Tankerton Jetty (French Island)

Tankerton Jetty is the front door of French Island, where the passenger ferry from Stony Point ties up after a crossing of about 15 minutes. Fishing and sightseeing from the jetty are on the list of things to do, alongside bushwalking, bird watching, cycling and the island's eco-tours, which start here. Much of French Island is national park, so a session here comes with genuine quiet. The fishing is classic mid-Western Port: whiting and squid on the tide, salmon and trevally passing through.

The jetty faces the channel to Stony Point: fish the hours up to high water, and keep a light rig for whiting and a squid jig on a second rod. Pipi, mussel and bass yabby are the whiting baits; a pilchard strip or small plastic finds flathead on the sand. The current runs hard on the full run, so carry heavier sinkers than you would on Port Phillip. Plan the day around the ferry timetable rather than the bite — the last boat back waits for nobody.

King George whiting (27 cm, bag 20) and squid (combined bag of 10 squid, octopus and cuttlefish) are the main targets. Salmon (21 cm, combined bag 20 with herring), flathead (27 cm, combined bag 20) and silver trevally (20 cm, combined bag 20) fill in. Whiting must be kept whole until you are off the water.

Bring everything — bait, ice, food and water — because facilities on the island are limited. The jetty is a working ferry landing, so give the berth a wide berth when the boat is due. French Island Marine National Park, a no-take area, covers waters on the island's north side well away from Tankerton; check the boundary before fishing anywhere else around the island.

Access is by passenger ferry from Stony Point; there is no vehicle ferry for visitors. Bikes can be hired at the general store, about 3 km up Tankerton Road from the jetty. The jetty deck is flat, but the island's roads are mostly unsealed and there are few services, so families should plan for a self-contained day.

Tankerton faces west across the channel toward Stony Point, so the tide runs strongly and a westerly or south-westerly blows straight in. Easterly weather is the most sheltered. The ferry may not run in rough conditions, which settles the question.

Strong tidal current runs past the jetty, and help is a ferry ride away — keep children in a lifejacket (AS 4758) and nobody should climb down the piles. Jumping and diving from the jetty is prohibited because of shallow areas and submerged objects. Watch the ferry timetable and the weather; missing the last boat is a long night.

By passenger ferry from Stony Point; the crossing takes about 15 minutes and lands at Tankerton Jetty. Check the timetable before you go, as services are limited and weather-dependent.

Yes — fishing and sightseeing from the jetty are among the things visitors come for, and the wait for the return ferry is the best excuse to wet a line.

Most of the island is French Island National Park, and French Island Marine National Park protects waters on the island's north side — fishing is banned inside the marine park. Tankerton Jetty is well outside it.