The Complete Guide to Spearfishing in Melbourne

Freediving Foundation

Before you start spearfishing, you should have a solid foundation in freediving. This includes:

• Proper breath-hold technique and safety awareness
• Understanding of equalization
• Comfort in open water
• Knowledge of buddy procedures and rescue skills

We strongly recommend completing at least a basic freediving course before attempting spearfishing.

Victoria Spearfishing Laws

Victoria has specific regulations for spearfishing. Key points include:

• Scuba spearfishing is legal in Victoria — Unlike some other Australian states
• A recreational fishing license is required
• Bag and size limits apply to all species
• Marine protected areas have restrictions or complete bans
• Some species are completely protected (including weedy seadragons)

Always check current regulations at Victorian Fisheries Authority before diving.

Best Spearfishing Locations

Melbourne has a variety of productive spearfishing spots. For a full site-by-site breakdown, see our guide to the best freediving spots in Melbourne. Key areas include:

• Mornington Peninsula piers — Good for whiting and flathead on sandy bottoms. Rye, Blairgowrie, and Sorrento are popular.
• Portsea and the Heads area — Strong currents but excellent snapper and kingfish for experienced divers. Only dive at slack tide.
• Bellarine Peninsula — Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale offer reef diving with snapper, leather jacket, and wrasse.
• Back beaches — Gunnamatta, Portsea back beach, and Flinders ocean side offer rock-ledge diving for species like wrasse and sweep. Surf and swell make these advanced spots.
• Boat dives — Pope's Eye, South Channel Fort, and offshore reefs hold the best snapper and kingfish, typically in 10–20 m of water.

Seasons and Species

Different species are available at different times of year:

• Snapper — Best from late spring through summer (November–March). Found around reef structures and artificial reefs. Legal minimum size is 28 cm with a bag limit of 10.
• King George Whiting — Year-round, peak in warmer months. Found over sandy bottoms and seagrass. Minimum size 27 cm, bag limit 20.
• Flathead — Year-round on sandy bottoms. Dusky flathead (30 cm min, bag limit 5) and sand flathead (27 cm min, bag limit 20) are the main species.
• Calamari (Southern Squid) — Best in autumn and winter (March–August). Found around seagrass and pier pylons. Bag limit 10.
• Leather Jacket — Year-round around reef and pylons. A staple species for spearos, excellent eating.

Bag and size limits are subject to change. Always check the VFA website for current regulations before you dive.

Getting Started Safely

1. Get trained — Take a freediving course first
2. Learn the rules — Understand all fishing regulations
3. Start shallow — Build experience gradually
4. Always dive with a buddy — Never spearfish alone
5. Use a float and flag — Make yourself visible to boats
6. Check conditions — Know before you go

Choosing a Spearfishing Course

If you want structured training, look for courses that cover:

• Freediving fundamentals and safety
• Speargun handling and maintenance
• Species identification and regulations
• Hunting techniques and shot placement
• Fish handling and processing

Gear Basics

Essential spearfishing gear includes:

• Wetsuit — 3-5mm for Melbourne waters (colder months need thicker)
• Mask and snorkel — Low-volume mask preferred
• Fins — Long freediving fins for efficiency
• Weight belt — Quick-release for safety
• Speargun or pole spear — Start with a smaller gun (75-90cm)
• Float and flag — Required for safety and visibility
• Dive knife — For dispatching fish humanely
• Catch bag or stringer — To secure your catch

Note: This guide provides independent advice. We don't use affiliate links or receive commissions. For more detail on freediving equipment, see our freediving gear guide.

Victoria Spearfishing Clubs

Joining a club is the best way to learn, find dive buddies, and access local knowledge:

• Southern Freedivers — Not-for-profit spearfishing club in south-east Melbourne with social events, dives, and club series competitions
• Club Spearfish — Friendly non-profit club based in south-east Melbourne, meeting monthly in Keysborough
• Geelong Freedivers — AUF-affiliated club covering Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, and south-west Victoria with weekly pool training and regular dives

Conditions and Planning

Successful spearfishing in Melbourne depends on conditions. Here's what to check before heading out:

• Visibility — Aim for 3+ metres. After heavy rain or strong winds, visibility inside the bay drops significantly. Autumn and early winter often have the best water clarity.
• Tides — For the Heads area and Portsea, dive only at slack tide (the window around high or low tide when current is minimal). Check tide charts and plan your entry time.
• Swell — For back beach and ocean-side spots, check the swell forecast. Anything over 1.5 m makes entry and exit difficult. Choose bay-side spots on big swell days.
• Wind — Northerlies chop up Port Phillip Bay. Southerlies affect back beaches. Light winds (under 15 knots) are ideal.
• Water temperature — Melbourne water ranges from 10°C in winter to 21°C in summer. A 5 mm wetsuit is standard for winter, 3 mm for summer.

Common Beginner Mistakes

• Diving alone — Never spearfish solo. Shallow water blackout is the leading cause of spearfishing deaths.
• Poor shot placement — Aim behind the gill plate for a clean kill. A bad shot means a lost fish or unnecessary suffering.
• Ignoring regulations — Know your species identification, size limits, and bag limits before you dive. Fines are heavy.
• Chasing fish — Experienced spearos wait and let fish come to them. Chasing burns oxygen and spooks everything.
• No float and flag — A dive float with an alpha flag makes you visible to boats. Boat strikes are a real risk, especially at popular spots.
• Skipping freediving training — Spearfishing requires solid breath-hold technique, buddy safety skills, and comfort at depth. Take a course first.

Sustainable and Ethical Practices

Being a responsible spearfisher means:

• Only taking what you'll eat
• Respecting size and bag limits
• Making clean, humane kills
• Avoiding breeding aggregations
• Protecting marine habitats
• Educating others about sustainable practices