Fishing conditions across East Gippsland have remained productive over the past week, with anglers reporting a steady mix of saltwater and freshwater species being landed across the region.
Lakes Entrance: Lakes Entrance continues to fire, with gummy sharks being taken from the beach on pilchards, while bronzies have been falling to fresh slimy bait. Snapper are responding to squid strips, and salmon are being caught on poppers, with flathead abundant throughout the lake system. Swordfish are also being reported offshore, while the lake system itself is producing good-sized flathead and bream, particularly over sandy flats. There are still occasional reports of mulloway being taken.
Lake Tyers: Prawns remain in the system but are becoming harder to find. Around Camerons Arm, anglers are picking up bream and tailor along weed edges and drop-offs. The nearby surf beaches are producing snapper, particularly during tide changes and low-light periods.
Metung: Tailor are active and taking metal slugs and soft plastics worked at speed. Bream are also being caught in good numbers around jetties and structure, especially on lightly presented bait or during night sessions.
Mitchell River: The area around the Old Butter Factory has produced the odd mullet and bream, with anglers finding success using vibes worked slowly along the bottom during calmer conditions.
Tambo River: Bream are fishing well around The Cliffs, while Johnsonville is also producing consistent results. Fresh prawn has been the standout bait, particularly in the clearer water.
Nicholson River: Bream are being found from the highway bridge down to the river mouth, with fresh prawn continuing to prove effective.
Paynesville / Hollands Landing: Flathead are being caught consistently on soft plastics and lures over sandy flats and drop-offs.
Nearby surf beaches are also producing good runs of Australian salmon on squid and natural baits.
Marlo: Bream are active throughout the system, with Frenches Narrows fishing well on sandworm. Estuary flats are producing flathead and King George whiting, while the Yeerung River is also turning up quality bream in calmer conditions.
Bemm River: Flathead are actively chasing hardbody lures in the lake, while bream are also present and responding to both plastics and hardbodies around structure and drop-offs.
Mallacoota: Flathead are feeding strongly on soft plastics and diving lures throughout the inlet, while bream are being taken around snags and jetties on fresh prawn.
High Country: Trout are increasingly feeding on insects as crickets and grasshoppers become more active. Anglers are advised to match the hatch along grassy banks and fish quietly, with trout often cruising close to the edge waiting for food to drop.
