Winter can be a challenging time for fishing, both locally around Melbourne and regionally across Victoria. Outdoor and water temperatures are dropping rapidly, and many fish species can go off the bite during this time. However, you can still catch consistently, but you really need to hone in on the right target species, setup and locations. This guide will provide some suggestions on what to target, how to set up, and where to fish. Whether you’re fishing from land, a boat, or a kayak, it’s important to dress appropriately and plan your day properly. Let’s deep dive into our favourite target species, location and setup this Winter.
Winter Fishing for Australian Salmon
Australian Salmon are a terrific target species over Winter. They school up in huge numbers and can be found far and wide. You can catch them in big volumes, and they are a great option for land-based anglers, kayakers and boaters. Catching them in our bays, estuaries and surf. Top locations around Melbourne include Warmies, Kerferd Road Pier, Altona Reef, and, regionally, Lorne Pier, Inverloch Jetty, Marlo, and many more. They will often show up in thousands, rounding up masses of bait fish and disappearing quickly. I prefer to target salmon with lures and soft plastics. For me, the best setup has been a longer spin rod between 8-10 feet to give you additional casting distance, a handful of metal lures ranging from 10 grams through to 50 grams, a range of soft plastics, typically 3- to 5-inch paddletails and grubtails in natural colours, and jig heads ranging from 1/12 through to ¾ ounce. Casting out the lure and plastic, letting it sink a little, then working it back at a medium to slow pace. Not the most desired table species but in our mind a genuine top pick over winter because they can be caught in huge volumes, are so much fun to catch and can be caught far and wide.
Winter Fishing for Bream
Bream are an all-year-round prospect that provides exceptional fishing with finesse gear. You can still catch good volumes of bream over Winter, although they do slow down a bit during this period. I typically target them in many of the Rivers around Melbourne, including the Maribyrnong, Yarra, Werribee and Patterson Rivers. Plus, there is spectacular bream fishing regionally in the Gippsland area at spots like Bemm River, Lake Tyers, Gippsland Lakes and Mallacoota. You can also head the other direction and land some great bream along the Hopkins or Nelson Rivers. Bream are great for all different types of anglers. They will happily take a variety of baits, including maggots, scrub worms, yabbies and sandworms. However, many like me love targeting them with finesse spin gear and a range of soft plastics and lures. 1-3kg or 1-4kg spin rod, 2000 size reel and 2.5” grubs, paddletails and yabbie imitations on light jig heads ranging from 1/12 through to 1/28, and the volume of lure options is endless. Shallow diving minnows, Cranks, Vibes, Surface lures, Blades and crab and Mussel imitations. There really are endless options, which is what makes it so much fun and allows you to really hone in on your preferred fishing style.
Winter fishing for Trout
For freshwater enthusiasts, trout are an amazing species to target over winter. Just ensure you follow their closed-season regulations, which prohibit targeting them in certain areas to allow them to spawn. Trout thrive in cooler climate conditions. They are a beautiful fish with great fighting qualities. Closer to Melbourne, I enjoy targeting them at Albert Park Lake, Devilbend Reservoir, Lake Wendouree, Pykes Creek and Moorabool Reservoir. Regionally, there is spectacular trout fishing at Eildon pondage, Twin Lakes, Rubicon River and our highland streams with clear running water. Plus, make sure you keep an eye out for the annual stonker trout stocking program, which usually stocks 1000 huge ex-broodstock rainbow trout into metro waters around Melbourne. Trout will happily take a variety of baits, including mayfly, maggots, Powerbait, and scrub worms. I prefer targeting them with lures and soft plastics and lures. Shallow diving minnows, surface lures, metal spoons, and spinners working them back with a constant retrieve. Also, soft plastics such as small insect imitations. 2.5” grubs and paddletails.
Winter Fishing for Squid
Squid are such a unique species that look fascinating, taste great, and are a great fishing option over Winter. Squid are also an all-year-round prospect that can be fished equally well in Winter. Our main bays, including Port Phillip, Western Port and Welshpool, provide exceptional squid fishing during this time. Squid will generally reside in clear shallow waters among high volumes of scattered weed and reef. Drifting over areas and marking a waypoint when catching. Land-based anglers can target squid at locations such as St Leonards jetty, Rosebud pier, Flinders Pier and Mount Martha Rocks. Land-based anglers will often benefit from a longer rod, 7”6 to 9” feet, whilst those on boats and kayaks will be fine with a slow taper 7-foot spin rod. I look for clean waters and high reef volume, and get on the drift with a range of squid jigs in different colours and sizes. You can also catch them using a float and flesh bait on a squid prong.
