Catch Signal

Corner Inlet and Port Albert fishing spots

A huge, shallow tidal inlet behind Wilsons Promontory and the Nooramunga islands, cut by deep channels. It is mainly boat country for King George whiting, snapper (big fish in spring), gummy sharks, flathead and calamari, while Port Welshpool's long jetty and Port Albert's wharf give shore anglers a go and McLoughlins Beach opens onto the Ninety Mile Beach surf.

Updated

6 spots here: 4 fished from land and 2 reached only by boat or kayak. Seasons follow our Gippsland coast species list for Victoria. Positions are a guide only, not for navigation.

Under each spot, "Forecast for this spot" opens the app's forecast worked out for that spot: Go, Marginal or No-go for each day of the week ahead, with the best times, wind, waves and tide. Open the forecast.

Spots at a glance

6 spots: Corner Inlet and Port Albert
SpotTypeFished fromWaterMarine park
1. Port Welshpool long jettyJettyLand-basedBay, estuary or river–
2. Lewis ChannelChannelBoatBay, estuary or river–
3. Port Albert wharfWharfLand-basedBay, estuary or river–
4. Robertsons Beach & Tarra River channelFlatsLand-based and kayakBay, estuary or river–
5. Manns Beach channels (Nooramunga)ChannelBoat and kayakBay, estuary or river–
6. McLoughlins BeachBeachLand-based and boatOcean coast–

1. Port Welshpool long jetty

Type
Jetty · bay, estuary or river
Access
Land-based. Car park at the foot of the jetty in Port Welshpool; a long walk to the deep end.
What's good here
Peak in October: southern calamari and snapper. Also in season: King George whiting and Australian salmon. Out of season now: yellowtail kingfish.
Best tide
The two hours either side of a tide change, when the current eases.
Best wind
Fishable in northerlies; strong westerlies and south-westerlies blow across the inlet.
Note
One of the longest jetties in Victoria, reaching channel water: jig the weed for calamari, bait the sand for whiting, and float or cast baits for snapper, salmon and summer kingfish.
Safety
Fast current at the end: use heavy sinkers and keep children back.
Zone
Nearest no-take area: Corner Inlet Marine National Park, about 9 km south. Guide only, not for navigation: check vfa.vic.gov.au map (PDF).
Map
-38.70390, 146.45200 · Open in Google Maps (position: Welshpool Pier, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast
Forecast for this spot

2. Lewis Channel

Type
Channel · bay, estuary or river
Access
Boat. Short run from the Port Welshpool ramp.
What's good here
Peak in October: snapper and southern calamari. Also in season: King George whiting, southern garfish, Australian salmon and gummy shark.
Best tide
The two hours either side of the change; on big tides it is hard to hold bottom.
Best wind
Light winds; wind against tide raises steep chop in the channels.
Note
Anchor on the channel bank edges in about 10-12 m for snapper and gummies, and berley the shallow banks beside it for whiting, garfish, calamari and salmon, which also make fresh bait.
Safety
Banks dry at low tide: plan the run out and back.
Zone
Nearest no-take area: Corner Inlet Marine National Park, about 5 km south. Guide only, not for navigation: check vfa.vic.gov.au map (PDF).
Map
-38.73750, 146.42580 · Open in Google Maps (position: Lewis Channel, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast
Forecast for this spot

3. Port Albert wharf

Type
Wharf · bay, estuary or river
Access
Land-based. Historic wharf beside the Port Albert ramp; toilets and a big car park.
What's good here
Peak in October: silver trevally and sand flathead. Also in season: King George whiting, Australian salmon and yellow-eye mullet.
Best tide
Run-in to high tide.
Best wind
Sheltered in westerlies.
Note
Easy shore fishing over channel water: small baits for mullet and trevally, whiting and flathead on the sand edges, and salmon when they push in from the entrance.
Safety
Boats use the wharf and ramp: give them room.
Zone
Nearest no-take area: Corner Inlet Marine National Park, about 26 km south-west. Guide only, not for navigation: check vfa.vic.gov.au map (PDF).
Map
-38.67402, 146.69610 · Open in Google Maps (position: PORT ALBERT WHARF, Vicmap Hydro - Water Structure Line)
Forecast
Forecast for this spot

4. Robertsons Beach & Tarra River channel

Type
Flats · bay, estuary or river
Access
Land-based and kayak. Robertsons Beach, just east of Port Albert; small parking area.
What's good here
Peak in October: sand flathead. Also in season: King George whiting and yellow-eye mullet.
Best tide
Low tide, when the flats drain into the Tarra River channel.
Best wind
Light winds.
Note
At low tide the Tarra River channel concentrates big flathead and King George whiting: walk the edges and cast baits or soft plastics into the channel.
Safety
Soft mud and a fast-rising tide on the flats: do not get cut off.
Zone
Inside Nooramunga Marine and Coastal Prior Reservations (fishing allowed under normal rules). Nearest no-take area: Corner Inlet Marine National Park, about 29 km south-west. Guide only, not for navigation: check vfa.vic.gov.au map (PDF).
Map
-38.65980, 146.73000 · Open in Google Maps (position: Robertsons Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast
Forecast for this spot

