Fishing Mornington & Mt Martha
The local marine ecology is dominated by rocky headlands, dense kelp forests, and commercial mussel aquaculture farms. October brings massive schools of Snapper congregating around the Mt Martha mussel leases to feed. Summer and autumn deliver exceptional fishing for King George Whiting, Southern Calamari, Gummy Sharks, and pelagic Kingfish.
Land-based fishers flock to Mornington Pier, a massive concrete and timber breakwater extending into deep water. Anglers target Squid, Silver Trevally, and Pinkies off the pier pylons, or cast surf rods for Snapper during heavy northerly blows. Rock fishers along Mt Martha cliffs cast metal slugs for Australian Salmon and Snook in the white wash.
Boaters enjoy high-capacity launching facilities with fast access to sheltered, deep-water grounds. Anchoring near the Mt Martha mussel farms with pilchard berley spreads yields top-tier Snapper fishing throughout spring. Drifting the shallow kelp margins off Fishermans Beach or Safety Beach produces limit bags of Calamari and Whiting.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- MORNINGTON PIER: A famous concrete breakwater pier providing access to deep water. Cast size 2.5 or 3.0 squid jigs along the inside harbour wall for Southern Calamari under the lights at night. Soaking pilchard blocks or squid heads off the outer wall during strong northerly weather pulls big land-based Snapper.
- MT MARTHA ROCKS: Rugged granite rock ledges accessible along the cliff trail off the Esplanade. Cast 28g to 40g metal slugs into the wash for schooling Australian Salmon and Snook. Sturdy boots and extreme caution are mandatory as swell waves can wash over the lower ledges.
- FISHERMANS BEACH FORESHORE: A picturesque cove featuring shallow reef patches and sand gaps close to shore. Wader fishers cast fresh pipis or sand worms on light running sinker rigs for King George Whiting during high tide. High tide during late afternoon produces the most consistent feeding bites.
- SCHNAPPER POINT BREAKWATER: Granite rock wall protecting the boat harbour that offers deep casting access. Drop unweighted peeled prawns or chicken breast close to the rock face for Black Bream and Silver Trevally. Early morning sessions before boat traffic wakes up deliver quiet, productive fishing.
- SAFETY BEACH FORESHORE: Sandy beach area tucked south of Mt Martha cliffs offering comfortable shore fishing. Set up rod stands and cast double-hook patternoster rigs baited with squid strips for Sand Flathead. Fishing the rising tide on calm summer evenings pulls legal Flathead and juvenile Snapper.
Offshore
- MT MARTHA MUSSEL FARMS: Commercial aquaculture ropes in 12 to 16 meters of water that act as massive fish aggregation zones. Anchor legally 50 meters outside yellow boundary buoys, establish a continuous pilchard berley trail, and float unweighted baits toward the ropes for Snapper. The rich mussel beds hold quality fish all summer long.
- SCHNAPPER POINT DEEP LEDGE: A steep underwater drop-off plunging into 12 meters depth straight off Mornington headland. Anchor up-current of the ledge mark and run snelled 5/0 hook setups baited with whole silver whiting or pilchards. Check your sonar screen to position your boat directly over active fish arches.
- FISHERMANS BEACH REEF FLATS: Extensive shallow kelp and limestone reef in 2 to 5 meters depth. Drift over the clear sand pockets casting size 2.5 squid jigs or light whiting rigs baited with fresh pipis. Clear water days with light winds offer ideal sight-fishing for Calamari and Whiting.
- MT MARTHA DEEP GUMMY MARKS: Deep mud and sand bottom located in 16 to 22 meters depth straight off Mt Martha cliffs. Set heavy anchors at night with fresh fish fillets, salmon slabs, or squid heads for cruising Gummy Sharks. Use heavy 80lb monofilament leader to handle abrasive shark skin.
- MARTHA COVE CANAL ENTRANCE: The dredged entrance channel leading into the marina basin holding active bait schools. Troll shallow diving minnows along the rock breakwalls for Australian Salmon, Tailor, and Snook. Jigging soft plastics near bottom markers also pulls quality Sand Flathead.
Hot Spots
- Mornington Pier: Premier land-based platform offering deep-water fishing for Snapper, Calamari, and Trevally.
