Cleeland Bight Beach Squid Fishing: Low-Tide Flats Eging Guide

Cleeland Bight Beach, on the San Remo side of the Phillip Island bridge, is one of the more interesting beach eging locations in Western Port. It is very different from the jetty and bridge current nearby.

This is not vertical heavy-current eging. It is shore-based flats fishing around weed beds, sand patches and clear water. The important correction is tide: Cleeland Bight is often better around low tide, not high tide, because low water lets you get closer to the weed beds and cast more effectively into the right water.

For the wider area, read Melbourne Squid Fishing and Western Port Squid Fishing. For the nearby heavy-current option, compare it with San Remo Jetty Squid Fishing.

Weed Beds, Sand Patches and Shallow Flats

Cleeland Bight is a shallow beach system with seagrass, weed beds and sandy openings.

The dark patches in the water are the key. These are weed beds where squid can hide, hunt and move along the edges. The sandy gaps and lighter halos around those weed beds are often the strike zones.

Because you are fishing from the sand, your job is to reach the weed edge without standing too far away from it. That is why the tide level changes the whole strategy.

Why Low Tide Can Be Better

At many pier locations, high tide gives squid more access. Cleeland Bight is different because you are standing on a beach.

At lower tide, you can walk closer to the productive weed beds and cast beyond or along them. That extra position is more valuable than simply having more water over the flat.

If the tide is too high, you may be standing too far back and struggling to reach the darker beds. Low tide gives you better angles, better distance and more direct control over the jig.

Do not treat low tide as a dry-flat session. You still need enough water over the weed for squid to move. The best window is usually when the tide is low enough to give access, but not so empty that the area becomes lifeless.

Before leaving, check the Eging Tactical Radar and match tide height with wind and water clarity.

Wind and Water Clarity

Westerly and south-westerly winds are often useful because the beach faces roughly north-east. A wind from behind helps casting distance and keeps line control cleaner.

Strong northerlies can be a problem. They can dirty the water, push weed toward the shore and make the shallow flats look milky.

Because the water can be very clear, avoid heavy splashing if you are wading. Squid in shallow water spook much more easily than squid sitting under a deep jetty.

Squid Jig Size for Cleeland Bight Beach

Large slow-sinking squid jigs are the key at Cleeland Bight.

A size 3.5 slow-sinking jig is often the best starting point because it casts further, gives a bigger silhouette for squid to see over the flats, and stays in the strike zone longer without diving straight into the weed.

A 3.0 slow-sinking jig can work in calm water or when squid are smaller, but this is not mainly a tiny-jig finesse spot. You need casting distance and a visible profile.

The slow sink is what makes the bigger jig work. A standard or fast-sinking 3.5 may hit the weed too quickly. A slow-sinking 3.5 can hover above the grass and give squid time to track it.

For more detail, read the Squid Jig Size Guide and Squid Jig Sinking Rate Guide Australia.

Long Casting and Hang Time

From the beach, distance matters.

You are not dropping beside pylons or fishing under lights. You are trying to reach darker weed beds, sandy halos and subtle drop-offs from the sand. That is why a larger slow-sinking jig makes sense: it casts further and still hangs naturally once it lands.

After the cast, let the jig settle just above the weed. Use slow draws, gentle lifts and long pauses rather than aggressive vertical rips. You want the jig to move horizontally across the flat, not dive straight into the grass.

The Best Squid Jig Australia guide is useful here because Cleeland Bight rewards jigs that cast cleanly and hold posture on a slow fall.

Fan Casting the Weed Edge

Do not cast at one patch all session.

Work a wide fan across the flats. Cover the edge of the dark weed, the sand openings and the transitions between shallow and slightly deeper water.

If you hook a squid, slow down and keep fishing the same line. Squid often move along these flats in small groups, and the next cast can be just as important as the first.

Colours for Cleeland Bight Beach

In clear water, natural and transparent jigs are strong choices.

Prawn, whiting, baitfish, natural brown, seaweed green and translucent bodies all make sense. When the sun is higher, silver foil or rainbow foil can add enough flash to trigger a reaction without looking too unnatural.

At low light, soft pink, glow belly or red-base jigs can help the lure stand out while still staying controlled.

For the full colour system, read Squid Jig Colours Australia.

Wading, Landing and Safety

Landing squid on the beach is usually simpler than landing from a high pier. Keep steady pressure and slide the squid onto the sand. Be ready for the ink blast when it reaches shallow water.

If you wade, move quietly and use the stingray shuffle: slide your feet instead of stepping heavily. Cleeland Bight’s sandy flats can hold rays, and the last thing you want is to step directly onto one.

Also check local signage and marine park rules before fishing. Parts of the Phillip Island coast have protected areas, and it is your responsibility to fish legal water.

A gaff is generally less important here than at San Remo Jetty or Corinella, but a practical landing plan still matters.

Recommended Gear

For Cleeland Bight Beach, build around casting distance, slow sink and clear-water visibility:

• Shop RUI Squid Jigs
• Open Eging Tactical Radar

FAQ

Is high tide best for Cleeland Bight Beach squid fishing?

Not usually. Cleeland Bight is often better around lower tide because you can walk closer to the weed beds and cast more effectively into the productive water.

What squid jig size should I use at Cleeland Bight Beach?

A size 3.5 slow-sinking jig is a strong starting point because it casts further, stays visible and hangs above the weed longer.

What colours work best at Cleeland Bight Beach?

Natural, transparent, prawn, whiting, brown, green and subtle foil patterns work well in clear water. Soft glow or red-base jigs can help in low light.

Do I need a gaff at Cleeland Bight Beach?

Usually no. Because you are fishing from the beach, most squid can be landed by guiding them carefully onto the sand.