Our list of best fishing spots in Melbourne goes like this.

Rye is a bustling sea town around one hour from Melbourne’s CBD, filled with avid anglers who thrive on their ability to catch squid. You’ll find plenty of marine life cruising around as seals, dolphins, stingrays and fish have all returned to the pier after its closure during the lockdown. Locals have flocked to the pier between sunset and night to haul mass amounts of squid.

Head out to Patterson Lakes, just under an hour’s drive from Melbourne’s CBD and discover the famous river entrance known for snapper, flathead, or even squid tugging at your line. Take a boat or kayak upstream to lure in bream, salmon, mullet, and other species. Meanwhile, the river is flanked by various parks, BBQ facilities, fishing stations, amenities, trails, gardens, and an art centre.

Mordialloc Pier, or ‘Mordi Pier’, is a bustling fishing pier just under an hour away from Melbourne’s CBD and is filled with anglers all hoping to catch snapper. Mordialoc Pier has been known to be one of the better spots for snapper, and it’s no longer a well-kept secret. Plenty of shops around the pier if you’re looking for a ‘bite’ to eat. Mordialloc is always busy, and there’s always fresh seafood on the menu whether you have caught anything.

Located on the outer reaches of the Maribyrnong River, around half an hour from Melbourne’s CBD, this popular trout fishing destination in greater Melbourne is bustling with activity both above ground and below the water. Cast some live bait, and you might reel in a redfin or carp. More than one of the best fishing spots, Brimbank Park is your gateway to adventure.

If you live in Melbourne, you might want to hit up Anglesea for an entire weekend because it takes just over an hour to drive. Situated before the Great Ocean Road entrance, it offers clean beaches and sizable estuary systems. That means you can fish by land or boat, taking in some gorgeous scenery. Go beach fishing at night, and you might reel in a gummy shark.

Portsea is known by many for the annual Portsea Polo, which takes place in the eloquent suburb filled with Melbourne’s prime beachside real estate. This bustling calamari pier is just over an hour away from the city, and what people may not know is the Portsea Pier is a fantastic family fishing spot where you can take your mates, partners or kids to soak up the sunset, the beautiful panoramic views of Portsea and fish for squid, flathead and salmon.

Welcome to Barwon Heads, home to some of Victoria’s best fishing and much more. Located on the southern coast of the Bellarine Peninsula, this scenic township delivers tons of activity in every sense of the word. Go surf fishing for salmon, and you’ll rarely come up empty-handed. Or you can charter a boat to the Bass Strait to find many species.

Flinders is a gem for anglers looking for a diverse marine offering. Underneath the surface Flinder’s pier is surrounded by vast beds of weedy grass hiding large amounts of squid, leather jackets and snapper. Salmon make an appearance around the pier, and you should be prepared for open-water type fish while casting off the jetty. Reports have documented large Trevally and shark.

The Sorrento Pier continues to draw anglers searching for whiting, squid, snapper, salmon, and other species. There’s plenty to do and see in these parts. That includes nighttime snorkelling, boating, kayaking, golfing, or watching hordes of spider crabs migrate in Autumn. The Mornington Peninsula is one of Melbourne’s premiere camping spots, and there’s plenty to do and see while you aren’t casting your line waiting for a bite. You can eat at the Continental Hotel in Sorrento and venture down the main shopping strip, which is always bustling with people and ice cream.

All the secret fishing spots in Melbourne and Victoria would only stay a secret for a while if everyone knew about them. However, Bostock Reservoir might be the next best thing, as it’s not on the radar. Come to this underrated destination for some rewarding trout fishing and quality family time amongst some of the best fishing in Victoria.

The key factors to keep in mind when deciding where to go:

Noxious Aquatic Species such as Cyprinus carpio are known for their aggression. They are a significant contributor to the decimation of native fish – a complete list of these species can be found here. The Victorian Government has some apparent outlines when it comes to fishing these fish, including;

The bad news is that you’ll need a recreational licence (RFL) before fishing in Melbourne. The good news is that the licence is downright affordable, especially when you purchase it online. Here’s a breakdown of how much it costs to fish in Victoria:

With an editorial team full of anglers, Man Of Many has had the unique opportunity to directly sample and experience fishing from the best spots in Melbourne. It is also based on our own personal experience, in-depth research and customer reviews of fishing in Melbourne. As expert journalists who guide people between competing products and services, we have provided our independent opinion in formulating Man of Many’s selections. Our editors have taken into account, location, fish diversity and fishing conditions, while also making a concerted effort to highlight a few spots outside of the CBD. You can review our editorial policy here surrounding how we maintain our independence in our editorial reviews.