Last fact-verified Thu, 30 Apr 2026 against Victorian Fisheries Authority. If any bag limit, size limit, or licence requirement on this page differs from current VFA advice, VFA's current guidance takes precedence.
Quick facts
| Common name | Garfish |
| Scientific name | Hyporhamphus melanochir (southern sea garfish) |
| Also known as | sea gar, longtom |
| Bag limit | 40 per person per day, combined total for all garfish species |
| Minimum size limit | No minimum legal size |
| Season | September to February (spring and summer) |
| Primary water | Port Phillip Bay (also Western Port) |
| Licence required | Yes. Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence required. |
Source for bag limit, size limit, and closed season: VFA species page. Last fact-verified Thu, 30 Apr 2026.
What garfish actually is
Hyporhamphus melanochir (southern sea garfish) is the dominant garfish on Peninsula grounds. Distinctive elongated lower jaw extends well past the upper, silver-blue body with a bronze stripe along the lateral line, typical Peninsula fish 25 to 35cm. Garfish school in shallow surface water and feed on plankton and small invertebrates, which is why a float-rig presentation with small bait works so reliably.
The eating quality is exceptional and disproportionate to the species’ obscurity. Sweet white flesh, no oiliness, a clean butterfly-fillet shape, traditionally pan-fried in flour and butter or grilled whole. Local seafood retailers list garfish at premium prices when available; catch your own off the pier in spring and you have a freshly caught Peninsula table fish at no cost beyond the bait.
Season and tide
Spring and summer (September to February) are the productive window in Port Phillip Bay. Schools work the surface in 1 to 4m of water along pier edges and over sandy substrate. Mid-tide on a calm clear day is ideal; rough wind chops the surface and disperses the schools. Western Port garfish are present but less concentrated than in Port Phillip Bay.
Technique and gear
The standard rig is light. A 7 foot 1 to 3kg light spinning rod, 2500 size reel, 4 to 6lb monofilament mainline, no leader required. A small clip-on plastic float (the size that takes a single split shot to set), a 60 to 80cm trace, a size 8 to 10 long-shank or fine-wire hook. Bait is small: a thumbnail-size piece of white bread is the workhorse, with white maggot, squid strip, and peeled prawn as alternatives.
Bread burley is mandatory for productive garfish sessions. A handful of stale white bread torn into pea-size pieces and thrown into the water draws the school. Once a school is on the burley trail, the float sets up correctly with the bait suspended at 1.5 to 2m below the float, and garfish work along the trail.
Bag and size limits, licence
- Minimum size limit. No minimum.
- Bag limit. 40 per person per day, combined for all garfish species.
- Season. Open year-round.
- Licence. Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence required for anglers aged 18 and over.
Source: Victorian Fisheries Authority Recreational Fishing Guide. Last fact-verified Thu, 30 Apr 2026.
Opportunity ranking by location
- Rye Pier, float rig with bread burley, September to February. The most reliable land-based garfish ground. The pier’s length and shallow inner sections suit the species perfectly. Family-friendly approach.
- Sorrento Pier, float rig, spring through summer. Productive on the protected side of the breakwater on a calm day.
- Mornington Pier, float rig near the pier base, spring through summer. Inner sections of the pier hold garfish; outer end is too deep.
Where to catch garfish on the Peninsula
- Mornington Pier · Port Phillip Bay · October to April for snapper; year-round for squid
- Rye Pier · Port Phillip Bay · November to March (whiting); April to June and September to November (squid peaks)
- Safety Beach Foreshore · Port Phillip Bay · November to March (whiting and garfish); year-round (squid)
Where to cook your catch
Frequently asked questions
What is the bag and size limit for garfish in Victoria?
40 per person per day, combined total for all garfish species. There is no minimum legal size. Open year-round. Source: VFA. Confirm before fishing.
Where can I catch garfish on the Peninsula?
Any bay pier with reasonable depth at the outer end. Rye Pier, Sorrento Pier, Mornington Pier, Blairgowrie Pier are all reliable. The pier base or shallow side typically produces in spring; the outer end produces in mid-summer when fish move slightly deeper. Western Port garfish are present but at lower density than Port Phillip Bay.
What is the best technique for garfish?
Float rig with bread burley. A small plastic float, a 60 to 80cm leader to a size 8 to 10 long-shank or fine-wire hook, baited with a small piece of white bread, white maggot, squid strip, or peeled prawn. Burley with a bread mash to draw the school under the float. Cast to the burley trail; garfish will rise to the float within minutes.
Why no minimum size for garfish?
Garfish are a high-fecundity short-lived species and are managed under VFA's combined-bag-limit framework rather than individual size limits. The 40-fish daily bag limit acts as the conservation control. The species spawns several times within a year and recovers quickly from harvest pressure.
Verified stamp
Key facts last verified Thu, 30 Apr 2026 against the Victorian Fisheries Authority. If any bag limit, size limit, or licence requirement on this page differs from VFA's current guidance, VFA's current guidance takes precedence. Regulations change. Confirm before fishing.