Fishing Port Fairy
Surrounding ocean waters feature ancient volcanic reef formations, deep drop-offs, and dense kelp forests. Strong coastal upwellings deliver vital nutrients that support massive populations of baitfish and apex predators. The river estuary acts as a critical nursery ground offering high-quality light-tackle sportfishing.
Shore-based fishers line the stone training walls of the Moyne River to target fish moving on tidal flows. Casting small diving lures along rock retaining walls produces excellent catches of bream and perch. Surf fishers set up on adjacent ocean beaches to target gummy sharks and salmon in deep gutters.
Boating anglers utilize well-maintained river boat ramps to access productive offshore grounds. Navigating wide to volcanic reefs requires careful attention to river entrance tides and ocean swells. Heavy tackle setups are recommended to extract powerful fish from dense kelp and sharp volcanic rock.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- MOYNE RIVER TRAINING WALLS: Walk the stone rock walls casting small soft plastics into the main tidal current. Target deep shadow lines along the rocks at dusk to intercept large silver trevally. Drift unweighted live yabbies close to submerged boulders to catch heavy black bream.
- MARTINS POINT: Fish this sheltered estuarine corner during an incoming tide using light spin tackle setups. Cast small surface poppers over shallow weed patches to draw explosive strikes from whiting. Suspend small natural baits mid-water under floats to catch schooling yellow-eye mullet.
- EAST BEACH GUTTERS: Walk over coastal dunes to cast heavy surf gear into deep ocean gutters. Present whole pilchards or squid fresh baits on wire leaders to target large gummy sharks at night. Elevate rod tips high in sand spikes to keep mainline above crashing shore break.
- GRIFFITHS ISLAND ROCKS: Navigate carefully to exposed basalt ledges on the island exterior fully equipped with safety gear. Cast heavy metal spinners into white water wash zones to catch surface-feeding Australian salmon. Drop weighted rigs straight down into kelp margins to extract heavy sweep.
- YAMBUK LAKE ENTRANCE: Drive west to access this expansive estuarine lake system loaded with shallow structure. Cast hardbody lures along steep mud banks to trigger aggressive strikes from trophy black bream. Present unweighted live baits into deep timber snags for consistent hookups.
Offshore
- THE 30-METER VOLCANIC REEFS: Run offshore to locate ancient underwater lava flows holding quality snapper. Anchor securely upwind and establish a continuous berley trail to bring fish off the bottom. Present fresh squid heads on running sinker rigs directly down the berley line.
- JULIA PERCY ISLAND: Navigate wide to this offshore island structure that attracts massive bait schools and pelagics. Troll large diving hardbodies past rocky drop-offs to intercept surface-feeding yellowtail kingfish. Drop heavy metal jigs onto deep pinnacles where concentrated fish marks appear on sonar.
- CONTINENTAL SHELF EDGE: Monitor weather forecasts to push wide to deep ocean drop-offs during calm conditions. Troll spreads of skirted lures to raise surface-feeding southern bluefin tuna. Deploy heavy electric reels in deep water to target blue-eye trevalla and harpuku.
- MOYNE RIVER CHANNEL: Troll small shallow-diving lures along dredged channel drop-offs inside the river. This searching technique covers water quickly to pinpoint active bream and trevally schools. Switch to casting soft plastics around moored boats once fish are located.
- PORT FAIRY INSHORE KELP BEDS: Drift 10-meter depth lines just outside the river entrance on calm ocean days. Bounce lightly weighted soft plastics across sand patches between kelp to catch sand flathead. Drag a squid jig on a secondary rod to capture passing calamari.
Hot Spots
- MOYNE RIVER WALLS: The premier land-based location for extracting large silver trevally on light tackle.
- EAST BEACH GUTTERS: A famous surf venue for landing jumbo gummy sharks during nighttime tides.
- JULIA PERCY DROP-OFFS: An elite offshore jigging destination for targeting heavy yellowtail kingfish.
- YAMBUK LAKE TIMBER: A highly productive estuarine sanctuary for casting lures at trophy black bream.
- PORT FAIRY 30M REEF: A reliable offshore GPS mark for anchoring and berleying up quality snapper.
Local Bait Tips
- SOUTHERN CALAMARI: Cast size 3.0 squid jigs from Moyne River rock walls during peak high tide. Work jigs with a slow lift-and-drop action over rock ledges to trigger strikes. Store harvested squid unwashed on ice to preserve high-grade bait quality.
- BASS YABBIES: Wade shallow intertidal mudflats inside the Moyne River estuary at low tide. Plunge a manual yabbie pump into burrows and extract mud cores onto dry sand. Collect yabbies quickly and store in damp river weed inside a cool container.
- SAND WORMS: Drag a mesh bag packed with fish frames across wet surf sand at East Beach. Watch for worm heads surfacing in receding wash and grip firmly with worming pliers. Extract worms with smooth continuous pressure to ensure they remain completely intact.
Boat Ramps
- Griffiths Street Boat Ramp, Port Fairy:
The Port Fairy Griffiths Street Boat Ramp is situated on Griffiths Street in Port Fairy, off the Moyne River. The ramp infrastructure consists of a dual-lane concrete ramp. Boarding and staging are supported by adjacent river jetties. The core navigational hazard is regular river siltation within the Moyne River channel, which restricts navigable drafts and requires regular maintenance dredging to maintain deep water, along with heavy seasonal congestion. Amenities available at the port include estuary fish cleaning tables, BBQ facilities, vessel slipping facilities, and 24-hour card-access diesel fuel. Vehicle-and-trailer parking is highly limited during the peak summer season.
Bait and Tackle
- PORT FAIRY TACKLE & MARINE: Bank St, Port Fairy VIC 3284 | Phone: (03) 5568 2888
- RICHARDSON MARINE: 1056-1058 Raglan Parade, Warrnambool VIC 3280 | Phone: (03) 5562 6373
Basecamp & Accom
- Port Fairy Holiday Park: 115 Princes Hwy, Port Fairy VIC - Ph: (03) 5568 1816
- Southcombe Caravan Park: James St, Port Fairy VIC - Ph: (03) 5568 2677
- Gardens Caravan Park: 11 Griffiths St, Port Fairy VIC - Ph: (03) 5568 1060
Emergency & Safety
- Port Fairy Marine Rescue: Martins Point, Port Fairy VIC - Ph: (03) 5568 1000 / Emergency 000 - VHF Ch 16 / 67
