Lonsdale Bight Beach
Summary for 17 Oct 2026
Bite Compass is showing a medium fish activity bite score on 17 Oct 2026. Wind is around N at 14 km/h. Solunar feeding windows are listed below.
Feeding Windows
Local Knowledge
Lonsdale Bight is the bay-side curve of beach between Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale, just inside the Heads. Swan Bay and the Lonsdale Bight are calamari spawning grounds, and the beach inside the bight can be a great spot to cast for calamari from the sand on a low tide — especially when a northerly has cleared the water. Whiting and salmon work the same shore. Just mind the map: the Point Lonsdale end is marine national park, so fish the Queenscliff half.
Walk the beach at low tide and cast jigs over the reef and weed edges for calamari — the big spawning squid are worth the wet sneakers. Fish small baits on a paternoster in the sand gaps for whiting. Spin metals when salmon move along the beach.
Calamari, with whiting and salmon. Squid (including calamari), octopus and cuttlefish: combined bag 10. King George whiting 27 cm and 20. Salmon 21 cm and 20 combined with Australian herring.
The Point Lonsdale part of the Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park covers the western end of the bight up to around Clarkes Beacon — all fishing and bait collection are banned there. Stay on the Queenscliff side and use the VFA app's GPS check if unsure. Port Phillip 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
Access is from the foreshore between Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale. The beach is sand and easy walking at low tide. Facilities are in Queenscliff.
The bight faces south towards the Heads, so a northerly blows offshore here and clears the water for beach squid. Southerlies and south-easterlies push chop and dirty water onto the sand. Low tide exposes the reef edges. Close to the Heads, currents run strong offshore.
Strong currents close to the Heads — don't wade deep. Slippery reef at low tide. Know where the marine-park boundary is before you cast.
Gear & Rigs
A 7–8 ft rod, 2500 reel, 8–10 lb braid. Squid jigs 3.0–3.5, with a little extra jig weight when the tide is running. A paternoster with size 6–4 long-shanks and pipi or squid. 15–30 g metals.
Seasons
Calamari are best through the cooler months and spring spawning. Whiting are best from November to April. Salmon from autumn through winter. Spawning squid here are the ones people describe with their hands, and for once the hands are not exaggerating.
If This Spot's Blown Out
Frequently Asked
Yes — on the Queenscliff side, east of Clarkes Beacon, the beach inside Lonsdale Bight can be a great spot for calamari on a low tide, especially when a northerly has cleared the water. The western end near Point Lonsdale is marine national park, where all fishing is banned.
The western end near Point Lonsdale is in the Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park, where fishing is banned. Fish the Queenscliff side.
King George whiting over the sand and salmon along the beach.