Lorne Pier (Point Grey)

Lorne Pier reaches out from Point Grey into Loutit Bay, and it is the town's main platform into deeper water. It has reopened after a closure for the Point Grey precinct redevelopment, so you can fish it again, though some fencing remains around the broader works site. Garfish, salmon, barracouta and trevally are the pier regulars, and the salmon run best after a strong blow from the south-east. Loutit Bay itself produces gummy sharks and the occasional snapper at night — and on holiday weekends, more spectators per angler than any other pier on the coast.

Float-fish small baits for garfish along the pier, and cast metal lures or fish pilchard on a paternoster off the end for salmon and trevally. Barracouta come in with the bait schools and hit lures fast; bring a few spare jigs because their teeth do the rest. Squid jigs worked slowly around the weed and pylons pick up calamari. At night the pier light illuminates the water, and that is when the gummies and the occasional snapper come in close.

Salmon, garfish, silver trevally and barracouta are the regular catches, with squid, gummy sharks and blue sharks in Loutit Bay. Victorian limits: Australian salmon 21 cm with 20 combined with Australian herring, garfish no minimum and 40 combined, silver trevally 20 cm and 20 combined, barracouta no minimum and 20, squid (including calamari), octopus and cuttlefish a combined bag of 10. Gummy sharks are 45 cm partial length with 2 combined with school shark; other sharks such as blue sharks are limited to one of each species. Rays cannot be taken within 400 m of the pier.

Fish the day after a strong south-easterly for salmon. Fish the pier only; fenced sections of the Point Grey works site remain off limits. Three of Victoria's 11 mandatory rock-fishing lifejacket zones are near Lorne — Artillery Rocks, Jump Rocks and the rock platform opposite Sheoak Falls — so if you head out onto the rocks, a lifejacket is the law there and good sense everywhere else.

The pier is at Point Grey, at the southern end of Lorne, reached off the Great Ocean Road. Toilet arrangements change while the precinct works continue, so check on-site signs. The Doug Stirling Track links the area to town. The pier deck is flat, making it easy for families and anglers with mobility needs, though the approach can be muddy after rain. Parking is limited and fills quickly on summer days. On a long weekend, a park within walking distance is a better story than most of the fish.

Lorne faces east into Loutit Bay, so the pier is sheltered from the prevailing south-westerly swell. A strong south-easterly pushes swell and baitfish into the bay, and the salmon follow. Calm nights suit gummy fishing. Big easterly seas make the end of the pier wet and uncomfortable.

The pier has deep water off every side; supervise children and keep them back from the edges. Swell can wash over the outer end in an easterly. Some fencing and closures remain around the Point Grey works site — do not enter fenced areas. The nearby rock platforms at Artillery Rocks, Jump Rocks and Sheoak Falls are mandatory lifejacket zones.

Yes. Lorne Pier has reopened after a closure for the Point Grey works. Some fencing remains around the wider works site, so check the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority for updates.

Garfish, salmon, barracouta and trevally, with salmon best after a strong blow from the south-east.

Yes. Gummy sharks, blue sharks and the occasional snapper come into Loutit Bay at night, when the pier light illuminates the water.

On the rocks at Artillery Rocks, Jump Rocks and opposite Sheoak Falls, yes — they are mandatory lifejacket zones. On the pier, a lifejacket is still good sense, especially for children.