Point Lonsdale Pier

Point Lonsdale Pier sits at the base of the lighthouse beside the Rip, with views across the Heads to Point Nepean. It is surrounded by the Point Lonsdale part of the Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park; the pier itself sits in a small carve-out where fishing from the pier is permitted, and everything around it is no-take. The ground around it is heavy kelp and seagrass that takes a toll on tackle, and the pier is famous for big snapper, sharks, salmon, garfish and calamari, with whiting off the sand patches on both sides. Container ships slide through the Rip so close and so quietly that first-timers forget to watch their rod tip.

Fish from the pier only and drop straight down — don't cast off the end or the sides, because the marine park edge is only about 45 m from the deck. Drop baits onto the sand right beside the pylons for whiting, and work jigs straight down along the weedy pylons for calamari. Snapper and sharks are low-light and night fish, taken on fresh squid or fish baits fished heavy enough to hold in the current. Expect to lose rigs in the kelp. Fish the slack water, which at the Rip comes roughly halfway between the local high and low (close to Williamstown's high and low), not at the turn of the local tide.

Big snapper, sharks (including gummies), salmon, garfish and calamari, with whiting off the sand. Snapper 28 cm and 10, no more than 3 of 40 cm or over. Squid (including calamari), octopus and cuttlefish: combined bag 10. Salmon 21 cm and 20 combined with Australian herring. Garfish no minimum and 40. King George whiting 27 cm and 20. Gummy shark 45 cm partial length and 2 combined with school shark. Other sharks 1 of each species. White sharks are protected.

The pier sits in a small carve-out of the Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park; the beach, reef and water beyond the pier's immediate surrounds are no-take — don't fish from the surrounding beach or reef, don't collect bait on the rocks, and drop straight down — don't cast off the end or the sides. Check the park signage at the pier, or the GPS fishing-zone check in VFA's free app, if in doubt. Dogs are not allowed on the pier. Bring more sinkers than seems reasonable; the Rip disagrees with anything lighter.

The pier is below the Point Lonsdale lighthouse, a short walk from the township's shops and cafes, with a car park near the pier. The deck is flat but exposed. Dogs are not allowed.

This is the Rip: the current runs hard through the local high and low tide and eases to slack roughly midway between them, close to Williamstown's high and low times. The hour either side of that slack is when baits stay put; the Port Phillip Heads slack-water tables give the times to the minute. Swell wraps around the point in a big southerly; a northerly gives the calmest, clearest water for squid. Low light suits snapper and sharks.

Expect deep water, strong currents, rough surf, submerged obstacles and slippery surfaces, and the area is unpatrolled. The Rip's currents can carry anyone who falls in a long way in minutes; don't climb down the ladders in a swell. In Port Phillip Heads, everyone in an open area of a boat under 12 m must wear a lifejacket while underway. 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, from the pier only — it sits in a small carve-out of the marine park, so drop straight down and don't cast off the end or the sides. The surrounding beach and reef are part of the Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park, where all fishing and bait collection are banned.

It is famous for big snapper, sharks, salmon, garfish and calamari, with whiting from the sand right beside the pylons. Heavy kelp and seagrass mean lots of lost tackle.

Around slack water, which at the Rip falls roughly midway between the local high and low (the Port Phillip Heads slack-water tables give the times), and at low light or night for snapper and sharks.