Sorrento & Portsea, VIC

Fishing Sorrento & Portsea

Top 10 Species

Landbased

• SORRENTO PIER: A historic timber pier extending into deep water near the ferry terminal that holds big fish. Drop weighted bait-jigs or small hooks baited with peeled prawns against outer pylons for jumbo Silver Trevally and Sweep. Cast size 3.5 squid jigs weighted with chin sinkers during tide changes for giant Southern Calamari.
• PORTSEA PIER: An iconic pier structure stretching into deep clear water where heavy tidal current rips past. Cast 28g metal slugs or 4-inch white soft plastics into the current wash during tide turns for Australian Salmon and Kingfish. Drop light rigs near pylons for Silver Trevally and Leatherjackets.
• POLICE POINT FORESHORE: A scenic limestone headland flanked by shallow kelp beds and deep sand gutters close to shore. Wader fishers cast fresh pipis or sand worms on light running sinker rigs into clear sand pockets for jumbo King George Whiting. High tide during early morning delivers visual sight-casting.
• CAMERONS BIGHT JETTY: A quiet wooden jetty tucked inside a sheltered cove offering peaceful light-tackle fishing. Drop unweighted peeled prawns or worms close to timber pylons for Black Bream and Flathead. Fishing the rising tide during late afternoon produces consistent feeding bites.
• POINT NEPEAN ROCK-WALLS: Rugged ocean-facing limestone ledges accessible inside the national park boundary. Cast 40g metal jigs or soft plastics into deep whitewash for Australian Salmon and Snook. Sturdy footwear and extreme caution are required due to heavy ocean swell waves.

Offshore

• SOUTH CHANNEL FORT: An artificial stone island in deep fast-flowing water that acts as Victoria's premier inshore Kingfish structure. Down-rig live squid or troll large diving minnows past the submerged rock walls in summer for Yellowtail Kingfish. Watch strong tidal currents closely and maintain a dedicated helm lookout.
• POLICE POINT DROP-OFF: A steep limestone drop-off plunging from 4 meters down to 18 meters depth off Sorrento. Drift along the ledge casting soft plastics or trolling deep minnows for Snook, Flathead, and Pinkie Snapper. The ledge mark also holds dense schools of jumbo King George Whiting.
• PORTSEA KELP BEDS: Extensive deep kelp forests sitting in 4 to 10 meters of gin-clear water off Portsea beach. Drift over dark weed margins casting size 3.0 or 3.5 squid jigs in natural cloth patterns for giant Southern Calamari. Clear water and light winds deliver maximum visual catch rates.
• SOUTH CHANNEL DEEP SHARK MARKS: Deep sand and mud channel dropping into 22 meters depth north of Sorrento. Set heavy anchors on tide changes with fresh salmon slabs, fish fillets, or whole squid heads for Gummy Sharks and School Sharks. Heavy 80lb monofilament leader is essential for abrasive shark skin.
• CORSAIR ROCK MARGINS: A dangerous shallow reef structure sitting near Port Phillip Heads that attracts pelagic gamefish. Troll large diving minnows or slow-boat live baits around outer reef edges for Yellowtail Kingfish and Salmon. Always keep a dedicated lookout for rogue swell waves breaking over the shallow reef peak.

Hot Spots

• Sorrento Pier: Deep-water land-based platform famous for producing trophy Southern Calamari, Trevally, and Salmon.
• South Channel Fort: Historic artificial stone island renowned as Victoria's premier Yellowtail Kingfish hotspot.
• Portsea Pier: Iconic pier structure offering explosive tidal fishing for Silver Trevally, Kingfish, and Calamari.
• Police Point Drop-off: Steep underwater limestone ledge holding jumbo King George Whiting, Snook, and Flathead.
• South Channel Deep Marks: Deep fast-flowing channel producing world-class Gummy Shark and School Shark fishing.

Local Bait Tips

• SOUTHERN CALAMARI: Caught around Sorrento Pier and Portsea kelp beds using size 3.0 or 3.5 squid jigs in dark cloth patterns. Whole live squid is the premier bait for Yellowtail Kingfish around South Channel Fort.
• LIVE GARFISH: Caught off Sorrento Pier and Portsea Pier using a light pencil float with tiny size 12 hooks baited with dough under a bread-crumb berley trail. Pin live through the lip for targeting Kingfish, Salmon, and big Flathead.
• SILVER TREVALLY FILLETS: Caught off Portsea Pier using small hooks baited with peeled prawns near outer pylons. Slice fresh slab fillets to bait heavy running sinker rigs for Gummy Sharks in South Channel.
• PIPIS: Gathered along Point Nepean ocean surf beaches at low tide by foot-twisting in the wash. Thread onto fine wire hooks as top bait for jumbo King George Whiting in Police Point gutters.

Boat Ramps

• Sorrento Boat Ramp:

  Sorrento Boat Ramp is located off St Aubins Way immediately adjacent to Sorrento Pier, Sorrento, on the southern shoreline of Port Phillip Bay. The facility features three concrete launching lanes serviced by loading finger jetties and protected by a rock breakwater and nearby rock groyne. Its close proximity to Port Phillip Heads (The Rip) creates extreme tidal currents, though metocean conditions inside the mooring grounds are typically calm. The Sorrento West Beach carpark provides free trailer parking at the ramp, although Mornington Peninsula Shire enforces paid parking at the adjacent Sorrento Ferry carpark; on-site facilities include public toilets, rubbish bins, and lighting.

Bait and Tackle

• THE WOODEN BOATSHOP: 129 Hotham Road, Sorrento VIC 3943 | Phone: (03) 5984 4333
• MORNINGTON BOAT HIRE, BAIT AND TACKLE: Boatshed 7 Scout Beach, Schnapper Point Dr, Mornington VIC 3931 | Phone: (03) 5975 5456

Basecamp & Accom

• Sorrento Foreshore Camping: Point Nepean Rd, Sorrento VIC 3943 - Ph: (03) 5950 1011
• Camerons Bight Foreshore Camping: Point Nepean Rd, Rye/Sorrento VIC 3943 - Ph: (03) 5950 1011
• Hotel Sorrento: 5-15 Hotham Rd, Sorrento VIC 3943 - Ph: (03) 5984 8000

Emergency & Safety

• Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad (SPRS) Blairgowrie: Blairgowrie Marina, Blairgowrie VIC 3942 - Ph: 0417 038 944 / Emergency 000 - VHF Ch 16 / 67