Tips on fishing the Black Rock area

Peter Dedrick writes:

These comments are prompted by a chance conversation I had last week with a friend who fishes the area from Sandringham to Beaumaris in Port Phillip Bay. My opening remark when I met him was "How's the fishing?"; and he then proceeded to tell me of his lack of success in fishing this area over recent weeks.

By contrast, I have had good success on the pinkie snapper in the same period and had observed a number of other anglers with similar success. I don't pretend to be an expert on this area, but it was interesting to compare divergent experiences.

A while ago, I made a mental list of the fish I had caught on the inshore reefs around Black Rock over the last few years. It went something like this:

• large snapper
• pinkies
• King George whiting
• red mullet
• salmon
• rock ling
• rock cod
• barracouta
• silver trevally
• sand flathead
• rock flathead
• gummy shark
• leatherjackets (several varieties)
• garfish
• squid
• wrasse of various sorts

Never in large individual numbers but, on the other hand, a total of a dozen fish could often contain 4 or 5 different species.

I have also seen large yellowtail kingfish under the boat and am told that a live garfish is the prime bait. My problem is, however, to catch a live gar when needed. When the kings are around the gars, not unexpectedly, are absent. Any suggestions?

Fish species also vary from season to season. Most trips last season produced a few whiting and as many gars as my next door neighbour (who doesn't mind the bones) could cope with. Most pinkies were "jail bait" size.

This season has seen an exceptional run of pinkie snapper in the 30-40cm size range with the whiting and gars noticeable by their absence. Salmon have also been around in good numbers.

The area is hugely popular with local anglers, as witnessed by the numbers of boats on the water at weekends and evenings. The area can fish well all year round, although from late summer to early winter has produced the best results for me.

Black Rock features in most fishing books on Port Phillip Bay and I do not propose to go over areas covered by them but merely mention a few things that help me to produce a feed most times I go fishing.

Fish early or late

I prefer the early mornings and, in summer and early autumn, am normally on the water by 4.30am. Last season, the fish seemed to come on the bite between first light and sunrise. This year, I have caught most of my fish before first light. As a general rule, once the sun comes up, I head in for breakfast.

It turned out that the reason for my friend's lack of success was that he couldn't (or wouldn't) get out of bed early enough!

Don't go out too far

Many good fish are caught each year from the rocks near the car park. The area around the wreck of the Cerberus, which is less than 100 metres from the ramp, can also produce. I use my sounder to find some interesting looking ground in about 3-4 metres of water and then anchor up and berley with a mix of chicken pellets, tuna oil, old bait, etc.

Other favoured spots are the general area known as the Clock Tower reef and the reef that runs between Black Rock and Sandringham, roughly in a line from the end of the Sandringham breakwater to the Black Rock Yacht Club.

The Anonyma Shoal, about 2km off Bay Road, Sandringham, is also worth a visit. There are markers with flashing lights at each end, so it is reasonably easy to find in the dark. Be sure though, that the light you are aiming for is the Anonyma and not the Faulkner Beacon! Try to fish on the edge of the Shoal, in about 7 metres of water, rather than on top of it. Sinkers are expendable, but anchors are expensive to replace.

Fish light but not too light

Nibble tip rods are the greatest invention since sliced bread. They are light, but can handle a good size fish with ease. Lines should not be too light, however, as the ground is very snaggy. About 4kg is reasonable. Many local anglers fish the area with handlines for good results, so there is no need to spend a fortune on gear.

Be sure to bring a number of made-up rigs, as it is fairly easy to loose half a dozen in a session. If you place each in a separate 'snap lock' plastic bag they will not tangle and will be easy to find in the dark.

Fish a variety of baits

Anglers are allowed to use up to 4 rods at a time. Depending on what is likely to be around, a couple of pinkie lines (unweighted size 1 or 1/0 hook baited with pilchard), a whiting line (baited with pippies or - my preference - fresh mussels) and a gar line will pretty much cover the field. You will catch pinkies on your whiting lines and vice versa. Personally though, I find it difficult to manage more than two rods when it is dark and the fish are on the bite.

Be safety conscious

Weekends can see many boats in the immediate area, so make sure your navigation lights are working. I mention this because recently I was abused by the driver of a boat that had to diverge to avoid colliding with me. I was so engrossed in catching pinkies that I had not noticed a problem with my lights. Needless to say, the problem was soon rectified.

Make use of local knowledge

Wayne Wright's Southern Sportfishing (near the Black Rock clock tower) and other local tackle shops provide meeting places for fishermen and are a good source of information. After picking their brains, you might also consider buying something.

Post your reports on the fishvictoria.com site and share your experiences with all of us.

(13 March 2001)


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