Fishing and Diving Shipwreck Coast
Fishing Around Warrnambool
Whether you are a first time fisher and want to have a bit of fun with the kids, or are looking for a serious catch, Warrnambool offers a diverse range of fishing opportunities in picturesque locations.
From freshwater fishing in our lakes and rivers to estuarine and saltwater fishing in our bays, inlets and ocean, you can dangle a line from a wharf, enjoy the challenge of the surf or rocks, or find the perfect spot in a boat.
All fishing requires a licence, please contact the Visitor Information Centre for a list of licence outlets throughout Warrnambool.
The Visitor Information Centre can also provide a comprehensive listing of fishing spots and species - available for download here. Boat launching is available at the Breakwater for ocean fishing, or the Hopkins or Merri Rivers.
Diving Around Warrnambool and the Shipwreck Coast
Warrnambool is a great base to explore the under water wonders of the Shipwreck Coast.
Dive Inn can equip you with all the gear required, and give you that local knowledge that will make your experience even better. Check Them Out HERE
Merri Marine Sanctuary is a stunning playground right at our doorstep. Divers can enjoy an incredible range of marine life and awesome reef formations! The best is that it can all be accessed direct from the shore.
Please note the sanctuary area has a "no take zone policy" however there are many other sites in which Crayfish and other fish life can be taken.
| FISH SPECIES | BEST SPOTS | EXCELLENT | VERY GOOD | GOOD | TIME | BAIT | RIG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snapper | SURF: Logans Beach | Jan – Mar | Apr, Nov, Dec | Morning & evening | Octopus, squid, fish fillet, blue bait, pilchard | Single hook above sinker. | |
| ROCK: Close in reefs | Jan – Mar | Apr, Nov, Dec | |||||
| BOAT: Out from Warrnambool | Dec – Mar | Apr, Nov | |||||
| Salmon | BOAT: off shoe reef; Levy’s | June – Aug | Apr, May, Sept | Morning & evening | Whitebait, blue bait | Double hook, one above and one below sinker. | |
| Mulloway | SURF: Hopkins Mouth RIVER: Hopkins River | Jan – Feb | Dec | Mar, Apr, Nov | Late afternoon & night | Octopus, fish fillet, live mullet, spew worms, clickers | Single running hook. |
| Morning, evening & night | |||||||
| Jan – Mar | April | Dec | Live bait trolled or anchored, no weight. | ||||
| Bream | RIVER: Hopkins and Merri | Nov – Mar | Apr, May, July – Oct | June | Morning, evening, during day | Clickers, worms, shells, shrimp | Running sinker of no sinker. |
| Mullet | RIVER: Hopkins | Jan, Feb, May - July | Mar, Apr, Aug – Dec | During day on rising tide | Worms | Two hooks under a float or slowly trolled. | |
| Brown Trout | RIVER: Merri, Upper Hopkins, Lake Gillear | ……………… | ..All year round.. | ………………… | Evening or morning | Worms, shrimps, lures, mud eye | Single hook under float or no sinker. Alternative spin retrieve. |
| Whiting | BOAT/BEACH: Killarney | Dec – Mar | Nov | Apr, May | Evening or night | Squid, cockles, spew worms | Double hook or single, running sinker. |
| Yellow Tail Kingfish | SURF/BOAT: Warrnambool & Killarney | Dec – Feb | Mar | Nov | Early morning & daytime | Squid, gars, lures | Single hook for bait |
| Blue Fin Tuna | BOAT: Warrnambool & Killarney | April – June | Daytime | Trolled lures | Single hook in lure. | ||
| Sweep | ROCKS: Warrnambool to Port Campbell | Dec – March | April, May | June – Nov | Daytime | Cray tail, cockles, prawn | Two hooks, one below sinker. |
| Garfish | ROCKS/PIERS: All along coast in small bays | Dec – Feb | March, Nov | April – June, Oct | Daytime | Sandworm, sand fleas, Cray tail | Two hooks, below float or slowly trawled. |
| Pike | BOAT: Warrnambool | Dec – March, July – Aug | April – June, Sept – Nov | Daytime | Lures, blue bait | Lure trolled deep with paravene near reef. | |
| Barracouta | BOAT/PIER: Out from Warrnambool | April, May | March | Feb, June | Daytime | Lures, pilchard | Trolled lure on cord or wire trace. |
| Red fin | LAKES: Lake Winslow, Lake Pertobe | Feb, March, Dec | Jan, April, Oct, Nov | May | Daytime | Minnows, worms, lures | Jigged lures or slowly trolled bait. |
| Trevally | PIER/BOAT: Breakwater | Aug, Sept | July, Oct | Jan, Feb, Nov | Anytime | Prawn, worms, Cray tail | Double hook similar to whiting and sweep. |
| Estuary Perch | RIVER: Hopkins | Jan, May, June | Feb – April, July, Nov, Dec | Evening or during night | Shrimp, lures | Single hook float or no sinker. Fast spun lure. | |
| Gummy Shark | SURF: Logans Beach | Oct, Nov | Dec – March | June, July | Evening | Fish fillet | Single hook with wire trace. |
| BOAT: Out from Warrnambool | |||||||
| School Shark | SURF/BOAT: As above | June, July | May | Aug – Oct, April | As above. | Fish fillet | As above. |
FISHING LICENCE
All fishers, fresh and sea, need licences, even for collecting bait.
Licence must be carried and produced on demand.
$24.50 for 1 year $6.00 for 48 hours
$66.00 for 3 years $12.00 for 28 days Under 18, seniors, 70+ years, carers, pensioners free
Licences & Bait are available from the following:
- Warrnambool Visitor Information Centres, (Licence only) Merri St & Foreshore Pavilion (Licences & Bait at Foreshore Pavilion)
- East Warrnambool Milkbar (O'Leary's), Cnr Flaxman & Nicholson Sts (Licences & Bait)
- Warrnambool Cycles & Fishing Plus, 101 Liebig Street (Licences & Bait)
- K-mart, 150 Raglan Parade (Licences Only)
- Henna Street Milk Bar, 83 Henna Street (Licences & Bait)
- Hopkins River Caravan Park, 125 Jubilee Park Road (Licences & Bait)
- Hopkins River Milk Bar, 8 Hopkins Road (Licences & Bait)
- Warrnambool Holiday Park, Cnr Raglan Parade & Simpson Street (Licences & Bait)
- Warrnambool Disposals Camping & Outdoor, 85-87 Liebig Street (Licences & Bait)
- Ray's Outdoors, Raglan Parade (Online fishing Licences only & Bait)
- Hooked on Rods ‘n' Reels, 811 Raglan Parade (Bait Only)
