Squid Fishing Port Phillip Bay -- Best Spots & Techniques

Port Phillip Bay is one of the best land-based squid fisheries in Australia. The southern calamari ( Sepioteuthis australis ) that populate its piers, reef edges, and seagrass flats grow to impressive size and respond well to the Japanese egi jigging technique.

Meaning any angler with the right setup and the right conditions can put squid in the bag without a boat. This guide covers every pier worth targeting, when and how to fish them, and how to read conditions before you leave home.

Southern Calamari in Port Phillip Bay

Southern calamari are present in Port Phillip Bay year-round, but the quality of fishing varies significantly with water clarity and temperature. The best squid fishing in PPB runs from April through to August -- the autumn and winter months when clearer, cooler water concentrates squid around shallow reef structure and pier piles.

Summer brings warmer, often murkier water after storms and elevated algae growth, which reduces visibility for both squid and anglers. That said, early summer mornings at well-structured spots can still produce. The fundamental rule: if the water is clear, squid will be active. If it is murky, come back another day.

PPB calamari commonly reach mantle lengths of 15-30 cm, with larger specimens -- sometimes exceeding 35 cm -- taken from deeper water access points like Sorrento and Mornington Pier in the cooler months. These are not small fish by any standard.

Best Spots for Squid in Port Phillip Bay

Port Phillip Bay’s long foreshore means there are accessible piers and jetties from the western suburbs of Melbourne all the way around the bay to the Mornington Peninsula. Each location has different characteristics -- depth, structure, and typical squid size all vary.

Live squid conditions for eight Port Phillip Bay piers:

For the whole bay, see the spots that target squid or Port Phillip Bay fishing conditions.

Rye Pier

Rye Pier is broadly considered the squid capital of Port Phillip Bay. Shallow reef structure runs along both sides of the pier, and seagrass beds nearby provide cover for baitfish -- a combination that draws calamari in numbers through the cooler months. The pier is long enough to offer multiple depth zones, and the area rewards patience. It is a popular spot on weekends, so arriving early to secure a good position is worth the effort.

Sorrento Pier

Sorrento offers something the other PPB piers cannot: genuine deep water access from land. The drop-off near the end of the pier puts anglers over water that consistently holds larger calamari. Egi jigs need to sink to the bottom third of the water column before beginning the retrieve, so heavier sinking-rate jigs are useful here. Sorrento is the go-to location when targeting a trophy specimen.

Blairgowrie Pier

Blairgowrie is a consistent evening producer, particularly in the hour after sunset when squid move into shallower water to hunt under the pier lights. The pier structure itself provides ambush points that calamari use regularly. It fishes well with mid-range egi sizes on a moderate retrieve and attracts both dedicated squid anglers and families, so crowd management matters on weekend evenings.

Mornington Pier

Mornington Pier is a reliable all-round option on the eastern shore. The pier reaches into moderately deep water, and the surrounding seagrass and reef provides the habitat mix that southern calamari prefer. It is one of the better options for anglers on the eastern side of the bay who want to avoid the drive to the peninsula.

St Kilda Pier

St Kilda Pier is Melbourne’s most accessible squid location and a good starting point for beginners. It is well-lit at night, has parking nearby, and produces calamari consistently through autumn and winter. Water depth is moderate along the pier, making egi technique manageable. It fishes best on the incoming tide in low-light conditions. The breakwater nearby is also worth exploring during calm conditions.

Altona Pier

Altona Pier on the western side of the bay sits over reef structure that attracts both baitfish and the squid that follow them. It is a solid option in calmer conditions when westerly wind makes the peninsula piers uncomfortable. The reef nearby can snag egi jigs on the drop, so being attentive to the sink and lifting before hitting the bottom prevents expensive losses.

Frankston Pier

Frankston Pier offers reliable squid fishing on the eastern bay shore and is a sensible option for anglers south of Melbourne. The pier reaches into clean water when bay conditions are good, and autumn sessions here can be very productive. It is a well-maintained public pier with good access at all tide levels.

Mordialloc Pier

Mordialloc’s creek channel creates structural complexity at the pier mouth that concentrates baitfish and attracts squid. It is not the first pier most anglers think of for calamari, but it consistently produces in the right conditions -- particularly on the incoming tide when cleaner bay water pushes into the channel area.

Best Times to Fish for Squid

Timing is arguably the single biggest variable in PPB squid fishing. Getting the time of day and tide stage right matters more than location choice for most anglers.

Time of Day

Dawn and dusk are the prime windows. Southern calamari are visual predators that rely on light to hunt. The low-light transitions at sunrise and sunset trigger the most aggressive feeding behaviour. Night fishing under pier lights also produces, as the light attracts baitfish and the squid follow. Midday sessions in bright sun can be slow, particularly in shallower water where light penetration makes squid more wary.

Tide and Moon

At Flinders Pier in Western Port, local guides recommend a start on the run-in tide towards high water. Then judge the actual drift. In the peak of a strong run, fast current makes egi presentation difficult.

The moon changes how much light reaches the water at night, but cloud, pier lights and water clarity decide how much of that light the squid see. Two studies found links between the moon and squid catches: a Mediterranean squid jigging fishery (Cabanellas-Reboredo and others, 2012) and a Japanese common squid fishery (Fukuda, Oya and Kidokoro, 2014). Both are other species in other waters, so neither supports a moon rule for Port Phillip Bay. What the moon does set is the tide: spring tides around the new and full moon move more water than the neap tides between them.

Egi Technique: The Japanese Method

Egi fishing -- from the Japanese word for prawn lure -- is the dominant squid technique worldwide and the most effective method for PPB calamari. The lures themselves are weighted prawn imitations with a horizontal hook array designed to snare a squid’s tentacles on the take. The method is learnable in a single session, but mastering it takes time.

