Port Welshpool Long Jetty

The Port Welshpool Long Jetty is the reason many anglers drive this far. It reaches out into Corner Inlet from the Port Welshpool foreshore, and after closing in 2003 it was brought back by an $11 million rebuild that restored the inshore 190 metres and replaced the remaining 572 metres, and it officially reopened in June 2019. The deck now comes with handrails, lighting, rod holders and fish-cleaning tables, and it is accessible — which, at roughly three-quarters of a kilometre long, matters. That length puts land-based anglers over water a boat would normally be needed for: squid, King George whiting, snapper and gummies are all realistic, with flathead, salmon, silver trevally, leatherjackets and kingfish on the list as well. Rod holders bolted along the rails tell you exactly who the jetty was rebuilt for.

Most serious anglers walk to the outer section, where the water is deepest and the tide runs hardest. For squid, look for ink stains on the deck — they mark where squid have been caught — and cast prawn-style jigs over the weed on the moving tide, especially at dawn and dusk. Whiting and flathead come to a light running sinker rig with pipi, mussel or squid strip on the sandy and weedy edges. For snapper and gummies, fish fresh squid, pilchard or fish fillet on the bottom with a running sinker rig heavy enough to hold in the current, ideally around the change of tide. Remnant piles were deliberately left below the outer end as fish habitat, marked by navigation aids, and that structure is part of why the end of the jetty fishes. Bring a trolley; it is a long walk with a bucket, a rod bundle and a berley pot.

Squid are the most consistent catch and the reason the deck is ink-stained. King George whiting are taken over the sand and weed, with late summer into autumn the best of it across Corner Inlet. Snapper fire in Corner Inlet from early spring, and gummy shark are taken on fresh baits, often around dusk and after dark. Flathead, silver trevally, salmon and leatherjackets fill out a typical session, and kingfish are a genuine possibility — if you hook one, the pylons will usually decide the outcome. Bigger sharks also patrol the inlet. Victorian limits: squid have no minimum size and a combined bag of 10 with octopus and cuttlefish; King George whiting 27 cm and 20 a day; snapper 28 cm and 10 a day, no more than three 40 cm or over; gummy shark 45 cm partial length, two a day combined with school shark; kingfish 60 cm and two a day. Rays cannot be taken within 400 m of a jetty, so release any hooked off the deck.

Time the walk to arrive at the outer end before the change of tide; Corner Inlet's tidal flow is strong and the water level is heavily affected by wind, so the moving water either side of the change is the productive window. Carry heavier sinkers than you think — the current runs hard. Fresh squid caught on the jetty is the best snapper and gummy bait you can use. Use the fish-cleaning tables and take scraps home or bin them rather than dumping them off the deck. Corner Inlet contains a Marine National Park where all fishing is banned, but the jetty is well outside it.

The jetty starts at the Port Welshpool foreshore, with parking nearby, the boat ramp a short way along the waterfront and the Long Jetty Caravan Park a few minutes' walk away. The deck is level, with handrails and lighting, and was rebuilt to be accessible, so wheelchairs and prams can manage it — but it is a long walk to the outer end, and there is no shelter on the way. The caravan park has a kiosk, and Port Welshpool has a small town centre. There are no fees to fish the jetty.

Corner Inlet sits in an area of high wind energy: strong westerlies, southerlies and easterlies drive big swings in water level and tidal stream. A strong westerly makes the outer end hard work and blows baits around; light winds are the days to come. Because the inlet is sheltered from ocean swell, the jetty fishes when the open coast is unfishable — wind, not swell, is the limiting factor. Bigger tides move more water and more fish past the end; neap tides are gentler and easier to fish with light gear.

Wind is the main hazard — Corner Inlet gets strong, sudden winds, and there is nowhere to shelter on the long walk back. Check the forecast and carry a jacket. The tide runs hard past the end of the jetty, so anything or anyone that goes in will be swept away quickly; supervise children closely at the rails and do not climb over them to free snags. Lighting helps at night, but the deck can be wet and slippery. Large sharks are present in the inlet. Keep clear of boats and vessel traffic near the commercial wharf at Port Welshpool.

Yes. The jetty was rebuilt and officially reopened in June 2019 after closing in 2003. The project rehabilitated the inshore 190 metres and rebuilt the remaining 572 metres, with handrails, lighting and accessible decking. Check the Gippsland Ports and South Gippsland Shire notices for any temporary maintenance closures before a long drive.

Squid, King George whiting, snapper, gummy shark, flathead, silver trevally, salmon and leatherjackets are all taken off the jetty, with kingfish possible in the warmer months. The outer end is where most of the better fish are caught.

About 760 metres — 190 metres of restored inshore deck plus 572 metres of new jetty — so allow time for the walk to the end.

Yes — squid are one of the most reliable catches on the jetty. Look for ink stains on the deck to find where they have been caught, and cast jigs over the weed on the moving tide, especially at dawn and dusk.