Fishing Altona
The water around Altona is dominated by shallow seagrass meadows that feed heaps of baitfish and crustaceans. October brings big Snapper onto the famous Gas Pipeline reef, while summer delivers top-notch Whiting and Squid fishing. Light tackle and subtle presentations work best over these clear, shallow bottom grounds.
Land-based anglers gather along Altona Pier, which extends right out over the productive sand and weed patches. Long casts with squid jigs or lightly weighted bait rigs pull consistent feeds of Calamari and Sand Flathead. Walking the nearby foreshore beaches at low tide also lets you wade and cast soft plastics into deeper gutters.
Boaters launching from Altona Safe Harbour get quick access to both the inner weed beds and the deep offshore marks. Drifting over the seagrass with squid jigs or light patternoster rigs gets you fast bags of Calamari and Whiting. Heading out 15 meters deep onto the gas pipeline lets you set anchor and berley for trophy Snapper.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- ALTONA PIER: A long timber pier stretching over a mix of sand patches and dark seagrass beds. Cast size 2.5 or 3.0 squid jigs along the weed edges on a high tide for Southern Calamari. Soaking pilchard tails or squid strips on running sinker rigs along the sand patches yields Flathead and Pinkies.
- POINT COOK COASTAL PARK BEACH: Wide sand flats where anglers can wade out at low tide to reach deeper water gutters. Walk the shoreline while casting 3-inch paddletail soft plastics or whitebait on gang hooks for Sand Flathead. Early morning sessions give you calm conditions and active feeding fish before the wind picks up.
- SEAHOLME ROCK-WALL: A granite breakwater right near the boat harbour entrance that holds Bream and Flathead. Cast small hardbody lures or 2.5-inch soft plastics around the rocks on a rising tide. Bring a landing net to safely land fish over the slippery rock boulders.
- CORONA WAY FORESHORE: A quiet beach entry with shallow weed patches sitting close to the shore break. Light-tackle fishers targeting King George Whiting use fresh pipis on fine wire hooks during afternoon high tides. Long casts past the shore wave are required to reach the productive sand holes.
- TRUGANINA EXPLOSIVES RESERVE JETTY: A quiet wooden structure looking over shallow mudflats near mangrove habitat. Drop unweighted peeled prawns or worms right next to the timber pylons for Black Bream. This spot fishes best during the last two hours of the incoming tide when water floods the shallows.
Offshore
- THE GASSO (ALTONA PIPELINE): An iconic underwater gas pipeline in 15 meters of water that holds big schools of spring Snapper. Set anchor up-current of the pipe structure, run a continuous pilchard berley trail, and soak snelled 5/0 hook rigs. Keep an eye on your sonar screen to mark fish sitting right against the pipeline ledge.
- SEAHOLME REEF: An extensive shallow reef with rocks, kelp, and sand holes in 2 to 5 meters of water. Drift over the clear sand patches fishing fresh pipis or mussel meat on light leader for King George Whiting. Dropping a small weighted berley cage to the bottom will hold the whiting school right under your boat.
- ALTONA FLATHEAD DRIFT MARKS: Wide sand flats extending south-east off the pier in 6 to 10 meters depth. Drift across these open flats using double-hook patternoster rigs baited with fresh squid strips or bluebait for limits of Sand Flathead. Deploying a drogue slows your drift rate and keeps your baits presented naturally on the seabed.
- POINT COOK REEF: A massive offshore reef system that offers excellent fishing for Calamari and Snook. Kayakers and tinnies troll shallow diving minnows or cast squid jigs over the dense kelp beds. Clear water days with light offshore winds give you the best conditions for visual fishing.
- FAWKNER BEACON INSHORE MARGINS: The deep drop-off zone heading out toward Fawkner Beacon drops down to 14 meters depth. Drop heavy running sinker rigs baited with fresh fish fillets or squid heads for Gummy Sharks and Snapper. Fishing this deeper mark during evening tide changes delivers the most reliable action.
Hot Spots
- Altona Pier: An iconic timber pier offering premier land-based fishing for Southern Calamari, Flathead, and Garfish.
- The Gasso: A famous offshore gas pipeline reef known for holding massive congregations of spring Snapper.
- Seaholme Reef: Extensive shallow reef system providing world-class King George Whiting and Calamari action.
- Point Cook Coastal Park: Shallow sand flats perfect for land-based wading and lure casting for Sand Flathead.
- Fawkner Beacon Margins: A deep transition zone south of Altona renowned for producing trophy Gummy Sharks.
Local Bait Tips
- BASS YABBIES (GHOST SHRIMP): These soft, deadly whiting and bream baits can be pumped using a stainless steel yabbie pump from the exposed intertidal sand and mud flats near the mouth of Kororoit Creek at low tide. Flush them in a hand sieve and keep them alive in a bucket of cool, aerated seawater.
- SAND WORMS: Highly prized by local whiting specialists, sand worms can be dug from the moist sand patches surrounding Seaholme Reef and Altona foreshore during low tide using a garden fork. Keep them in a cool shade box wrapped in damp newspaper to maintain freshness.
- SQUID: Fresh southern calamari can be targeted by casting size 2.5 or 3.0 squid jigs over the dark seagrass meadows stretching off Altona Pier and Seaholme Reef on a rising tide. Whole squid makes unmatched bait for Snapper over the Gasso pipeline.
- PIPIS: Can be hand-gathered along the sandy intertidal wash zone south toward Point Cook at low tide (strictly observing Victorian hand-gathering rules). They are the premier bait choice for King George Whiting when threaded onto fine-wire long-shank hooks.
Boat Ramps
- Altona Boat Ramp and Safe Harbour:
Altona Boat Ramp and Safe Harbour is located on Altona Road in Seaholme within Altona Bay in North West Port Phillip. The facility features six concrete launching lanes with a safe boat harbor basin capable of sheltering between 70 and 100 boats depending on size. The primary operational hazard is severe sand shoaling at the dredged channel entrance caused by dynamic coastal wind and current patterns, which requires annual maintenance dredging starting in early May. Navigational guidance is assisted by a reinstated Starboard Lateral Mark Pile Light (37° 52.028′ S, 144° 51.028′ E) at the channel entrance. The site is equipped with public toilets, a shaded fish cleaning area, lighting, and a paved car-and-trailer parking capacity of 105 spaces that are free for trailer-attached vehicles, although passenger cars must pay parking fees, and no wash-down facilities are provided.
Bait and Tackle
- VTACKLE FISHING MELBOURNE: Unit 6/2 Castro Way, Derrimut VIC 3026 | Phone: (03) 8372 5781
- HOOKED ON BAIT & TACKLE: 174-180 Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing VIC 3029 | Phone: (03) 9748 3811
Basecamp & Accom
- Honey Hush Laverton Caravan Park: 6 Waratah Dr, Laverton VIC 3028 - Ph: (03) 9369 2253
- Discovery Parks - Melbourne: 129 Ashley St, Braybrook VIC 3019 - Ph: 1800 280 617
- Hobson's Bay Caravan Park: 222 Kororoit Creek Rd, Williamstown VIC 3016 - Ph: (03) 9397 2395
Emergency & Safety
- Coast Guard St Kilda (CG01): St Kilda Marina, Marine Pde, St Kilda VIC 3182 - Ph: (03) 9534 5013 / Emergency 000 - VHF Ch 16 / 67 / 73