- Mt Martha Mussel Farms: Offshore aquaculture leases famous across Victoria for producing trophy spring Snapper.
- Mt Martha Rocks: Iconic granite rock-hopping ledges yielding exceptional Australian Salmon and Snook action.
- Fishermans Beach Reefs: Shallow inshore kelp system producing consistent bags of King George Whiting and Squid.
- Schnapper Point Ledge: Deep underwater headland drop-off holding Snapper, Flathead, and Gummy Sharks.
Local Bait Tips
- SOUTHERN CALAMARI: Caught over the extensive kelp beds off Fishermans Beach and Schnapper Point using size 2.5 jigs in natural brown or green cloth. Fresh squid tubes are the premier bait for Snapper over the Mt Martha mussel leases.
- LIVE YELLOWEYE MULLET: Caught inside Martha Cove entrance and Schnapper Point harbour using a light float rig with size 12 hooks baited with bread dough. Pin live through the top lip for targeting big Flathead and Snapper.
- BLUE MUSSELS: Hand-harvested from timber pier pylons at Mornington Pier or collected around Schnapper Point rocks (following VFA bag limits). Crush shells slightly and thread soft meat onto fine wire hooks for King George Whiting and Bream.
- SHORE CRABS: Collected by turning over loose granite rocks along Mt Martha cliff ledges at low tide. Thread whole crabs onto snelled hooks as lethal bait for big Black Bream and Snapper around rocky structure.
Boat Ramps
- Schnapper Point Boat Ramp:
Schnapper Point Boat Ramp is located at 7 Flinders Drive, Mornington, tucked behind the headland of Mornington Harbour on Port Phillip Bay. The high-use facility features two concrete launching lanes, currently undergoing a major Stage 3 construction upgrade to build a longer and wider concrete ramp slab. Staging is serviced by a fixed jetty, with upgrades adding new DDA-compliant accessible jetties equipped with a Hansa hoist. The ramp is sheltered from southerlies and easterlies, but northerly and westerly gales hammer the launch, and reef edges lie extremely close to the ramp requiring vessels to navigate straight out. Amenities include free but limited parking, on-site toilets, lighting, a new concrete maneuvering apron, and a pedestrian shared crossing.
- Martha Cove Marina Launch:
Martha Cove Marina Launch is situated inside the fully enclosed, master-planned Martha Cove canal development at Safety Beach, Mt Martha. The premium facility features four concrete launching lanes and high-quality floating pontoons. The fully enclosed marina basin provides complete all-weather shelter from all open-water wind directions, making it a reliable launch option under any weather conditions. Amenities include limited parking spaces, lighting, and a private operator managing the site strictly during daylight hours, subject to a mandatory $20 fee.
- Safety Beach Public Ramp:
Safety Beach Public Ramp is located on Marine Drive along the Safety Beach foreshore, Mt Martha. The public facility consists of a basic concrete launching ramp slab with no staging pontoons or boarding jetties. It is highly exposed to onshore (northerly/westerly) winds which generate heavy chop, making launching difficult and suitable only for small vessels under calm conditions, with periodic toe-clearing works required at the ramp toe. Amenities include limited free trailer parking spaces, with public toilets, rubbish bins, and lighting located nearby on the foreshore.
Bait and Tackle
- MORNINGTON BOAT HIRE, BAIT AND TACKLE: Boatshed 7 Scout Beach, Schnapper Point Dr, Mornington VIC 3931 | Phone: (03) 5975 5456
- THE CHANDLERY TACKLE & BAIT: 1 Lumeah Rd (Yaringa Harbour), Somerville VIC 3912 | Phone: (03) 5977 4154
Basecamp & Accom
- Mornington Gardens Holiday Village: 98 Bungower Rd, Mornington VIC 3931 - Ph: (03) 5975 7373
- Brooklands Of Mornington: 43 Tanti Ave, Mornington VIC 3931 - Ph: (03) 5973 9200
- Safety Beach Holiday Park: 29 Marine Dr, Safety Beach VIC 3936 - Ph: (03) 5987 1845
Emergency & Safety
- Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) Mornington: Schnapper Point Dr, Mornington VIC 3931 - Ph: (03) 5975 7935 / Emergency 000 - VHF Ch 16 / 67
