Fishermans Beach (Torquay)

Fishermans Beach is the sheltered side of Torquay — the sand that runs north-east from the boat ramp under the lee of Point Danger, facing into Zeally Bay rather than the open surf of the back beach. The best water is at the bottom of Horseshoe Bend Road, roughly halfway back towards the Torquay tip, and the fish are whiting, snapper, gummy sharks and the odd mulloway. Spring is the season: whiting and snapper in September and October, with the occasional big snapper among them. It is also the town's boat-launching beach, so a sunrise session comes with a soundtrack of reversing trailers and someone explaining to a teenager which way to turn the wheel.

This is a flat-water beach session rather than a surf-casting one: a running sinker or paternoster rig cast to the sand and weed edges in front of you does most of the work. The rule is simple — low tide, and especially low tide into the evening. Whiting respond to small baits of pipi or squid on light gear, while the snapper and gummy shark crowd want fresh fillet or squid on a heavier rod. Gummies are a night fish here; set up before dark, keep the baits fresh and let the rod sit.

Whiting and snapper are the spring headline, with gummy sharks after dark and the odd mulloway for the patient. Victorian limits apply: King George whiting 27 cm and a bag of 20, snapper 28 cm and 10 (no more than 3 of 40 cm or over), gummy shark 45 cm partial length with a combined bag of 2 with school shark. Mulloway are currently 60 cm with a bag of 5, but VFA has consulted on raising the size and cutting the bag, so check the current guide before you keep one. Snapper, King George whiting and gummy sharks must be kept whole until you are away from the water.

Point Danger Marine Sanctuary covers the reef off the point at the southern end of this beach, and it is no-take for everything — fish, bait, squid and shells. Pumping yabbies counts as bait collection, which is banned inside Point Danger Marine Sanctuary, so collect bait well away from the point or buy it. Fish the beach north of the boat ramp, out of the launching lanes.

The Fishermans Beach boat ramp car park off The Esplanade was rebuilt in late 2024, with car-and-trailer bays, a kayak drop-off area and outdoor showers. From there it is a short, flat walk onto firm sand, and the Surf Coast Walk runs along the top of the beach. The ramp area is busy on calm summer mornings, so park in the car bays rather than the trailer bays. It is one of the easier family beaches on the coast for a gentle evening flick.

Point Danger blocks most of the south-westerly swell that hammers the back beach, which is why the boats launch here and why it stays fishable on days the surf beaches do not. A strong north-easterly blows straight onto the beach and stirs it up, and a big south-easterly swell wraps in as well. Calm evenings on a low tide are the pick, and the bite usually lifts as the light goes. It is also when the beach finally belongs to the people holding rods rather than paddles.

The beach is gentle, but boats and jet skis launch and retrieve right beside it — never cast across the ramp lane. Rocks at Point Danger are slippery and wave-washed on any swell; if you clamber out there, wear a lifejacket (AS 4758, level 50S or above) and non-slip shoes. Summer weekends bring swimmers, paddleboarders and kayaks into the shallows, so pick your casting lane carefully.

The bottom of Horseshoe Bend Road, about halfway back towards the Torquay tip, fished at low tide — particularly into the evening.

Not on the reef itself. Point Danger Marine Sanctuary is a no-take area, so all fishing and bait collection is prohibited inside it. Fish Fishermans Beach to the north instead.

Whiting and snapper (best in September and October), gummy sharks after dark and the occasional mulloway.

Yes. Torquay's public boat ramp is on Fishermans Beach, and the car park was rebuilt in late 2024 with car-and-trailer bays and showers.