Guide
St Leonards Pier Squid Fishing
How to fish St Leonards Pier for squid around the L-shaped pier, deeper drop-off, dawn and dusk structure-feeding windows
St Leonards sits on the quiet eastern edge of the Bellarine, looking straight out into Port Phillip Bay. It is classic southern calamari country: shallow seagrass, clean sand patches, an L-shaped land-based pier and a useful drop-off, with a boat ramp right there if you want to drift the flats. It does not get the crowds of the Mornington-side piers, and on the right wind the water runs gin-clear.
I don’t pick St Leonards by the calendar — I pick it by the wind. Get an offshore breeze and clean water and it fishes as well as anywhere on the Bellarine. For the year-round picture read Eging Australia, and in the cooler months pair it with the Winter Squid Fishing Victoria guide — St Leonards is one of those western-shore spots that cleans up beautifully in winter.
The pier is highly productive because it gives squid several pieces of structure to hunt around: the L bend, pylons, lights, seagrass edges and a nearby drop. If it were not close to a two-hour drive from Melbourne, it would probably feel like one of the most crowded squid piers on the bay.
360° Field View: St Leonards Pier
This real 360° field photo shows the wooden jetty, available casting space and surrounding water at St Leonards. Drag around the view to inspect the pier layout, working room and structure before choosing a casting side.
Drag to look around. Use the mouse wheel, + and − keys, or the controls to zoom.
Shallow seagrass and sand patches
The ground off St Leonards is mostly seagrass and ribbon weed broken up by lighter sand patches — exactly the structure southern calamari like to hunt over. Squid sit on the edges and ambush bait moving across the gaps. You are not trying to drag a jig through the thickest weed; you are working the clean edges, the sand holes and the weed-to-sand borders.
Because it is shallow, presentation control matters more than brute casting. A jig that fouls weed every cast is out of the game. Read more on finding these features in How to Read Water for Squid Fishing.
Best time and tide for St Leonards
Dawn and dusk are the classic windows — low light gives squid the confidence to move onto the shallow flats while you can still track your line. In winter those windows arrive early, which makes St Leonards an easy after-work or late-afternoon session.
The drop beside the pier is the key detail. In the low-light windows, squid like to move close to structure to feed, so work the L bend, pylons, lights and drop-off instead of only casting across the shallowest seagrass.
A higher tide generally helps over the shallow seagrass: more water means squid will move further in and feed with less caution. The pier lights extend the session after dark. For the timing logic see Best Time to Catch Squid.
Best wind direction for St Leonards
St Leonards is more forgiving than a straight, exposed pier because the L shape gives you several casting lanes. As long as it is not a strong north-easterly blowing straight into the exposed side, the pier is often very fishable.
West to south-west winds are still clean because they flatten the surface and make line control easy. But in lighter wind, you can often choose the correct side of the L, keep your line off the chop and work the drop or weed edge effectively. Check the Squid Fishing Weather Guide and glance at the Eging Tactical Radar before you drive — wind direction often decides which side of the Bellarine is fishable.
Squid jig size for St Leonards
Because the water is shallow and often clear, lean smaller and more controlled:
- 2.5 — the specialist choice for shallow, calm, gin-clear days when squid are cautious.
- 3.0 — the all-round starting size for most sessions.
- 3.5 — when wind picks up or you are reaching for deeper edges off the flats.
Full breakdown in the Squid Jig Size Guide.
Sinking rate and line setup
Over shallow seagrass you want a standard or slow sink so the jig hangs over the weed instead of dropping into it. A slower fall also keeps the jig in the strike zone longer, which suits cautious clear-water squid. Run light PE 0.6–0.8 braid with a fluorocarbon leader for control and abrasion resistance around the weed. See the Squid Jig Sinking Rate Guide and Best Line for Squid Fishing.
Working the weed edges and sand holes
Cast past a sand patch or weed edge, let the jig sink on light tension, then work it back with gentle lifts and long pauses. Most squid grab the jig on the drop or while it hangs, so do not rush it — let it fall, watch the line, and only strike when you feel real weight. The full method is in How to Work a Squid Jig and When to Strike.
Colours for St Leonards
Match the colour to the light and clarity, not to a lucky favourite:
- Clear daylight — natural prawn, green, brown and foil patterns; the squid get a long look here, so believable wins.
- Overcast or fading light — soft pink, silver-pink reflex and subtle contrast.
- Dawn, dusk and night under the pier lights — glow, dark-backed glow and clear-body red glow.
- Dirty water after an onshore blow — step up to orange, red foil and stronger glow.
The full logic is in Squid Jig Colours Australia.
Access, the boat ramp and pier etiquette
St Leonards is an easy, family-friendly spot with foreshore parking, the pier and a boat ramp for anyone who wants to drift the flats by kayak or boat. Keep the pier tidy, give other anglers casting room, and watch your footing on cold or wet timber — especially at night with a head-torch.
The calamari here can be quality models, and the pier is a comfortable height for a landing net or a telescopic gaff — plan the landing before you hook up rather than lifting a big squid on the leader. See the Best Squid Gaff Australia guide. And always check current rules in the Squid Fishing Regulations guide before you keep a feed.
Recommended gear for St Leonards
- A light Egi Rods Australia setup, 2500 reel, PE 0.6–0.8 braid and fluorocarbon leader.
- A small spread of 2.5 and 3.0 jigs in natural, soft pink and glow.
- A landing net or squid gaffs Australia for the pier.
For a buyer’s shortlist matched to this spot, see Best Squid Jig for St Leonards on eging.com.au, or browse squid jigs Australia and squid gaffs Australia.
Nearby spots
If the wind turns St Leonards onshore, the rest of the Bellarine is close:
- Portarlington Pier — just north, same western-shore shelter.
- Clifton Springs — further west on the northern Bellarine, useful when the wind logic flips.
- Indented Head — the closest shallow-water comparison when clean weed edges are the main target.
- Geelong — useful for a broader Corio Bay shore plan.
- Queenscliff Harbour — to the south near the bay entrance.
- Wider planning via the Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne Squid Fishing hubs.
FAQ
Is St Leonards good for squid fishing?
Yes. The shallow seagrass and sand patches off St Leonards are classic southern calamari ground, and the pier and boat ramp make it easy to fish. The catch is wind — it fishes best when the wind is offshore (west to south-west) and the water stays clear.
What size squid jig should I use at St Leonards?
Start with a 3.0, drop to a 2.5 for shallow, calm, clear days when squid are cautious, and step up to a 3.5 if the wind picks up or you fish the deeper edges off the flats.
What is the best wind for St Leonards?
Because of the L-shaped pier, most light to moderate wind directions can be made to work. The main wind to avoid is a strong north-easterly, which pushes chop into the exposed side and makes line control difficult.
When is the best time to fish St Leonards?
Dawn and dusk into the pier lights, ideally on a higher tide. The deeper drop and pier structure draw squid close to feed during those low-light windows.