Fishing Charter Western Port Bay

The most common fish we chase in Western Port Bay are bronze whalers, gummy sharks, school sharks, kingfish, snapper, pinkies, mulloway, whiting, squid and flathead. Of course there are a lot of other species we come across that I have not listed.

You can fish all year round in Western Port. I start fishing for snapper from September, as I believe there is an earlier start to the snapper season in this bay and they are bigger fish. After the early season I switch to Port Phillip Bay for the regular season, then back to Western Port depending on conditions and how the season is shaping up. One of the reasons I have always wanted a trailer boat is that I can choose to fish either bay on any given day. Whiting and squid can be caught all year, as can gummy sharks, although the cooler months are preferred.

I find there is always somewhere you can find protection from the wind in Western Port Bay. At times, because of the weather, I have moved charters across from Port Phillip Bay to Western Port for that very reason. It is important as a charter operator to be careful, as wind against tide can make the waves get quite large. I seek protection from adverse conditions by using the shoreline or shallow water, where the wind is not as strong.

I fish all over this bay, and the best location certainly depends on the time of year. Just a few examples: in January I fish for whiting from the Middle Spit to Yaringa Harbour, on the banks in two to eight metres of water. In September, when fishing for snapper, I head towards Corinella, then move on to Rhyll and then Hastings as the season goes on. If I am searching for gummy sharks I fish the tight contour lines on the edge of the channel.

I can comfortably take up to eight passengers, plus the captain and a deckhand. Boats I have owned before were registered for up to nine, but the customer experience is very different in a smaller boat without much room. Not having the space to throw a line off, and bumping into other anglers, can ruin the day. That is why I have made sure there is plenty of room for everyone to enjoy their time on the water.

Each boat ramp has plenty of parking for customers to leave their car for the duration of the charter. Be sure not to park in the spots designated for vehicles with a trailer, as you may receive a parking fine.

If you're planning a fishing charter on Western Port Bay, I suggest arriving at the boat ramp at least ten minutes before the scheduled departure time. That gives us a moment to check you are prepared and lets us leave on time.