Winter Fishing for Tuna
Southern Bluefin Tuna are the mecca of fishing around Victoria. During winter, you can catch good volumes of schoolies ranging anywhere from 10-30 kilos and chase those trophy-size barrels, which can grow well over 100 kilos and for many can be a catch of a lifetime. Tuna is mainly targeted offshore, and the best spots to catch them are Portland, Port Fairy and the stretch of water from Mallacoota beyond the NSW border to Narooma and Bermagui. Targeting huge tuna will generally require a big boat, game gear, and plenty of know-how to navigate the sometimes treacherous conditions and bar crossings. For many, it’s best to jump on a specialised tuna charter, and there is no shortage of them around Victoria. For those keen to catch them on their own boat, trolling a spread of skirts, mid or deep diving hard body lures and even a teaser bar is the way to go. Using heavy rods and line paired with big game reels such as Tiagras. Follow the circling birds, keep an eye out for buildups of dolphins and seals and look for signs on your sounder such as large bait balls and big arches. If you’re lucky enough, you might see these huge fish busting up and breaking the surface. Seeing barrel tuna leap out of the water is an unbelievable sight. I have also had so much fun catching them with stick baits and poppers worked at a fast pace. Winter is certainly the time to chase a tuna of a lifetime, and fishing for them is only getting better and better.
Winter Fishing for King George Whiting
King George Whiting is one of my favourite target species over Winter. This time of year, I often catch them in prolific numbers on my boat or kayak, targeting them in Port Phillip Bay around St Leonards, Queenscliff, Indented Heads, Rosebud, Blairgowrie, Sorrento and Mud Island. They love running water and depths generally between 3-5 meters deep. Often found schooling up in the broken grounds and sandy patches between thick weeds and reef. Western Port also provides exceptional whiting fishing, and here they stay in the bay longer and grow even bigger. Hot spots like Middle Spit, Warneet, Hastings, San Remo, Corinella and Flinders can provide some exceptional whiting fishing. Most anglers will catch king geore whiting with fresh baits including pipis, squid strips and mussels. However, I love catching them with soft plastics. Typically, a 4” worm imitation and a 1/12 ounce jig head with a trailing stinger. I have heaps of content on how to do that on the FishingMad members portal and YouTube channel, so make sure you check that out. In low tidal areas like Port Phillip Bay, light fibreglass or spin rods 2-5kg paired with a 2500 size reel are perfect, and higher tidal waters like Western Port typically require heavier rods and baits, as the tides can run much stronger here. In winter, I’m often catching plenty and don’t have to take the boat or yak out far at all, which makes them an ideal target species.
Winter Fishing for Murray Cod
Murray Cod is Australia’s largest freshwater fish, and in winter, it’s all about size, not volume. This is often when the huge meter plus trophy size cod are caught. Lake Eildon is quickly becoming the premier location to target trophy-size cod; however, thanks to an amazing local stocking program, we now catch them consistently at Lake Mulwala, Rocklands Reservoirs, Taylors Lakes, and even closer to Melbourne at Melton Reservoir and Coliban Reservoir. Those lucky enough to have scoping technology can hone in on these huge fish. Otherwise, for most it’s a case of putting in the hours, casting and casting, and specifically getting your lures towards any structure, drop-offs and visible snags. Cod will happily take a range of baits such as cheese, bardigrubs and yabbies. However, most likely, I love catching them with lures, and there is no shortage of them to choose from. Spinnerbaits, big soft plastics, surface lures and big lures that imitate birds and even lizards. You really can get creative and have fun with the process. When targeting Murray Cod, it’s best to use a heavy baitcast combo capable of catching these fish, which are consistently caught over a meter in size.
Winter Fishing for Gummy Sharks
Gummy Sharks are another amazing species to target during Winter. You can catch them offshore with great success and even get some decent ones in our local bays. The bass straight is full of gummy sharks all along our amazing coastline. Some great spots include beyond Barwon Heads and out deep from Portland near Port Macdonnell. For me, drifting in deeper waters with a paternoster rig loaded with fresh chunks of flesh bait, such as Australian salmon, mackerel, or wrasse, is a great option. You will also get great volumes of gummy sharks in Western Port, Port Phillip Bay and Port Welshpool. When you hook a good one, you’ll know, as they will go on powerful runs and have amazing fighting qualities. I like to target them with a 10-15kg spin rod, an 8000 size reel, and a tad lighter when fishing Western Port or Port Phillip Bay.
Winter Fishing for Mulloway
Mulloway are a prized catch, and these elusive fish can grow well over a meter. Winter is a great time to target them, but it certainly comes with its challenges, as these fish are mostly active at night. Chasing Mulloway in Winter takes dedication, with many hours of preparation to catch live bait such as mullet or yakkas, or relentlessly casting soft plastics. This can be one of the toughest fish to catch, but the rewards for many are a fish of a lifetime. Around Melbourne in Winter, huge Mulloway roam the Yarra, Maribyrnong, Patterson and Werribee rivers, and regionally, no better spots than the Nelson, Hopkins and, surprisingly, in many of the waterways around East Gippsland. Fishing with live baits on evenings and into the night is the best option, or casting 4 to 7-inch soft plastics.
It may be cold, but as you can see with the information above, there is still some amazing fishing to be had over winter around Melbourne and Victoria. It takes a strong will, dedication and patience during this period, but the rewards can be huge. Just make sure you set yourself a target species, research the gear and locations and enjoy the process. If you need more help targeting these species, or want more information on spots and gear, then make sure you become a FishingMad member, which will provide you with heaps of insight to have a productive fishing period this winter.