Catch your own

Curving around the western side of Port Phillip Bay, Mornington Peninsula has plenty of hotspots for testing your angler’s luck.

Morning

Drop a line straight from the piers at Rosebud, Mornington, or many other coastal spots. Ask the locals what they’ve been catching and glean some tips. When your bucket’s full, drive to Devilbend Reservoir (12 minutes from Mornington) where you’re bound to lure rainbow trout, brown trout or perch.

Afternoon

After lunch, jump on board a boat with the experts on Port Phillip Bay. Numerous tours and fishing charters can hook you up with your dinner.

If you have the skills, hire our own boat from Mornington Boat Hire.

Bait up for whiting, gummy and school shark, flathead, salmon, garfish, rock cod and more. October to December is the annual snapper migration, known as the Crimson Tide, when the waters are teaming with pretty pink salmon.

Evening

Check in at your accommodation and prepare the day's bounty in your kitchen away from home.

Stay in beachside luxury at Mt Martha B&B by the Sea or 87 on Bynes. Rest up at family-friendly Blue Moon Cottages, or barbecue your catch outdoors at Sea Eagle Beach House.

Explore the lakes and gum-tree-lined waterways of the mighty Murray River – famed for its Murray cod – in the region’s northeast.

Note, you’ll require a New South Wales fishing licence for the Murray River and Lake Mulwala, and a Victorian licence for Lake Hume.

Morning

Rise and shine on the river – hiring a houseboat is an ideal way to combine angling adventures with catch-and-cook dining. A boat-load of operators can set you up.

Cast your line into slow-moving waters straight off the boat and hope the legendary cod or trout are biting.

If you've timed your fishing expedition for December, instead head early to Lake Mulwala for a prize at the Cod Classic competition.

Afternoon

With luck your morning line provided amply for lunch. Troll the river for some lure or bait fishing, or moor and fly-fish from the riverbank. Cross your fingers for golden perch, trout and catfish. The river’s crayfish season booms between June and August.

Evening

Try your luck on the lakes at dusk. Pretty Lake Mulwala is a hotspot for Murray cod in summer, and perfect for perch too. Popular Lake Hume’s expanse teems with golden perch, rainbow trout, brown trout, redfin and Murray cod, caught from on-shore or trolling from your boat.

The beauty of fishing from a houseboat? Barbecue or grill your fresh catch on board and rest whenever and wherever you fancy.

The Bellarine Peninsula reels you in with picturesque coastal towns perfect for fishing from shore or launching out into the bay.

Morning

Head 90 minutes from Melbourne to Queenscliff for some stunning bay-meets-ocean angling action. Jump on board your pre-booked fishing charter for a half- (or full-) day fishing expedition on Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait.

Alternatively, hire a craft of your own. Over the summer months, barracouta, salmon, shark, snappper, squid and yellowtail kingfish are all biting.

Afternoon

Step off the rolling seas and onto a pier: Queenscliff, Point Lonsdale, Barwon Heads and Portarlington are all ideal spots. Enjoy some contemplative line casting with like-minded locals and visitors.

Evening

When the sun goes down over the bay, it's time to cook your catch. Overnight close to the sea in a deluxe cabin near the beach, pitch a tent, or enjoy a gourmet kitchen and outdoor barbecues at a coastal cottage.

Get your bait ready for some outstanding beach and deep-sea fishing off Victoria’s most dramatic coastline.

Morning

Head to the foreshore at Lorne, Apollo Bay and, further west, Portland. All are ideal spots to hook both lunch and supper.

Cast your line right off the pier at Lorne, or from the breakwater at Apollo Bay. You’re likely to tempt trevally, barracuda, salmon and whiting by hooking bait or lure.

Southerly Blanket Bay can score you snapper and squid, and westerly Portland reels in King George whiting, flathead, snapper, tuna and mulloway.

Afternoon

Motor out into Bass Strait for deep-sea adventures. The wild strait is home to larger fish, including shark, pike and amply plump salmon. Fishing charters run from Apollo Bay, Portland and Port Fairy. Rods and bait are supplied. The catch is up to you.

Queasy at the thought? Take your tackle box inland for freshwater fishing on the Aire, Gellibrand, Glenelg and Hopkins Rivers. Estuarine bounty includes bream, whiting and mulloway.

Evening

Bed down near Apollo Bay or Portland. Keep your eye on the sea while you prepare your fish in a gourmet kitchen or low-fuss cabin.

Bring your best arm action for fly-fishing in some of the region’s best freshwater rivers and lakes.

Morning

Start out at the historic gold-mining area around Howqua, roughly 3.5 hours from Melbourne. Sharpen your fly-fishing skills with some expert education at Riverdowns Fly Fishing. Lessons range from two hours to a full day, all gear supplied.

Get your arm working in the waters of the Howqua, Delatite, Jamieson and Upper Goulburn Rivers, where trout are abundant.

Feeling confident? Look out for local fishing competitions, such as the Dartmouth Womens Fishing Classic.

Afternoon

Strike out on your own and hook that prize catch. Whether you’re fishing from bank or boat, Lake Eildon and the surrounding rivers are a haven for brown and rainbow trout, redfin, golden perch and the iconic Murray cod. You may even reel in a 10 pounder if you’re lucky.

Evening

With a full cooler to show for a day's efforts, wend towards your accommodation. Choose a cosy cottage or glamp under canvas at spots around Howqua and Lake Eildon.

Riverfront locations mean you can do a spot of night-fishing after dinner.