Cape Otway Shelf
Shoal·Victoria·Australia·
Field notes
Continental shelf edge off Cape Otway, the prime southern bluefin tuna ground in autumn and winter. Albacore in late summer, school of striped tuna on the surface bait schools. Reef bottom on the inside edge holds morwong and snapper.
Current conditions
Wind
9.9 kt ENE
Gusts 12.6 kt
Waves
3.1 m
Period 14.4 s
Swell
3.1 m
Period 12.2 s
Sea temp
15.6°C
Air 15°C
Next 12 hours
01:00
9.9 ENE
3.1m
02:00
10.9 E
3.2m
03:00
12.7 E
3.2m
04:00
13.4 E
3.2m
05:00
13.9 E
3.3m
06:00
13.1 E
3.3m
07:00
12.2 ENE
3.2m
08:00
10.3 ENE
3.2m
09:00
8.5 ENE
3.2m
10:00
7 ENE
3.2m
11:00
6.3 ENE
3.2m
12:00
6.3 E
3.1m
Tides
Nearest BOM tide station: Apollo Bay ↗ (22.3 km · secondary)
We don't predict tides on-site — BOM's published tables are authoritative.
BOM · West CoastIssued at 10:00 am EDT on Thursday 22 October 2026
Situation. A high pressure system centred over the Tasman Sea will drift slowly eastwards as a cold front approaches from the west on Friday. This cold front will cross the State on Saturday and Sunday with a secondary trough crossing late Sunday or Monday.
Thursday 22 October until midnight. Winds: North to northeasterly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 20 knots in the far east in the late evening. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Southwesterly 3 metres. Weather: Mostly sunny. Patchy fog offshore in the early afternoon with reduced visibility.
Friday 23 October. Winds: Northerly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 20 knots in the east during the morning and early afternoon. Winds shifting southwesterly in the early afternoon. Seas: Below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning. Swell: Southwesterly 2.5 to 3 metres, increasing to 3 to 4 metres in the far west. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm inshore in the afternoon.
Saturday 24 October. Winds: Variable about 10 knots becoming southeasterly 10 to 15 knots during the evening. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Southwesterly 2.5 to 3 metres inshore, increasing to 3 to 4 metres offshore. Weather: Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. Central Coast: Cape Otway to Wilsons Promontory
Thursday 22 October until midnight. Winds: East to northeasterly 10 to 15 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Southwesterly 1.5 to 2 metres, increasing to 2 to 3 metres in the west. Weather: Sunny. Patchy fog with reduced visibility in the early afternoon, mainly offshore.
Source: Open-Meteo Marine + ECMWF (15-min cache) · BOM (1-hr cache). Not for navigation.
Sun & moon
Today
Sun↑ 06:31↓ 19:51
Moon↑ 15:40↓ 04:39
PhaseWaxing gibbous 81%
Best windows
- Dawn06:03 – 07:31
- Dusk18:51 – 20:19
Tomorrow
Sun↑ 06:30↓ 19:52
Moon↑ 16:44↓ 05:03
PhaseWaxing gibbous 88%
Best windows
- Dawn06:02 – 07:30
- Dusk18:52 – 20:20
Best windows combine civil twilight with the hour either side of sun transit — the universal low-light feeding window most species respond to. Moon phase influence is folkloric; full and new moons coincide with the strongest tide swings.
What's biting
Recent reports from the community. Sign in to log your own catches.
Access & logistics
Spot type
Shoal
Region
Victoria, Australia
Fishing style
offshore and bluewater fishing
Structure
Typically holds bommies and drop-offs — work the structure for holding fish.
Licence
Recreational fishing licence may apply — check the Victoria fisheries regulator before fishing.
Closures
Always confirm current marine park / closure status and seasonal bag limits.
Saved.
Comments
Sign in to leave a comment.
No comments yet — be the first.