Fishing & Aquaculture

A Guide to the Inland Angling Waters of Victoria
River Basins Map | Angling Waters A-Z | Snowy River Basin

Angling Waters of the Snowy River Basin 22

B. A. Creek, Malinns H 11
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Tributary of the Brodribb River. A small freshwater creek containing both species of eels, river blackfish, tupong, brown trout, short-headed lamprey and Australian smelt.

Back Creek, Buchan C 8
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A small creek which joins the Murrindal River shortly upstream of the junction of that river with the Snowy River. Contains short-finned eels, brown trout to 350g, and rainbow trout to 200g. Possibly other fish species are also present in this creek.

Beadle Lake (see Beatle Lake) E 6

Beatle Lake, Orbost E 16
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10ha. Also called Beadle Lake.

Surrounded by forest, sand bottom. Access is from an unmarked track off the Corringle Beach Road. The lake is crystal clear and 4m deep and contains eels, flat-headed gudgeon and southern pygmy perch. Stocked with trout by the Department (1959-67) with very little success.

Bendoc River, Bendoc K 7
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Flows through forest, gravel substrate. Low flow makes much of the middle and upper reaches unsuitable for trout during the summer months. Lower reaches have been subject to some sedimentation. Contains brown trout to 680g, average size is much smaller, some redfin, abundant river blackfish to 150g, and short-finned eels. Trout spawning success varies from year to year but seems adequate for the current fishing pressure. Last stocked with trout by the Department in 1980.

Bonang River, Bonang I 8
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Flows through forest upstream with farmland downstream, rock, sand and mud substrate. Width to 5m with water depths average 30-100cm in different locations and pools to 150cm. Has narrow deep sections as well as wide, shallow, fast-flowing areas. Accessible at a number of places from the Bonang Highway.

No accommodation or camping ground in the area. A small stream that can be affected by low summer flow. Difficult to fish because of overhanging vegetation. Carries abundant brown trout, some to 700g, small rainbow trout, river blackfish to 350g, redfin, East Gippsland spiny crayfish and short-finned eels. Condition of fish varies from year to year. Considered a good trout stream. Last stocked with trout by the Department in 1980.

Brodribb River, Marlo G 14
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Upstream from Princes Highway G 14

Australian bass

Flows through partly cleared forest. Very wide (35m) in the lower reaches with a sand and gravel substrate. Extensive runs to 100cm deep and pools to 250cm. Generally stable banks with undisturbed native riparian vegetation and good habitat. Some erosion in the areas cleared for agriculture.

Accessible from the Bonang Highway and camping is possible in some areas along the river. Contains a very large number of fish species. Carries predominantly brown trout, av. 300g, max. 1.4kg, particularly in the Goongerah area, Australian grayling, river blackfish, tupong, long-finned eel, estuary perch,

Australian bass, pouched lamprey, short-headed lamprey, southern pygmy perch, flat-headed gudgeon, common galaxias, Australian smelt and goldfish. The trout are usually in good condition and the best fishing is usually in spring and autumn with live bait. This water is only lightly fished and could support heavier fishing pressure. Last stocked with trout by the Department in 1969.

Princes Highway to Lake Curlip G 15

Also called ‘the Cutthrough’. Poor habitat downstream of the Princess Highway with bank erosion and sedimentation. Brown trout, estuary perch, Australian bass and rainbow trout to 1.3kg often taken in the brackish water.

Downstream from Lake Curlip G 16

Estuary water providing good black bream fishing throughout the year. Mullet can be caught during the summer, with good catches at times of luderick, estuary perch, trevally, Australian salmon, mulloway, eels, dusky flathead and tailor.

Buchan River near its junction with the Snowy River

Buchan River, Buchan C 10
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Flows through forest in the upper reaches and cleared land near Buchan. In this locality, the river is 20m wide, with riffles to 60cm and pools to 200cm deep. Rubble, gravel and mud substrate. Low summer flow and water level. Carries abundant brown trout, mostly 220g, some to 700g, both species of eels, tupong, occasional river blackfish, short-headed lamprey, mountain galaxias, common galaxias, broad-finned galaxias, a healthy population of Australian grayling and some Australian bass in the lower reaches.