5. Manns Beach channels (Nooramunga)

Type
Channel · bay, estuary or river
Access
Boat and kayak. Single-lane ramp at Manns Beach with toilets and fish cleaning but few other facilities: bring supplies.
What's good here
Peak in October: snapper, sand flathead and southern calamari. Also in season: King George whiting and gummy shark.
Best tide
Moving water either side of the change.
Best wind
Light winds.
Note
Run into the Nooramunga channels and islands: whiting and calamari over weed flats, gummies and snapper in the deeper gutters. Pin is the Manns Beach locality.
Safety
Channels shift and many banks dry: local knowledge helps.
Zone
Nearest no-take area: Corner Inlet Marine National Park, about 33 km south-west. Guide only, not for navigation: check vfa.vic.gov.au map (PDF).
Map
-38.64390, 146.77780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Manns Beach, ABS suburbs and localities)
Forecast
Forecast for this spot

6. McLoughlins Beach

Type
Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access
Land-based and boat. Footbridge from the township to Ninety Mile Beach; jetty and ramp on the inlet side; small camping area.
What's good here
Peak in October: snapper and sand flathead. Also in season: King George whiting, Australian salmon and gummy shark.
Best tide
Rising tide in the surf; low tide to pump yabbies on the inlet flats.
Best wind
Northerly winds flatten the surf. Faces SE.
Note
The western start of Ninety Mile Beach: big snapper, gummies, salmon and flathead from the surf, whiting in the channels. Pump yabbies on the flats or dig beach worms for bait.
Safety
Unpatrolled surf with rips and a heavy shore break.
Zone
Inside Nooramunga Marine and Coastal Park (fishing allowed under normal rules). Nearest no-take area: Ninety Mile Beach Marine National Park, about 30 km north-east. Guide only, not for navigation: check vfa.vic.gov.au map (PDF).
Map
-38.60700, 146.88920 · Open in Google Maps (position: McLoughlins Beach, ABS suburbs and localities)
Forecast
Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

Victoria's boat ramp register isn't published under an open licence we could confirm, so we don't list its ramps yet.

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Corner Inlet and Port Albert in October: snapper, sand flathead, southern calamari, silver trevally and 5 more. Of the 25 species our Gippsland coast list has for this part of the coast, 9 peak in October 2026 and 13 more are in season.

Peak in October: snapper, sand flathead, southern calamari, silver trevally, southern bluespotted flathead, black bream, yellowfin bream, mulloway and leatherjacket.

Also in season: King George whiting, Australian salmon, gummy shark, yellow-eye mullet, southern garfish, rock flathead, tiger flathead, dusky flathead, luderick, estuary perch, Australian bass, tailor and flounder.

Out of season in October: yellowtail kingfish (best Dec–Apr); prawns (best Dec–Mar).

Seen now and then, so not rated: southern bluefin tuna.

Seasons are closure-aware: a species is never listed as in season, for the area or at a spot, while it is closed there; a closure for part of the area says where. Species links go to our South East Queensland species guides, with Queensland's limits: Victoria's own size and bag limits are on the official rules page.

Can you fish here? Rules and safety

Recreational Fishing Licence (RFL) needed for all fishing incl. bait, shellfish, prawns, spearfishing unless exempt. From 1 Jul 2026: 3-day $10.00, 28-day $24.70, 1-yr $40.80 online ($43.30 agent), 3-yr $111.20 ($117.40). Exempt: under 18, 70+, Seniors Card, some pension/DVA cards, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Licence details. Size and bag limits and closed seasons apply: Victoria's limits (checked 9 Oct 2026).

Rules at Corner Inlet and Port Albert

  • Corner Inlet Marine National Park (the south-western part of the inlet off Wilsons Promontory) and Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park are no-take; most other water is in Corner Inlet and Nooramunga marine and coastal parks, where normal rules apply.
  • Spearguns are banned in Corner Inlet, and hand spears are banned west of the Entrance Point - Little Snake Island - Port Welshpool long jetty line. Cockle bag 2 L whole.
  • PS Clonmel shipwreck protected zone (50 m) near the Port Albert entrance: no entering, anchoring or fishing without a permit.

Marine parks and no-take zones

Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Corner Inlet and Port Albert

  • Very large tidal flows: many banks dry at low tide and channels shift, so plan trips around the tide.
  • Weather turns quickly over the open inlet; wind against tide makes steep, short seas.
  • The entrances to Bass Strait (Port Albert and between Snake Island and the Prom) are dangerous bars: local knowledge needed.
  • Remote shoreline: carry a VHF or charged phone and tell someone your plans.

Victoria: official links

Read the official forecast and warnings in the Bureau of Meteorology's own words: Vic coastal and local waters forecast map and current warnings.

Boating: Victoria boating safety, crossing coastal bars and lifejacket rules. Lifejackets: Wear on boats <=4.8m, and on boats up to 12m at heightened risk: crossing a bar, Port Phillip Heads, alone, at night, restricted visibility, or under a BOM gale/storm/severe weather warning.

Heading out on the water? Log on and off with Victoria Marine Search and Rescue (MSAR) network and Australian Volunteer Coast Guard (Victorian flotillas). Log on with TripWatch on the Coast Guard website, or with your local flotilla.

Marine parks and closed areas: Marine national parks and marine sanctuaries (VFA list with maps), Parks Victoria (park pages and boundary coordinates) and Australian Marine Parks (South-east network).

  • Rock fishing lifejacket zones: Lifejacket required at high-risk rock fishing zones incl. Cape Bridgewater, Lorne area, Point Nepean-West Head, Phillip Island sites, Bore Beach-Kilcunda, Point Roadknight. Fines apply. More.

Victoria's official rules: size and bag limits (checked 9 Oct 2026).

Emergency: 000 (112 from mobiles) · VHF channel 16 for distress.

Nearby fishing areas

Distances are between the middle of each area. Every area in Victoria · all fishing spot guides.

Sources and checked dates