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.

Port Phillip

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: 6 metres

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.

Ticket machines only accept coins. Make sure you have enough in $1 or $2 before arriving at the ramp

Even with a light on shore breeze, Olivers Hill ramp can be a real handful when launching or retrieving your boat

Name: Olivers Hill

Location:  Frankston South

Melways reference: map 101 ref K5

No. of ramps: 2

Max boat size: 5 metres

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 off shore. On the plus side, 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.

Frankston ramp has well protected facilities for launching and retrieving located in Kananook Creek

The bar at the entrance to Kananook Creek at Frankston is dredged during the warmer months

Name: Mornington

Location:  Mornington

Melways reference: map 104 ref D9

No. of ramps: 2

Max boat size: 7 metres

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.

Mooring facilities at Stony Point ramp are limited especially when busy

Three lane ramps help during busy times

Name: Sorrento

Location:  Sorrento

Melways reference: map 157 ref B6

No. of ramps: 2

Max boat size: 6 meters

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, 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 meters from the ramp. Great parking facilities, but can be extremely busy over holiday season. Offers closest access to Port Phillip heads. . Payment is made via a ticket machine at the ramp. Only coins are accepted.

Flathead this size are available in both Western Port and Port Phillip

Gummy sharks are popular targets for anglers fishing Western Port

Western Port

Name: Hastings

Location: Hastings 

Melways reference: map 154 ref K11

No. of ramps: 4

Max boat size: 7 metres

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.

Each year squid of this size are caught south of Stony Point

Small snapper are caught off Hastings and Stony Point only a short distance from the ramps

Name: Stony Point

Location: Crib Point 

Melways reference: map 195 ref F5

No. of ramps: 3

Max boat size: 7 metres

Pier: no

Pontoon/Mooring facilities: yes

Launching Cost: $10

Annual Fee: $77.00

Target Species: Snapper, gummy shark and whiting

Fish cleaning facilities: Yes

Best Tides: High tide (OK 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 make payment to.