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Ricketts Point, Beaumaris

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Wednesday, 09 May 2007

Ricketts Point, Port Phillip Bay

As the sunsets, the snapper rise

Rickett's Point is one of the most popular kayak fishing destinations in Port Phillip Bay, due largely to it's convenient proximity to Melbourne residents, as well as it's reputation as a productive fishery. That reputation has taken a bit of a hit when part of the area was turned into a Marine National Park (MNP) a few years ago. The sanctuary makes up 115 hectares and thankfully this leaves plenty of worthy fishing ground around it's boundaries. Boasting no shortage of fish-holding reef, Ricketts Point is renowned for it's population of resident pinky-sized Snapper and is also known to produce Squid regularly, as well as sporadic cameo appearences from Salmon, Flathead, Snook, Barracouta, Whiting and Garfish.

Ricketts Point is also a very popular day-trip venue for family outings, divers, snorkelers, sail and stinkboats of various description (especially on warm weekends and public holidays) and for this reason, can get a bit crowded on the water. Sufficient lighting for night fishing trips is highly recommended. Facilities are fairly typical for a suburban based location. There are toilets available at the Beaumaris yacht club car park and the famous Ricketts Point Tea House nearby. Available parking areas include the Beaumaris lifesaving club (south of the Tea House) or at the Beaumaris yacht club (north of the Tea House), although parking fees do apply.

Fishing Ricketts Point

There are numerous strategies worth employing while fishing Ricketts Point although it would probably be fair to say that a snapper-centric approach is likely to produce the best results, given that the squire are commonly found there. Best results have come for me using freshly caught Squid and Garfish as baits, using a running sinker pattenoster rig with a leader of around 2 feet, although the more I fish the area, the more convinced I become that it's usually only really worth offering baits during sunup or sundown periods. Lure fishing can be equally productive at times, using soft plastics or hard bodied lures. I tend to favour soft plastics at Rickett's Point, with my best success achieved with Berkley Blood Worm lures in the Nuclear Chicken colour, right on sundown.

Flathead are frequently bagged at Ricketts Point

A typical strategy that I have commonly emplpyed with great success at Rickett's Point is to start off by trolling lures (once outside the MNP boundaries) in the same direction the wind is coming from, usually to a suitable point at which I can allow the wind/current to drift me back to where I started trolling from, or wherever my sounder picked up a likely candidate for anchoring up. Trolling can produce almost anything (be ready for hook ups on Snook and Salmon if you are moving relatively quickly) and the drifting (bottom bashing all the way) can be deadly on the Flathead that populate the sandy patches between reefs.

As the sun moves closer to the horizon line, I will usually look for somewhere to drop anchor and prepare to bait fish until dark. If you pay attention (a sounder really helps) trolling and drifting can assist in picking a suitable place to pitch camp. When anchored I will usually offer a Squid or strip of Garfish as bait, as well as an unweighted Berkley Blood Worm on another line. I usually stay relatively close to the MNP boundary, which is where I've gained best results - particularly for the Squid and pinky Snapper.

Rickett's Point Summary

Don't be put off by the MNP that has been established there, because although it's a royal pain in the stainhole for recreational fishermen, there is still plenty of good fishing to be had on it's boundaries. That said, be sure you are aware of where they are (marked by big yellow bouys) and stay out of them when and if you have a line in the water. Some rather persistant locals may try and hassle you for launching within the park, but (at the time of writing) it is still perfectly legal to do so. I've had to say 'tell someone who cares' at Rickett's Point more than once.

Suggested GPS marks

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ACcomodation

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How to get there

Ricketts Point is located on the East side of Port Phillip Bay on Beach Road. Parking available at the Beaumaris lifesaving club or at the Beaumaris yacht club. (Click on the 'Map' tag on the Google Map below to see a road map).

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