West Gate Bridge

Welcome to the West Gate Bridge Fishing Guide. The West Gate Bridge is an iconic structure within Melbourne that passes over the Yarra River entrance from Port Phillip Bay. The bridge started construction in the late 1960s but stopped in 1970 due to a collapsed section. Construction resumed and was finished in 1972. The bridge is 2.6 kilometres long and 58 meters tall at its peak. West Gate Bridge is a quality fishing location that can provide excellent fishing all year round for land-based anglers. It’s a challenging destination but offers an extensive range of species that can be caught with multiple techniques. The fishing changes seasonally, with pinkies common in the warmer months and a big run of salmon in the winter months. Whilst bream and flathead are caught all year round. You can fish under the West Gate Bridge of Lorimar street in Port Melbourne, roughly a 20-minute drive from the CBD. This location produces a wide range of species for anglers all year round. It can also provide spectacular Snapper fishing in the summer months.

BECOME A FISHINGMAD MEMBER & UNLOCK ACCESS TO

Weekly Fishing Reports | Workshops | Giveaways | Podcasts | Competitions | Maps | GPS Marks | Rigging Tutorials | Sounder School | Exclusive Footage | Tackle Talks | Gear Guides | Kayak Club | Much More

West Gate is a hotspot for juvenile snapper. You can catch them in big numbers as this novelty video highlights catching 50 fish in 1 hour using hot dogs as bait.

Fishing at West Gate Bridge, Port Melbourne

As the video above highlights, the immediate area is a terrific fishing location. Snapper and Pinkies are probably the most targeted fish species here, particularly in summer. However, you can also target flathead, barracouta, garfish, tailor, flounder, bream, whiting, salmon, trevally, gummy shark, mulloway and mullet. When fishing from here, an all-around rod setup might be a good option, allowing you to target multiple species at once. A 3-5 kilo rod with a 3000 size reel spooled with 15-pound braid and equivalent leader is a great starting point. You may also opt to use a larger 10 – 12 foot surf rod paired with a 4000 – 6000 size reel with 20-pound line to target snapper, gummy shark or mulloway. Good bait choices include pilchards, blue bait, squid, pipis, mussels, maggots, whiting fillets and raw chicken. Rigs worth considering are a simple running sinker setup and a paternoster rig. They will allow you to cast far and target multiple species. Using burley is a great idea and really does help keep the fish around. If you’re targeting large snapper and gummy sharks, then a full pilchard or squid head with a size 5/0 or 6/0 Mustad hook is a great way to go.

If you’re flicking lures, then the choices are endless. Our go-to choices have been 4-inch jerk shads, grub-style soft plastics and curl tails. Rigged on a 1/8 or 1/6 ounce jig head, these are an excellent combination for snapper and pinkies. Other good options include crab imitations, blades and vibes. Flicking a 3-5 kilo rod with a 3000 size reel spooled with 15-pound braid and an equivalent leader is a great starting point. You could also try going ultra-light such as 2-4 kilo capacity coupled with a 2000 size reel. Spool the reel with 6 or 4-pound braid finished with a rod length of 4 pounds or 6 pounds of fluorocarbon leader.

Much patience is needed under the West Gate. Especially if you are targeting a bigger fish with heavier gear and big baits, it’s best to follow the tides. The low tide seems to bring good runs of flathead and salmon, and the high tide consistently produces a good volume of snapper, pinkies and bream. The hours of first and last light are good times to fish, regardless of the tides. The full moon is often a good time to target mulloway and gummy sharks, and a new moon to target snapper. Many of the bigger fish are often caught at night. Only 2 fishing lines are permitted. Always carry your Victorian fishing license, and always follow catch limits. Where possible, we encourage catch and release. If fishing from a kayak, always take the necessary safety precautions and keep your distance from boats. Here is our guide on Kayak safety

It was pretty rocky in the shallower edges, so reel your lines in quickly to avoid getting snagged. This area can get busy, so the biggest danger will be avoiding line tangles or walking behind someone who is casting, so be wary of those around you. I prefer this spot in the early morning at high tide. Just seems to catch more fish in those conditions. You get a big run of pinkies between January and March, and a big run of Salmon between June and August. This is an OK location for kids. Plenty of grasslands to run around on, just need to be careful near the rocks. The biggest hazard you will face in this area will be snagging. You can g.o There can also be a plague proportion of starfish. I have also caught blue ring octopus and scorpionfish on the jett,y both of which are very venomous. When walking amongst the rocks, be wary of snakes and large rats.

Bream are also a very common catch in this location. Check out our video guide on how easy it can be to catch them here.

Things to do in Port Melbourne

Port Melbourne is a stylish township where high-rise residential buildings and cafes run along the bay. It’s an excellent place for dinner with many restaurants along Bay Street. You are only a short distance away from the West Gate Bridge, Melbourne CBD. This stretch is very popular with walking, cycling and jogging along the paved walkways along the beach. There are also dog-friendly beaches. A great time to walk along the coast is at sundown. A scenic area is great for photo opportunities. Take the kids for ice cream and play in the sandy beach area. There are many piers along this stretch, such as Kerferd Road Pier, Lagoon Pier, Station Pier and Princess Pier. Due to its deep waters, many large boats will be moored along Station Pier, including the Spirit of Tasmania, Queen Elizabeth, large shipping vessels and navy vessels. A short distance away, you can take a hot air balloon ride and overlook the bay and piers along with Port Melbourne. You can also board cruise ships that take you around Port Melbourne, Williamstown, and stretches of the Yarra River. Of course, this area is also well known as a top fishing location around Melbourne.

