Fishing in Mallacoota
One of Victoria's best fisheries, and barely a soul on it most of the year. A local guide to the inlet, the beaches and the blue water.
Mallacoota fishing is the reason plenty of our guests come back every year. The inlet is a huge, sheltered estuary system that fishes year round, the beaches produce salmon and gummies through the cooler months, and when the bar behaves there is serious offshore country within reach. You do not need a boat, you do not need to travel far, and outside the holidays you will often have a spot to yourself.
Where to Fish
Mallacoota Inlet
The main event. Over 300 km of sheltered waterway where the Genoa and Wallagaraugh rivers meet the sea. Flathead, bream, estuary perch, tailor and luderick, all fishable from a small boat or the banks. The top and bottom lakes fish differently, so ask at the wharf what has been working.
The Main Wharf
A two-minute walk from the motel and the easiest fishing in town. Drop a line for bream, mullet, flathead and the odd trevally. Good for kids, and it fishes well into the evening.
Betka Beach and the Surf
Salmon, tailor and gummy sharks off the sand, best around dawn, dusk and a rising tide. Betka River mouth is a reliable spot when it is open to the sea.
Bastion Point
The rock platforms and the surf either side produce salmon, drummer and snapper in the right conditions. Watch the swell and never turn your back on the water.
Offshore
Out past the bar the grounds hold snapper, morwong, flathead and kingfish in season, with Gabo Island in reach on a good day. Unless you know the bar, go with a charter.
Boats, Hire and Charters
Mallacoota Fishing Charters (opens in new tab)
The local offshore operation. They know the bar, the grounds and where the fish are holding, which is worth more than any sounder. The way to fish the blue water here if you do not have your own serious boat.
Mallacoota Hire Boats (opens in new tab) and Bucklands Jetty Boat Hire (opens in new tab)
Tinnies and runabouts for the inlet, no boat licence required. The easiest way to get at the flathead flats and the quieter arms of the lakes.
Barbie Boats (opens in new tab)
Self-drive BBQ pontoon boats. More a cruise than a serious fish, but a great day on the water with a family, and you can still troll a lure.
When to Come and What to Bring
Summer (Dec to Feb)
Flathead on the flats, whiting, and kingfish offshore. The town is busy, so book your room and your boat early.
Autumn (Mar to May)
The quiet achiever. Bream fire up, the crowds go home, and the weather is often the most settled of the year.
Winter (Jun to Aug)
Salmon and tailor off the beaches, luderick around the structure, and you will have the wharf to yourself.
Spring (Sep to Nov)
The estuary wakes up. Perch and bream up the rivers, flathead moving back onto the flats, snapper offshore.
Bait and tackle
Grab bait, tackle and honest advice in town. Live bait from the wharf pontoons if you are keen.
Licence
Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence, bought online in minutes. Kids under 18 and seniors over 70 are exempt.
Mallacoota Fishing FAQs
Do I need a fishing licence in Mallacoota?
Yes, in most cases. Mallacoota is in Victoria, so a Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence applies unless you are exempt (under 18, over 70, or holding certain concession cards). Buy one online through the Victorian Fisheries Authority before you wet a line. Note the inlet crosses into NSW waters upriver, and NSW has its own licence.
Where can I fish without a boat in Mallacoota?
The main wharf, the inlet foreshore, Betka Beach, the Betka River mouth and the rocks at Bastion Point are all productive land-based spots, and all are within a few minutes of town.
Can I hire a boat in Mallacoota?
Yes. Mallacoota Hire Boats and Bucklands Jetty Boat Hire both rent boats for the inlet, and no boat licence is needed for the standard hire boats. Barbie Boats rents self-drive BBQ pontoon boats for a slower day on the water.
Are there fishing charters in Mallacoota?
Yes. Mallacoota Fishing Charters runs offshore trips out over the bar for snapper, morwong and kingfish, with local knowledge of the grounds and Gabo Island waters.
What fish can you catch in Mallacoota?
In the inlet: dusky flathead, black bream, estuary perch, tailor, luderick and mullet. Off the beaches: Australian salmon, tailor and gummy shark. Offshore: snapper, morwong, flathead, and kingfish in the warmer months.
Stay Two Minutes From the Wharf
Silver Bream Motel is named after the local catch for a reason. Walk to the wharf with your rod, clean your fish at the cleaning tables, and be back at your room before the barbecue heats up. See our Mallacoota accommodation or check things to do in Mallacoota for the rest of the trip.
Ready to Book?
Book directly with us for the best rates. No booking fees, no middlemen, no hassle.