Flinders Pier

Flinders Pier is the squid pier of Western Port. It runs 327 m out from Bass Park in Flinders village near the western entrance, where the water is clear and the bottom is a mix of weed, reef and sand, and it has a reputation for excellent squid catches with some very large ones in spring. Parks Victoria has finished critical safety works: part of the old timber inner section was rebuilt and reopened, and the full 327 m is open, with the concrete pier built in 2010–11 carrying authorised vehicles to the pier head. The pier is on the Victorian Heritage Register as part of the Flinders Telegraph Cable Complex, and it is one of the best places in the state to see weedy seadragons — on a calm day the snorkellers can give the anglers a run for the deck space.

The run-in tide is the most productive for every species. Squid are caught day and night, often best at dawn and dusk, on prawn-style jigs or baited skewer jigs, and the clear water means you can often watch them follow the jig in. Watching a big spring squid follow your jig to the pylons and then politely decline is a very Flinders kind of heartbreak. Cast into the sand patches for King George whiting with pipi or mussel. Fishing around the piles produces wrasse and leatherjackets on small hooks. Salmon, couta and silver trevally take metals and small plastics when they push through.

Squid are the reason to come — the combined bag is 10 squid, octopus and cuttlefish, with no minimum size. King George whiting (27 cm, bag 20), salmon (21 cm, combined bag 20 with herring), silver trevally (20 cm, bag 20), leatherjackets (combined bag 20), barracouta and pike round out the list. Flathead and garfish turn up on the sand. Seadragons are fully protected; anything that looks like a pipefish goes straight back.

Get there early in autumn and spring — the outer sections fill first, and squid regulars are on the deck at first light. Keep ink off the boards: wash down your spot before you leave, because the pier is shared with walkers, divers and seadragon spotters. Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary is about a kilometre away on the ocean side of Flinders and is no-take, so keep your squid fishing to the pier.

The pier is at the foreshore reserve at the end of Bass Street, with a car park beside it, public toilets and shops in the village nearby. The foreshore has walking trails, barbecues, a playground and sandy beaches. The concrete pier is wide and flat; a balustrade now runs along the shallow sections of the concrete edge. A single-lane boat ramp sits beside the pier.

Flinders sits near Western Port's western entrance, so swell and wind from the south and south-west reach it more than the upper port. The tide still runs hard, which is what moves squid and baitfish past the pier, and clear water after a few calm days is ideal for jigging. A strong south-westerly makes the outer end uncomfortable and churns the water.

The outer pier is exposed to southerly weather and the tide runs strongly past the end. Swimmers, snorkellers and divers use the water beneath the pier, so check before casting and never cast over a dive flag. Vehicles authorised to use the concrete pier head share the deck — stay alert. If you head round to the ocean rock platforms west of West Head, you are in the Point Nepean–West Head mandatory lifejacket zone: anyone fishing there must wear an AS 4758 Level 50S or greater lifejacket, Level 100 or greater for children.

Yes. Parks Victoria has completed its critical safety works and the full 327-metre length of Flinders Pier is open, including a rebuilt part of the timber inner section. Authorised vehicles can still access the concrete pier head.

April to October is the squid peak, and Flinders is known for very large squid in spring. Fish the run-in tide, and dawn and dusk are often best.

Yes — the pier is a well-known spot for seeing Victoria's marine emblem, the weedy seadragon. Seadragons are protected, so if you hook one by accident release it immediately.

No. The pier is outside the protected areas, but Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary is about a kilometre away on the ocean side of Flinders and all fishing is banned inside it.