Fishing San Remo & Newhaven
Angling around this entrance requires heavy leads to hold bottom against fierce tidal currents exceeding six knots. Large schools of Australian salmon, King George whiting, calamari squid, and silver trevally migrate through the channel during flood tides. Positioning baits around slack water periods delivers maximum fishing efficiency for local and visiting anglers.
Land-based fishos gather on the main San Remo Pier, Newhaven jetty, and the rocky foreshore ledges near the bridge. Lowering heavy squid jigs or dropping paternoster rigs baited with fresh squid strips beside the timber pylons produces quality calamari and silver trevally. Shore casters targeting the fast water hook salmon, flathead, and autumn elephant fish on heavy tackle.
Boaters launching from the two-lane Newhaven boat ramp or local beach launches face extreme tidal races and swirling eddies. Working the deep channel edges and weed beds towards Cleeland Bight yields trophy whiting, snapper, and gummy sharks. Skippers must exercise caution near the bridge pylons and shallow sandbars guarding the channel entrance.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- SAN REMO PIER: Positioned at the bridge entrance extending over the main deep channel. Drop heavy size 3.5 squid jigs or paternoster rigs with fresh squid strips directly beside the outer timber pylons. Flood tides produce large calamari squid, silver trevally, salmon, and late-night gummy sharks.
- NEWHAVEN JETTY: Located beside the boat ramp reserve offering sheltered casting out of the main entrance current. Cast light spin setups baited with live nippers or peeled prawns into sand patches between weed beds. King George whiting, silver trevally, and flathead feed here on incoming tides.
- CLEELAND BIGHT BEACH: Sprawling sandy foreshore located just inside the San Remo entrance providing comfortable surf casting. Set medium beach rods carrying star sinkers and pilchard fillets into the deep channel edge. Incoming evening tides produce quality flathead, Australian salmon, and gummy sharks.
- BRIDGE CHANNEL ROCKS: Submerged boulder ledges under the Phillip Island bridge holding strong current eddies. Cast weighted soft plastic paddle tails or heavy metal lures parallel to the rocks during slack water. Australian salmon, silver trevally, and pike feed aggressively along the current seam.
- SAN REMO FORESHORE SEAWALL: Stone wall running along Marine Parade in front of the commercial fleet. Drop light bait rigs baited with dough or pipis under floats for yellow-eye mullet and garfish. Calm morning high tides offer ideal conditions for family light-tackle fishing.
Offshore
- CLEELAND BIGHT WEED BEDS: Expansive shallow seagrass meadows sheltered behind the San Remo peninsula. Anchor in two to five meters depth and cast light whiting rigs baited with fresh pipis or squid ribbons. Trophy King George whiting and calamari squid feed heavily through these weed lanes.
- SAN REMO ENTRANCE CHANNEL: Deep roaring channel running beneath the bridge holding depths over twelve meters. Anchor strictly during slack water periods and drop heavy running sinker setups loaded with fresh squid frames. Large gummy sharks, school snapper, and yellowtail kingfish frequent this deep passage.
- NEWHAVEN CHANNEL DROP: Deep mud and gravel drop-off running north toward Dickies Bay. Drift soft plastic paddle tails along the four-meter drop-off for flathead or anchor with a light burley trail for whiting. Incoming flood tides deliver the highest catch rates.
- DICKIES BAY FLATS: Shallow mud and sand flats situated behind Newhaven filling rapidly on high tide. Position small boats or kayaks in one to two meters water and cast small surface lures or live nippers over the sandbars. Quality black bream, flathead, and garfish forage across these warm flats.
- BRIDGE PYLON EDDIES: Deep swirling pockets formed immediately down-current from the bridge support pillars. Drift heavy jigs or live baits through the scour holes during tidal transitions. Big silver trevally, salmon, and kingfish ambush baitfish disoriented by the boiling current.
Hot Spots
- SAN REMO PIER HEAD: Iconic entrance pier delivering big calamari squid, silver trevally, and gummy sharks.
- CLEELAND BIGHT WEED BEDS: Premier shallow anchor spot for trophy King George whiting and calamari.
- NEWHAVEN JETTY: Sheltered jetty platform producing light-tackle whiting, flathead, and trevally.
- SAN REMO BRIDGE SCOUR: Deep current pocket yielding heavy salmon, trevally, and seasonal kingfish.
- CLEELAND BIGHT BEACH GUTTER: Sandy shore gutter holding flathead, salmon, and land-based gummies.
Local Bait Tips
- SALTWATER NIPPERS: Pumped from muddy intertidal sandbanks around Dickies Bay using a hand-operated suction pump. Victorian regulations enforce a maximum legal daily limit of 100 nippers per person.
- BEACH WORMS: Harvested manually along low tide sandlines using scent bags to draw worms to the sand surface. Victorian regulations enforce a maximum daily limit of 0.5 litres of worms per person.
- PIPIS: Collected along sandy intertidal wash lines by hand-twisting in the sand. Victorian regulations enforce a maximum daily limit of 5 litres of whole pipis per person, strictly collected without spades or tools.
Boat Ramps
- Newhaven Boat Ramp:
Newhaven Boat Ramp: Located on Beach Crescent, Newhaven on Phillip Island, this facility serves as a vital component of the Western Port boat ramp network and provides easy access to offshore activities in Bass Strait via the eastern entrance. It features a two-lane concrete ramp (with planning underway for a third lane) and an access jetty. Amenities include fish cleaning facilities, toilets, garbage bins, and boat washdown facilities, though carpark spaces for cars and trailers are limited. The ramp is free to use and operates year-round, with high peak-season usage. Operational constraints include big tide actions, a limited berthing area to tie up vessels when busy, and a fairly tight navigation channel to exit out into the open bay.
Bait and Tackle
- SAN REMO BAIT & TACKLE: 143 Marine Pde, San Remo VIC 3925 | Phone: (03) 5678 5488
- PHILLIP ISLAND MARINE & TACKLE: Church St, Cowes (Phillip Island) VIC 3922 | Phone: (03) 5956 9238
Basecamp & Accom
- San Remo Hotel Motel: 145 Marine Parade, San Remo VIC 3925 - Ph: (03) 5678 5208
- Newhaven Caravan Park: 10 Seaview St, Newhaven VIC 3925 - Ph: (03) 5956 7227
Emergency & Safety
- Emergency Services: Dial 000
- Marine Rescue: San Remo Coast Guard (VF18 / Marine Rescue), Marine Parade, San Remo VIC 3925 - Ph: (03) 5678 5500
- Radio & Safety: VHF Ch 16/67. Extreme tidal current under bridge; watch air-draft clearance.