The Core Retrieve

1. Cast and sink. Cast out past likely structure and allow the egi to sink on a tight-but-slack line. You are aiming for the bottom third of the water column -- not the seafloor. Count the sink rate to replicate depth on future casts.
2. Sharp upward jerks. Two to three sharp upward rod sweeps drive the egi upward, mimicking a fleeing prawn. Keep the movements crisp and decisive.
3. Controlled sink on slack line. Lower the rod tip smoothly and follow the egi down with a slightly bowed line. This is the critical phase -- the pause is when squid strike. They grab the falling lure, and tension on the line at this moment will pull the hooks free before they set.
4. Repeat and vary. Mix up the number of jerks, the height of the lift, and the duration of the pause. When squid are tentative, longer pauses often trigger the take. When they are aggressive, faster retrieves with shorter pauses work.

Colour Selection

Start with pink and orange -- these are universally effective across PPB conditions and should be your first choice in unknown conditions. Move to chartreuse or natural prawn patterns in clear, bright water. In lower visibility or overcast conditions, darker colours like purple or dark green can outperform bright tones. The rule is simple: if you have not had a take in 15-20 minutes, change colour. Rotate through your options systematically rather than randomly.

Jig Size Selection

Egi jigs are sized using Japanese numbering -- 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 are the common increments. For PPB:

• Size 2.5 -- clear, shallow water; smaller squid; calm conditions. The most versatile size for PPB.
• Size 3.0 -- the workhorse size for most pier fishing conditions.
• Size 3.5 -- deeper water (Sorrento, Mornington), targeting larger calamari, windier days where you need casting distance.

Gear Setup for PPB Squid

Specialist egi gear is not strictly required, but a purpose-built setup makes the technique easier and more enjoyable. The sensitivity matters -- you need to feel the weight change that indicates a squid has grabbed the lure on the drop.

• Rod: 7’6“ to 8’2” egi-specific rod rated for 2.5-3.5 egi jigs. These are fast-action blanks with a sensitive tip that telegraphs the take. A general light spinning rod will work, but you will miss more hits.
• Reel: 2000 to 2500 size spinning reel with a smooth drag. Nothing exotic required -- any quality reel in this range is adequate.
• Main line: PE 0.6 to 0.8 braid. Low-diameter braid cuts through wind and water, giving you a direct connection to the jig and maximising sensitivity on the drop.
• Leader: Rod-length (approximately 2.5 m) of 8-10 lb fluorocarbon. Fluorocarbon matters here for three reasons: abrasion resistance against pier structure and reef, near-invisibility underwater, and its denser sink rate that keeps the jig action natural. Monofilament works, but fluorocarbon is a genuine performance upgrade for squid fishing.

Reading Conditions Before You Go

Water clarity is the master variable. After significant rainfall, bay water quality degrades quickly -- storm runoff and disturbed sediment cloud the water for days. Check conditions before making the drive. Fishing murky water for squid is largely a waste of time.

Wind strength and direction determine both fishability and water quality. Light winds under 15 knots make egi presentation and take detection much easier. Strong westerlies often push cleaner, clearer water toward the eastern shore -- good for Frankston, Mornington, and Mordialloc. Easterlies do the reverse. Understanding how wind affects clarity at your target pier is something that comes with local experience.

Water temperature affects squid activity, particularly at the extremes. PPB squid are most active in the cooler months -- the data from multiple seasons consistently points to autumn and winter as the high-catch period. During a hot spell that pushes surface temperature up rapidly, expect activity to slow.

Get A Nibble puts the wind, tide, swell, water temperature and moon for each fishing spot on one screen. Instead of piecing together several forecasts, you can read them side by side before you leave home.

Handling, Iki Jime, and Bag Limits

Keeping Squid Fresh

Squid deteriorate quickly in quality once landed. The best practice is iki jime -- a spike through the head behind the eyes that kills the squid instantly and prevents the stress response that degrades flesh quality. A dedicated iki jime spike costs a few dollars and fits in any tackle bag. After dispatching, place the squid directly into an iced slurry. Room-temperature squid sitting in a bucket for hours is a waste of good eating.

One practical note: squid ink stains everything it contacts. Prepare accordingly -- dark clothing, old shoes, and a wash bucket at the car are standard kit for regular squid anglers.

Victorian Bag Limits

Victoria’s squid, octopus and cuttlefish rules list no minimum legal size and a combined bag limit of 10 from one or more species of squid, calamari, octopus and cuttlefish (as at 9 August 2026; check the Victorian Fisheries Authority page before keeping a catch). Even so, releasing undersized or spawning squid when you already have a feed is good practice and supports the health of the fishery.

A current Victorian recreational fishing licence is required unless a Victorian Fisheries Authority exemption applies, including on all Port Phillip Bay piers. Licences are available through the Victorian Fisheries Authority website, Service Victoria outlets, and most local tackle shops. Interstate visitors must also hold a valid Victorian licence -- your home state licence does not cover Victoria.

Quick Reference: PPB Squid Season Summary

• Peak season: April to August (autumn and winter)
• Best time of day: Dawn and dusk; night under pier lights
• Best tide: Slack to early flood
• Moon: No proven moon rule for Port Phillip squid; spring tides around the new and full moon move more water
• Key condition: Clear water -- cancel the trip after heavy rain
• Recommended jig size: 2.5 to 3.0 for most piers; 3.5 at Sorrento
• Starting colour: Pink or orange, then rotate every 15-20 minutes
• Bag limit: 10 combined across squid, calamari, octopus and cuttlefish (as at 9 August 2026, check VFA)
• Licence required: Yes, unless a VFA exemption applies