 2000–2500 reel and 6–8 lb line covers whiting, garfish and squid (size 2.0–2.5 jigs). Salmon: 10–25 g metals. Pinkies: 1/0–3/0 hooks with squid strip or pilchard, or 3 inch soft plastics.
Seasons
Whiting and flathead are best from late spring through autumn over the seagrass that the lengthened jetty now reaches. Calamari are the cooler-month fish off the jetty end on calm mornings. Salmon work the breakwall from autumn to spring, best on a rising tide, and garfish run a long season from November.
If This Spot's Blown Out
Frequently Asked
Yes — it is a great shore-based spot, and the jetty's renovation doubled its length to reach better habitat.
A rising tide for salmon on the breakwall; calm mornings for whiting and squid off the jetty end.
Whiting, calamari, garfish, pinkie snapper, flathead and mullet from the jetty, and Australian salmon from the breakwall on a rising tide.