Despite the winter chill settling into the region, local waterways remain highly productive, with plenty of quality fish landed across East Gippsland’s premier angling spots.
Lakes Entrance: Good-sized flathead are holding along the sandy banks, actively chasing soft plastics. Excellent salmon are being landed off Eastern Beach on hard-body lures, while luderick are favouring the weed beds around Flannagans Island. A few prawns remain in the system, but fishers will need to act quickly before they clear out completely.
Lake Tyers: Big black bream are smashing dark-coloured plastics and hard-body lures. Large flathead are also widespread throughout the lake system, showing a distinct preference for hard-bodies and soft plastics. Head down to the surf beach for reliable salmon action.
Mitchell River: Mulloway are on the move between Shadoof Lodge and the Dog Hole, responding well to vibes and hard-body lures. Bream are biting from the Grassy Banks down to the Two Bells on local prawn and live sandworm, with the odd flathead also in the mix.
Tambo River: Bream are schooling heavily around the mouth of the river. Cut crab, live sandworm, and local prawn are the standout baits for those targeting the schools.
Nicholson: Decent flathead are biting on soft plastics and blue bait around both the Highway and Railway bridges. Bream can be found from the Swimming Hole up to the Car Bodies on live sandworm and local prawn, while a few rogue mulloway are also being encountered.
Metung: Steady catches of bream are coming from slow-moving patches of water, with drifting soft plastics or small hard-body crankbaits cast around structure delivering results. The odd whiting is also being pulled from the Drop Off at Nungurner on pipis and live sandworm.
Paynesville / Hollands Landing: Bream are biting around the Paynesville boat ramps and jetties on mussel, local prawn, and sandworm, while Newlands Arm is also producing fish around structure on sandworm and shrimp. Alternatively, try the mouth of Tom’s Creek for bream or cast lures into The Straits for a chance at a mulloway.
Marlo: As water temperatures cool, salmon numbers are peaking along Ninety Mile Beach. Metal spoons and pilchards are delivering the best results, particularly during the early morning and late afternoon bites.
Bemm River: The entrance remains open. Soft plastics are currently the preferred choice for bream, while flathead are being caught throughout the inlet and channel on lures and plastics. Over on the surf beach, salmon are chasing poppers and blue bait.
Mallacoota: Big kingfish are still roaming the system, actively chasing yakkas and squid. Target the shallow edges for flathead and pinkie snapper, or head into deeper water for quality gummy sharks using fresh, oily baits. Squid remain plentiful throughout the area.
