Facts

ILLUSTRATIONS: 0

The Mornington Peninsula offers some fantastic saltwater fishing opportunities for boating anglers.

Lots of people do their homework on where to fish and what baits to use but often fail to sufficiently investigate launching options.

Wouldn’t it be terrific to have a back up or two so that, if launching conditions at your preferred ramp are poor, you can still get out on the water via another ramp not too far away. That way, with lunches prepared and friends in tow, you can still enjoy a day out.

Here’s a basic guide that covers some of the more popular ramps along the peninsula; what they offer and what to watch out for, so that your day remains memorable for the right reasons.

Name: Kananook Creek.

Location: Frankston.

Melways reference: Map 100A ref A8 or map 102 ref B3.

No. of ramps: 2 double ramps.

Max. boat size: 6m.

Pier: Yes.

Pontoon/Mooring facilities: Yes.

Launching Cost: $6.

Annual Fee: $60 ($30 for Frankston residents) can also be used at Olivers Hill.

Target Species: Snapper, whiting, squid, garfish, barracouta, flathead and salmon.

Fish cleaning facilities: No.

Best Tides: High tide for launching/retrieving.

Worst Winds: Strong onshore westerly.

Comments: Fully protected ramp in creek itself. Bar at entrance to creek is dredged during warmer months, but can still cause problems at very low tides. Reasonable parking facilities, but can be very busy at times. Payment is made via a ticket machine at the ramp. Only coins are accepted.

Name: Olivers Hill.

Location: Frankston South.

Melways reference: Map 101 ref K5.

No. of ramps: 2.

Max. boat size: 5m.

Pier: No.

Pontoon/Mooring facilities: Yes.

Launching Cost: $6.

Annual Fee: $60 ($30 for Frankston residents) can also be used at Kananook Creek.

Target Species: Snapper, whiting, squid, garfish, barracouta, flathead and salmon.

Fish cleaning facilities: No.

Best Tides: High tide for launching/retrieving.

Worst Winds: Anything remotely onshore.

Comments: This ramp is totally exposed and can be a real handful with any wind not blowing offshore. However, it’s not as busy as the Kananook Creek ramp, has good parking and quick access to some top fishing ground. Payment is made via a ticket machine at the ramp. Only coins are accepted.

Name: Mornington.

Melways reference: Map 104 ref D9.

No. of ramps: 2.

Max. boat size: 7m.

Pier: Yes.

Pontoon/Mooring facilities: Yes.

Launching Cost: $10.

Annual Fee: $110 (same annual pass can be used at Hastings and Sorrento ramps).

Target Species: Snapper, whiting, squid, garfish, barracouta, flathead and salmon.

Fish cleaning facilities: Yes.

Best Tides: Good at any tide.

Worst Winds: Northerly.

Comments: Great ramp, good parking and very busy. Under a northerly wind launching and retrieving can be hazardous. Payment is made via a ticket machine at the ramp. Only coins are accepted.

Name: Sorrento.

Melways reference: Map 157 ref B6.

No. of ramps: 2.

Max. boat size: 6m.

Pier: No.

Pontoon/Mooring facilities: Yes.

Launching Cost: $10.

Annual Fee: $110 (same annual pass can be used at Mornington and Hasting ramps).

Target Species: Whiting, squid, flathead, snapper, salmon and barracouta.

Fish cleaning facilities: No.

Best Tides: Good at any tide.

Worst Winds: Northerly.

Comments: Offers access to some of the best whiting grounds in Port Phillip only a few hundred metres from the ramp. Great parking facilities, but can be extremely busy over holiday season. Offers closest access to The Heads. Payment is made via a ticket machine at the ramp. Only coins are accepted.

Name: Hastings.

Melways reference: Map 154 ref K11.

No. of ramps: 4.

Max boat size: 7m.

Pier: Yes.

Pontoon/Mooring facilities: Yes.

Launching Cost: $10.

Annual Fee: $110 (same annual pass can be used at Mornington and Sorrento ramps).

Target Species: Snapper, gummy shark and whiting.

Fish cleaning facilities: Yes.

Best Tides: Any tide.

Worst Winds: Easterly.

Comments: Popular ramp with great parking facilities. Relatively long winding channel to navigate to reach the main waters. Not for the inexperienced after dark. Payment is made via a ticket machine at the ramp. Only coins are accepted.

Name: Stony Point.

Location: Crib Point.

Melways reference: Map 195 ref F5.

No. of ramps: 3.

Max boat size: 7m.

Pier: No.

Pontoon/Mooring facilities: Yes.

Launching Cost: $10.

Annual Fee: $77.

Target Species: Snapper, gummy shark and whiting.

Fish cleaning facilities: Yes.

Best Tides: High tide (okay at low tide).

Worst Winds: Easterly/Southerly.

Comments: Very popular ramp, good parking, great fish cleaning facilities but limited mooring space, especially when busy. There is a parking attendant to give directions – where to park and how to pay.

For information about other Port Phillip Bay and Western Port boat ramps go to Channel 31’s River to Reef website at www.rivertoreef.com.au

Facts

Boat Ramp Etiquette

• First in, first served. Nothing upsets fellow boaters more than queue jumpers.

• Don’t set up your boat while on the ramp. Do it in the parking bay prior to reversing onto the ramp.

• If there are no dividers between the boat ramp lanes then be mindful of where your lane starts and ends.

• Avoid tying your boat up too close to the end of the ramp, and impeding other boats being launched.

• Clear mooring facilities as quickly as possible.

• Don’t speed near moored boats or boats being launched or retrieved.

Facts

Launching and Retrieving Tips

• Don’t let anybody interrupt you while you’re preparing your boat for launch. This is when you can forget things like bung plugs.

• Set up ropes to aid launching before reversing down the ramp.

• Don’t undo the safety chain until you finish reversing and the boat is in the water, ready to be launched.

• When driving your boat off the trailer, climb aboard, start the motor and put it in forward gear to disconnect the winch. Then slowly reverse off. The motor should be in the water but well trimmed up before reversing the boat off the trailer.

• When returning to the ramp have all your mooring ropes ready and tied off on the boat before you get to the ramp.

• When reversing the trailer into the water to retrieve boat, don’t go in too deep. The boat will float off the guides and rollers and may even float off the trailer before you can drive the car out.