Gippsland Lakes Fishing

Heritage
The Gippsland Lakes fall within the boundaries of the area occupied by the Tatungalung clan of the Gunai/Kurnai people. Evidence of their occupation occurs in numerous midden sites containing shellfish remains, charcoal and burnt pebbles.
The first European records of the Gippsland Lakes were by Angus McMillan in 1840 and of the seaward entrance to the lakes by John Reeve in 1842. The wreck of a ship, the Trinculo which was beached in 1858, is still evident today west of Delray Beach.

Historic sites in the park include the "Honeymoon Cottage" on Boole Poole Peninsula and the blow hole sites on the outer barrier adjacent to Bunga Arm. The site of construction of the artificial entrance to the sea at Lakes Entrance and eel farming ponds near McLennan Strait are still evident today. Remains of more recent activity include survey lines and sealed bores left from petroleum exploration.

In Gippsland, fishing opportunities are plentiful and extend to estuary, river, beach and offshore areas that will appeal to experienced anglers, family groups and beginners alike.

Andersons Inlet and Venus Bay are excellent destinations for families and surf anglers looking to wet a line for flathead, salmon, tailor, whiting and trevally. Catches of flathead, salmon and whiting can be found at nearby Waratah Bay and Shallow Inlet, though a boat is recommended for more effective fishing. Snapper can be caught in the area, usually near the inlet entrance.

The fishing is first class at Wilsons Promontory National Park. Whiting, flathead and salmon are popular catches within the estuaries and from beaches around the promontory, however angling restrictions are in place for some or all forms of fishing - refer to the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide for details.

Head to the massive system of sand flats, deep channels and islands that are greatly affected by the tide from Corner Inlet through to McLaughlins Beach. Flathead, whiting and salmon are prolific but the catches of snapper and gummy sharks are most prized. To explore the area fully, a boat is essential and you’ll find a number of charter businesses operating in the area.

Just off the coast of Port Albert and Port Welshpool there are a number of reefs well known for snapper and gummy shark. Deep water and warm water currents skirt the outer edges of the far islands within the group and catches of sharks, kingfish and tuna mark them as a game and sport fishing location.

For those accustomed to the relatively crowded fishing beaches near Melbourne, the solitude of Ninety Mile Beach is a welcome change. The fishing along the beach is reliable for flathead, salmon and mullet, tailor, gummy shark and snapper, with offshore reefs providing good fishing for large flathead, gummy shark and snapper.

Within the Gippsland lakes and estuarine sections of several major tributary rivers, good fishing is available year-round. The major holiday centres, like Bairnsdale, Paynesville, Metung and Lakes Entrance, make great bases from which to explore the lakes.

In the lakes, black bream is the species sought after by recreational anglers – they are excellent fighters and a superb table fish. Particularly well regarded areas for bream include Hollands Landing, Paynesville and Lake King. Aside from bream, anglers can expect to catch flathead, tailor, mullet, salmon, whiting and trevally.

As you would expect when fishing within such a huge expanse of water as the Gippsland Lakes, a boat is a great advantage and there are a number of local boat hire businesses. For land-based anglers there are public jetties and wharves around the lakes system, as well as good access to the banks of the estuarine sections of the Tambo, Nicholson and Mitchell rivers – all of which provide good fishing, particularly for bream.

Moving further east is Cape Conran Coastal Park and Croajingolong National Park, a World Biosphere Reserve that contains numerous inlets and rivers that open to Bass Strait. In the area, Sydenham Inlet (Bemm River), Tamboon Inlet, Wingan Inlet and Mallacoota Inlet are all highly regarded and are a few of the more popular inlets along this stretch of coast. Although reasonably isolated, they can be popular in the summer months so make sure to check with Parks Victoria prior to arriving that the various camping grounds are not already full.

Also of note is Mallacoota, which is especially well known for producing monster flathead. Specimens of three kilograms and above are common. The Genoa and Wallagaraugh rivers above Mallacoota Inlet also provide excellent fishing for bream.