Cunningham Pier

Cunningham Pier dates to the 1850s and stretches 350 m out into Corio Bay, holding a good number of anglers and giving access to deeper water. It is the fixed pier with the restaurant on it, not the floating Wangim Walk next door. It is the centrepiece of the Geelong waterfront, with restaurants, cafes and walking trails beside it, and it is well lit at night, which makes it a safe and productive platform after dark. Snapper, whiting, salmon, trevally and flathead are the regulars, calamari come out after dark, and bream, leatherjackets and garfish hang around the pylons. It is the only pier in the state where the bloke beside you might be holding a rod or a negroni.

Fish the deeper water off the end for snapper with pilchard, squid or silver whiting, especially at dusk and into the night. Drop small baits straight down beside the pylons for bream, leatherjackets and garfish. Squid come to jigs under the lights after dark. A light berley trail helps bring whiting and trevally in.

Snapper — mostly pinkies — whiting, salmon, silver trevally and flathead are the everyday catches. Calamari after dark. Bream, leatherjackets and garfish down the pylons. Snapper 28 cm and 10 (no more than 3 of 40 cm or over). King George whiting 27 cm and 20. Salmon 21 cm and 20 combined with Australian herring. Silver trevally 20 cm and 20. Flathead 27 cm and 20. Squid (including calamari), octopus and cuttlefish: combined bag 10. Bream 28 cm and 10. Leatherjackets no minimum and 20. Garfish no minimum and 40.

The pier is privately operated and its hospitality venues share the deck — fish where it is signposted as permitted, keep the walkway clear and follow staff directions on access and hours. Snapper, whiting and black bream must be kept whole until you are away from the water. 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.

The pier is on the Geelong waterfront, a short walk from the city centre, with restaurants, cafes and walking trails beside it. The deck is flat and wide. Expect plenty of foot traffic on summer evenings and weekends. The painted bollards along the waterfront make a patient audience — the only Geelong locals who never ask if anything's biting.

Corio Bay is sheltered water. Northerly and easterly winds push chop onto the pier; westerlies and southerlies are mostly offshore here and calm. The pier lights make dusk and night the prime times, especially in the warmer months.

Deep water off the sides and end, slippery boards after rain, and pedestrian traffic. Keep hooks and casts clear of diners and walkers. Wear a lifejacket if you fish the lower landings or ladders — adults AS 4758 level 50S or greater, level 100 or greater for children.

Yes — it is a significant fishing platform that holds a good number of anglers, well lit at night. It is privately operated, so follow signage and staff directions about where and when you can fish.

Snapper, whiting, salmon, trevally and flathead, calamari after dark, and bream, leatherjackets and garfish down the pylons.

Yes. The pier is well lit at night, which makes it a safe and productive spot after dark — squid and snapper are both night prospects.