The Best Fishing Spots for Families in Melbourne
Melbourne's bays, lakes, rivers and creeks provide lots of fishing spots for families to cast a line and catch a range of fish. The Victorian State government has committed significant funding to grow participation in recreational fishing to one million anglers. There are almost twenty lakes around Melbourne which are stocked prior to the school holidays with good sized rainbow trout which are relatively easy to catch, even for beginners.
This guide provides information on how to get out and snare a feed for dinner.
A Recreational Fishing Licence (RFL) covers all forms of recreational fishing in all of Victoria's marine, estuarine and inland waters. Unless you are exempt, it is your responsibility to hold a current A Recreational Fishing Licence when fishing in Victoria - penalties apply for fishing without a licence. You will not need a licence to fish if you are under 18 years of age or 70 years of age or over.
You can purchase a Recreational Fishing Licence for the following periods: 3 days ($10), 28 days ($21.20), 1 year ($34.95) or 3 year ($95.40). You can purchase a license online.
Know your limits and Fish by the rules - It's important to know the rules that apply to fishing. These include bag limits and minimum size limits for different types of fish. A bag limit is how many fish you are allowed to keep in one day. A minimum size limit is how big a fish needs to be in order for you to keep it. There are also closed seasons for some types of fish.
Before going fishing remember to familiarise yourself with latest edition of the Recreational Fishing Guide. This guide has details of size and catch limits and other regulations.
Vic Fishing App - The app produced by the Victorian Fisheries Authority has all the information you need to know to fish in Victoria. It describes size and bag limits, closed seasons and equipment restrictions. Other features include a direct link to purchase your fishing licence online, a licence outlet locator, connection to the 13FISH illegal fishing reporting line and a marine park/sanctuary boundary locator. This function uses the devices internal GPS to help fishers determine whether they are in or approaching a marine park or sanctuary.
School holiday trout stocking - Ahead of the school holidays, 'ready-to-catch' rainbow trout are stocked into lakes around Melbourne and regional centres. This stocking program aims to encourage families to go fishing, particularly during school holidays.
The rainbow trout stocked are advanced yearlings and are suitable to be caught immediately. Rainbow trout are a good option for children or those trying fishing for the first time, because they are relatively easy to catch and take a variety of baits and lures.
Anglers are reminded that a daily bag limit of five trout applies, of which only two can exceed 35 centimetres.
A full list of which lakes in Victoria are stocked and when they are stocked is here:
The lakes in Melbourne which are stocked are:
- Albert Park Lake, Lakeside Drive, Albert Park (1700 for 2nd term holidays and 1500 for 3rd term holidays)
- Berwick Springs Estate Lake, Moondarra Drive, Berwick (750 for 2nd term holidays and 750 for 3rd term holidays)
- Caulfield Racecourse Lake, Kambrook Road, Caulfield East (300 for 2nd term holidays and 300 for 3rd term holidays)
- Casey Fields Lake, 365 Casey Fields Boulevard, Cranbourne East (750 for 2nd term holidays, 750 for 3rd term holidays and 750 for Gone Fishing Day on October 14th)
- Emerald Lake, Emerald Lake Road, Emerald (500 for 2nd term holidays and 500 for 3rd term holidays)
- Ferntree Gully Quarry, Quarry Road, Ferntree Gully (350 for 2nd term holidays, TBC for 3rd term holidays and TBC for Gone Fishing Day on October 14th)
- Garfield Lake, Garfield Recreation Reserve, 2 Beswick Street, Garfield (250 for 2nd term holidays and 250 for 3rd term holidays)
- Don Lake, 226 Don Road, Healesville (400 for 2nd term holidays and 400 for 3rd term holidays)
- Karkarook Lake, Fairchild Street, Heatherton (2000 for 1st term holidays, 2000 for 2nd term holidays, 2000 for 3rd term holidays and 2000 for Gone Fishing Day on October 14th)
- Lilydale Lake, 435 Swansea Rd, Lilydale (1000 for 2nd term holidays and 1000 for 3rd term holidays)
- Darlingsford Lake, 40 Darlingsford, Melton (500 for 2nd term holidays and 500 for 3rd term holidays)
- Navan Park Lake, Centenary Avenue, Melton West (600 for 2nd term holidays and 600 for 3rd term holidays)
- Pakenham Lake, Clearwater Drive, Pakenham (750 for 2nd term holidays and 750 for 3rd term holidays)
- Lilliput Lane Reserve, Lilliput Lane, Pakenham (100 for 2nd term holidays and 100 for 3rd term holidays)
- Rowville Lakes (Sutton Lake and Hill Lake), Lakeside Boulevard, Rowville (400 for 2nd term holidays and TBC for 3rd term holidays)
- Roxburgh Park Lakes, Donald Cameron Drive, Roxburgh Park (400 for 2nd term holidays and 400 for 3rd term holidays)
- Spavin Lake, 6 Laureate Close, Sunbury (600 for 2nd term holidays and 600 for 3rd term holidays)
- Yarrambat Lake, 649 Yan Yean Road, Yarrambat (500 for 2nd term holidays, 1000 for 3rd term holidays and 600 for Gone Fishing Day on October 14th)
They include:
- 1. Queenscliff Pier, Weeroona Parade, Queenscliff (a long pier and lower landing which is best known for squid)
Some nice fishing spots right around Western Port Bay are:
- 1. Flinders Jetty, The Esplanade, Flinders (a pier which is best known for squid)
- 2. Merricks Beach, Merricks Beach Road, Merricks (a long sandy stretch)
Web Links
→ Recreational Fishing Guide
→ School Holiday Trout Stocking
→ Why Go Fishing? Introductory guide (PDF)
→ Port Phillip Bay Fishing Location Guide (PDF)
→ Western Port Bay Fishing Location Guide (PDF)
→ Family Fishing Lakes in Victoria (PDF)
