Last fact-verified Thu, 30 Apr 2026
Quick facts
| Type | Pier |
| Water body | Western Port |
| Best season | October to December (snapper); October to March (whiting); March to June (squid) |
| Parking | Ample free trailer parking at the adjacent ferry terminal and boat ramp precinct |
| Tide reference station | Stony Point (this location is the reference station for Western Port) |
| Public toilets | Yes |
| Accessibility | Pontoons are accessible. Various access points suitable for most mobilities. (Confirm details with Mornington Peninsula Shire.) |
| Top species | king george whiting , snapper , squid , flathead |
What this location is
Stony Point Pier sits at the end of Stony Point Road in Crib Point, on the western side of Western Port Bay, approximately 65km southeast of Melbourne. The pier sits adjacent to the Stony Point ferry terminal (the Phillip Island passenger ferry departs from here) and immediately next to one of the most active boat ramps on the Peninsula. The area is a concentrated boating, fishing, and transport hub that gives it an unusually busy character for what is otherwise a remote foreshore location.
The pier is notable for fishing into deep water by land-based Peninsula standards. The Western Port channel runs close to the Stony Point shoreline, and the pier accesses water that drops to 5 to 10m within rod-cast distance. This depth is what makes it productive for snapper and larger flathead; the channel holds resident populations of both that do not require boat access to reach. Combined with the tidal flow that concentrates food through the channel, Stony Point produces snapper from shore in conditions that most bay piers cannot match.
Western Port’s tidal character defines this location entirely. The 2.5 to 2.8m tidal range is roughly three times the Port Phillip Bay range at the same latitude, producing pronounced current flow during the running phases of the tide. Stony Point is the reference station for Western Port tidal predictions. Fishing at slack water here produces a fraction of the results achieved on the run.
Tide and access
Stony Point is the tidal reference station for Western Port Bay. All tide planning for Western Port locations (Cowes, Hastings, San Remo, Tooradin) references Stony Point predictions. The pier fishes best during the running phases: approximately 2 hours before high water to 1 hour after, and 2 hours before low water to 1 hour after low. Total productive window is roughly 6 of every 12 hours.
The full tidal run generates current that requires sinker weights of 60 to 100g to hold bottom in the main channel. During the strongest parts of the flood and ebb, even 100g may not be enough at the outer end. Adjust technique to the tidal state: lighter rigs during the slackening phases, heavier during the peak run.
The Stony Point Boat Ramp is all-tide access, and the pier structure itself does not have tidal access timing issues. Do not confuse all-tide ramp access with tide-independent fishing quality. The pier is functionally unproductive at slack water.
Check tides at BOM tidal predictions or Willyweather using the Stony Point station.
Parking and crowd pressure
Parking at Stony Point is one of the most practical arrangements on the Peninsula. The large car park adjacent to the ferry terminal and Stony Point Boat Ramp provides ample trailer and standard parking. Mornington Peninsula Shire manages the area; it is well-maintained. The car park rarely fills to capacity on standard weekends because the location is not easily reached without a specific purpose; it sits at the end of a long single road through Crib Point, which naturally filters casual visitors.
On peak snapper-season weekends (October to December) and during school holiday periods, the ramp precinct becomes busy from 5am with trailer boats. The pier itself tends to have 10 to 20 anglers on productive mornings, which is manageable. During January school holidays and Easter, arrive before 6am for the most productive outer positions.
The key difference from more popular Peninsula locations is that Stony Point rewards anglers who know what they are doing. The tide-dependent nature of the fishing filters out casual visitors who arrive and leave when nothing happens at slack water.
Best technique
The single most important adjustment is sinker weight. A 30g sinker that holds bottom on Port Phillip Bay will not hold at Stony Point on the run. Use a 60 to 120g snapper sinker or a running star sinker that grips the bottom. The standard rig is a paternoster with two 80cm fluorocarbon traces to 4/0 to 6/0 circle hooks, baited with fresh pilchard, squid, or cut mullet.
