Mornington Pier

Mornington Pier runs out from Schnapper Point and doubles as the breakwater for the boat harbour, which is why it has deep water on one side, moorings on the other and a steady crowd on both. It is a popular spot for sightseeing, fishing and diving, and home base for the local fishing charters. It fishes all year, with summer and autumn the best of it, for squid, salmon, snapper, flathead, silver trevally, King George whiting, leatherjackets, garfish and even the odd kingfish. Few piers on the bay offer that sort of menu with a coffee two minutes away, and the coffee is more reliable than the kingfish.

Squid are the bread and butter: cast a size 2.5–3.0 jig along the weed edges, or drift a whole silver whiting under a float on a squid spike. For whiting, garfish and trevally fish small baits on a paternoster close to the pylons with a light berley trail. Snapper are a dawn, dusk and after-dark proposition on pilchard, squid strip or silver whiting, cast out from the end into the deeper water. Dawn or dusk on an incoming high tide is the favoured window for most species, which is also when the pier's longest-serving regulars stop pretending they only came for the view.

Calamari turn up all year and are the most dependable catch, with the cooler months the peak. Snapper — mostly pinkies, with bigger fish in spring and early summer — are best from October to May, and King George whiting are best from November to April over the sand and weed. Salmon schools, garfish, silver trevally and leatherjackets fill in around the structure, and yellowtail kingfish are a summer-into-autumn chance rather than a plan. Victorian limits: snapper 28 cm and 10 a day (no more than 3 of 40 cm or over); King George whiting 27 cm and 20; squid (including calamari), octopus and cuttlefish 10 combined; salmon 21 cm, 20 combined with Australian herring; flathead 27 cm and 20; silver trevally 20 cm and 20; kingfish 60 cm and 2.

Snapper and King George whiting must be kept whole (gutted and scaled is fine) until you are away from the water. Port Phillip berley is capped at 10 litres, and rays cannot be kept anywhere within 400 m of a pier, jetty or breakwater — cut them free. Give the charter boats and berthing vessels room at the harbour end, and don't cast across the fairway when boats are coming in. The rebuilt Fishermans Jetty inside the harbour is a calmer backup on a blowy day, and the charter skippers will happily tell you how much better it is out wide.

The pier starts at Schnapper Point at the bottom of Main Street, with the harbour, shops and eateries a short walk away. Parking around the harbour precinct is limited on summer weekends. The deck is wide, but parts are uneven and slippery when wet, so check it suits a pram or wheelchair before you commit. Dogs must be on a lead, and jumping or diving off the pier is prohibited.

The pier faces west across the bay, so a westerly puts chop and weed straight onto it while an easterly or light southerly leaves it calm. A strong onshore blow that stirs the water is when the bigger snapper come close; the squid prefer clean water after a few settled days. Tides here run gentler than down at the Heads, so most of the tide cycle is fishable, with the change of light doing more than the change of tide.

Expect deep water, strong currents, submerged objects and slippery surfaces on and around the pier. The lower landings get wet and slick in a westerly chop, and there are boats manoeuvring at the harbour end. Keep kids back from the edge, wear grippy shoes and take care landing fish on the steps. 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 long-standing land-based spot for squid, snapper, whiting, salmon and garfish. Jumping and diving off the pier are prohibited, dogs must be on a lead, and you need a Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence unless you are exempt.

Squid, Australian salmon, snapper, flathead, silver trevally, King George whiting, leatherjackets, garfish and yellowtail kingfish all turn up. Calamari are the most reliable year-round catch, snapper are best from October to May and whiting from November to April.

Summer and autumn are the best seasons, and dawn or dusk on an incoming high tide is the favoured window for most species. Squid fish best in clean water after a few calm days; snapper come closer after a strong onshore blow.

It is one of the better squid piers on the eastern side of the bay. Cast jigs along the weed edges or float a silver whiting on a squid spike, especially in the cooler months and at low light. The bag is 10 squid, calamari, octopus and cuttlefish combined per person per day.