Places to fish near West Gate Bridge

Not far from here, you can also try fishing at these destinations

• Kerferd Road Pier
• Station Pier
• Princess Pier
• Web Dock
• Port Phillip Bay
• St Kilda Pier
• West Gate Bridge
• Altona Pier

Rod & Reel Setup for fishing around West Gate Bridge

Gear selection varies at this location, depending on the species you’re targeting and whether you’re using bait, lures, or soft plastics. For the most part, those using soft plastics will have success here chasing a variety of species with a 7-foot, 2-4-kg spin rod coupled with a 2500-size reel spooled with a 6-12lb line and leader. A combo that is sensitive to feel the bites and inquiries, yet lightweight enough to cast all day. If you plan on casting larger soft plastics or light metal lures for tailor and Australian salmon, then bump that up slightly to a 7-foot 3-5kg rod paired with a 3000-size reel. If you are targeting bigger fish with bait such as snapper, mulloway or Gummy Sharks, then you’ll need a heavier outfit such as a 4-8 kilo fibreglass rod coupled with a 4000-5000 size reel spooled with a 15-20 lb line and leader. You can also choose to go with a longer rod, should you feel the need for greater casting distance. The range of rods and reels on the market is massive, with budgets varying wildly. Therefore, it’s essential to pick something that matches your skill level and budget.

Best Baits for fishing at West Gate Bridge

At this location, we would highly recommend the baits suggested below. There are several ways to present baits, including a running sinker rig, paternoster rig, or dropper rig. The rig and sinker choice will be dependent on the species you are targeting and the conditions, such as wind and tidal strength.

• Pilchards
• Squid
• Pipis
• Blue bait
• Silver whiting
• Raw chicken strips
• Prawns
• Mussels
• Yabbies
• Maggots

Lures and soft plastics for West Gate Bridge

At this location, we would highly recommend the following soft plastics. Ideally rigged on a 1/12, 1/8 or 1/6 jig head in size 2-0 through to 4-0. Casting them out, allowing them to sink to the bottom, and working them slowly, imitating a wounded baitfish. This works excellently for pinkies, snapper, Australian salmon and flathead.

• Berkley Gulp Turtleback worm
• 2.5″, 3″ and 4″ curltails ( Gulp Nemesis, Daiwa Wave Minnow, Zman grubZ,  Squidges Wrigglers )
• 3″ and 4″ paddletails in natural colours ( Keitech easy shiner, Zman StreakZ, Munroes 3.75-inch paddle tails )
• 4″ and 5″ inch jerk shads ( Zman scented jerk shads, Berkley Gulp
• Squid and Yabbie Imatations ( Nomad Squidtrex, Berkley Turbo Shrimp, Clone Prawn, Nomad Jerksquid )
• Shallow mid diving hard body lures ( Daiwa Double Clutch )
• Vibes and Blades ( Zerek fish trap, Samaki Vibelicious, EcoGear SX40 )

Targeting Snapper at West Gate Bridge

Locally, Snapper season starts around October and finishes towards April. The big reds migrate inshore due to the warmer water temperatures, which provide ideal spawning conditions. Dawn, Dusk, and tide changes are considered the best times to catch snapper. Snapper will take a variety of baits and soft plastics. For bait, a 7 to 8 foot rod with a 4-7 kg rating paired with a 4000 or 5000 size reel spooled with 15-30 pound line is excellent. Good bait options include pilchards, silver whiting, squid, and salmon. When it comes to soft plastics, a 7-foot 3-6 kilo rod paired with a 3000 size reel is great. Good soft plastics include jerk shads, whip baits, curl tails, or paddle tails between 3 and 5 inches in a variety of colours. We encourage you to read our detailed guide on how to catch snapper.

Check out this video guide on how to catch snapper with soft plastics filmed in Port Phillip Bay.

Targeting Flathead at the West Gate Bridge

Targeting Salmon at the West Gate Bridge

I prefer targeting Australian Salmon with light spin gear. It makes the experience enjoyable and easy to use. A 7-foot 2-5kg spin rod paired with a 2500 or 300 size reel and 12lb braid and leader works excellently. When schooled up and actively feeding, they will smash soft plastics, ideally 4″ paddletails and curltails in natural colours, which imitate a baitfish that they are feeding on. They will also happily take staple baits like pilchard and squid from a pasternoster rig or running sinker rig. Winter is a great time to target salmon as they’re active and school up in big numbers. Salmon is a powerful sports fish that punches well above its weight. When hooked, they produce intense bursts of speed, powerful runs, and vigorous head shakes. Do keep an eye out for gutters, which are patches of deeper water that Salmon will swim through in schools. The darker colour of the water can identify these. When bait fishing, pick a surf rod between 12 and 15 feet in length, which allows for long casts with heavy sinkers and keeps your lines high above the crashing surf. These will be 6-10 kilo class. We recommend a Paternoster rig with a star sinker. Giving you two baits at different heights. You could also attach a surf popper above.

Targeting mullet at the West Gate Bridge

This is a great location to mullet a bread and butter species that schools up in big numbers. They are fun to catch on light spinning gear and a great fish species to introduce beginners to fishing. Mullet respond well to berley, so berley an isolated area with a mix of bread, tuna oil and chook pellets. Good baits include bread, dough, live maggots, pilchard, and prawns. Remember that Mullet have a small mouth, so remember to cut these baits up into small pieces. You can also use soft plastics, such as small minnow and grub style soft plastics, with a slow, constant retrieve. Scents such as S-Factor or Procure certainly help. Most mullets are quite small; therefore, a 7-foot rod in a 1-3 or 2-4 kilo class, paired with a 1000, 2000 or 2500 reel spooled with 2-6-pound braid and equivalent leader.