For King George whiting, a running sinker rig with enough weight to hold bottom and a 30cm fluorocarbon trace to a size 4 to 6 long-shank hook baited with pipi or tube worm is effective when cast toward the shallower edges away from the main channel. Whiting do not sit in the deep channel; they work the edges. Position matters at Stony Point.
For squid, a size 3.0 to 3.5 EGI jig worked in the current is effective. Allow the jig to swing in the current rather than jigging it in still water; the tidal movement gives the jig life that still-water jigging cannot replicate.
Nearby ramp and charter options
The Stony Point Boat Ramp is a 3-lane concrete ramp with floating pontoons directly adjacent to the pier. It provides all-tide access to Western Port and is one of the most important ramps on the Peninsula for Western Port fishing. Ample trailer parking in the ferry terminal car park.
For Western Port charter departures targeting the same species: Western Port Fishing Charters (departing Hastings, 25km north). I’m Hooked Fishing Charters lists Hastings among its Peninsula departure options and targets Western Port species.
What this location is not well-suited to
Not suitable for anglers who cannot plan sessions around the tide. Arriving at slack water and expecting the same results as a running-tide session will produce consistent disappointment. If you cannot or will not plan around the tidal cycle, a Port Phillip Bay pier is less demanding.
Not suitable for large trailer boats without Western Port channel experience. The Stony Point channel is relatively narrow and fast-moving at peak tide; navigating it safely requires Western Port boat-handling experience.
Not the right pier for first-time families with young children given the depth, current, and proximity to commercial vessel traffic.
Species this location holds
- Flathead · Year-round (most consistent species on the Peninsula) · 20 per person per day
- Gummy Shark · Year-round; October to March most productive in Western Port · 2 per person per day
- King George Whiting · January to April (Port Phillip Bay) · 20 per person per day
- Snapper · October to December · 10 per person per day
- Southern Calamari · March to June (autumn aggregation) · 10 per person per day
Frequently asked questions
What weather should I avoid at Stony Point Pier?
A southerly or south-easterly above 20 knots creates dangerous conditions on the outer pier sections and makes fishing effectively impossible. The pier has no protection from those directions. A strong north-westerly creates difficult casting but is generally safer than a southerly. If conditions are forecast to deteriorate significantly during your planned window, reschedule rather than being caught on the pier in building weather.
Is Stony Point Pier suitable for families with children?
With strong caveats. The pier is a working pier adjacent to a ferry terminal and busy boat ramp; there is genuine boat traffic in the vicinity. Western Port current is fast and the water is deep. Children require close supervision at all times. Life jackets are strongly recommended for children under 12 at this location. The foreshore around the ramp precinct is suitable for kids; fishing from the outer pier with young children is higher-risk than at any bay pier.
How does the Western Port tide at Stony Point differ from Port Phillip Bay?
Western Port range here is approximately 2.5 to 2.8m. Port Phillip Bay at comparable locations (Mornington, Rye) ranges 0.5 to 0.9m. The practical effect: current at Stony Point is 3 to 4 times faster than Port Phillip piers during equivalent phases. You need heavier sinkers (60 to 120g rather than 30g), you must plan around the running tide rather than treating the tide as background, and the water depth and current are a genuine safety hazard.
Is night fishing worthwhile at Stony Point?
Night fishing on the running tide produces snapper and gummy shark. The precinct has ambient lighting from the ferry terminal area, but the outer pier is dark; bring a head torch. Snapper are active on the night flood tide from October through December. The current runs at night the same as during the day, so all the tide-dependent techniques apply.
Can I get to Stony Point by public transport?
Yes. The Stony Point railway line (Frankston line) terminates at Stony Point station, a short walk from the pier and ramp precinct. This is one of the few Peninsula fishing locations accessible by public transport. The service is infrequent compared to metropolitan lines; check Public Transport Victoria timetables before relying on it.
Related
Bag limits, size limits, and licensing are sourced from the Victorian Fisheries Authority. Confirm with VFA before fishing.