Best fishing is in the more remote areas reached by 4WD. Winter closures apply on most of these tracks. Last stocked with trout by the Department in 1978.

Butchers Creek, Butchers Ridge C 10
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Narrow creek flowing through forest, mostly mud substrate with some gravel patches. Carries abundant brown trout to 310g, (av. 170g) both species of eel to 750g, and broad-finned galaxias, Last stocked with trout by the Department in 1969.

Cabbage Tree Creek, Tabbara H 15
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Small clear stream, sand and silt substrate with extensive bank cover. Some sedimentation has occurred. Surveys in 1994 found only small numbers of fish. Contains both species of eel, Australian bass, river blackfish, tupong, southern pygmy perch and common galaxias.

Christmas Creek, Orbost F 16
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Not shown on the map. Lower section is brackish estuary with estuary perch, black bream and luderick.

Corringle Lake, Marlo F 16
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160ha. 1,480ML. A Game Reserve and more popular for duck hunting, during the prescribed season, than fishing.

Very shallow estuarine lake surrounded by cleared land. Accessible by boat from the Snowy River and by vehicle through private property. Most of the lake is too shallow for boating. Carries common galaxias, estuary perch, and short-finned eels in a freshwater inflowing creek. Also black bream, mullet, estuary perch, and luderick.

Craigie Bog Creek, Bendoc L 8
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Not shown on the map. A tributary on the east side of the Queensborough River. Contains brown trout to 350g, Australian grayling and reported to carry an occasional rainbow trout. Last stocked with trout by the Department in 1975.

Curlip Lake, Tabbara G 16
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160ha. A Game Reserve open to duck hunting during the prescribed season and best not fished at this time.

Shallow estuarine lake surrounded by cleared land, mud bottom. Vehicle access restricted by private property but there is boat access from the Brodribb River. Contains estuary perch, sea mullet, and, short-finned eel. Fish numbers and condition together with population composition can vary widely with the season.

Deddick River, Wulgulmerang F 6
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Flows through forest then farmland downstream, gravel bed with some sand. Channel 8-15m wide with runs 30-70cm deep and pools to 160cm. Carries some brown trout to 350g, but is a disappointing trout stream. Only lightly fished, mainly by local anglers. Also carries tupong, both species of eel, river blackfish, Australian smelt and common galaxias. Last stocked with trout by the Department in 1969.

	Delegate River

Delegate River, Delegate River J 8
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Flows through forest in Victoria and open grazing land in New South Wales, sand and silt substrate in some areas, otherwise gravel bed. Carries brown trout to 1.3kg, (av. 180g) and reported to carry some rainbow trout. Provides good angling and only lightly fished. Last stocked with trout by the Department in 1969.

Goongerah Creek, Goongerah I 9
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Tributary of the Brodribb River. A small creek accessible from the Bonang Highway. Carries tupong, small brown trout, both eel species and Australian smelt.

Little River, Wulgulmerang D 6
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A small river flowing through partly cleared forest and reaches the Snowy River via a massive and rugged gorge. Width is 2-8m, with runs 40-70cm deep and pools to 180cm. Substrate is rock, boulders and rubble. Low summer flow and water level. Access is limited and local knowledge is an advantage. Carries abundant brown trout to 700g, (av. 180g), river blackfish to 100g, short-finned eel and Australian smelt. Only lightly fished and sufficient spawning occurs in the stream to support the fishery. Last stocked with trout by the Department in 1983.

Murrindal River

Murrindal River, Buchan C 11
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Shallow river flowing through forest and cleared land, rock and gravel bed. Low flow and water levels in summer. Very limited vehicle access. Carries some brown trout, tupong, river blackfish, Australian grayling, short-finned eel, common galaxias and Australian smelt. Not a good angling water. Last stocked with trout by the Department in 1974.

Queensborough River, Bendoc L 8
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Rises in forested mountains and flows into the Bendoc River. Stream badly silted in some areas following forestry activities. Abundant brown trout, av. 140g, max. 700g, river blackfish, av. 80g, max. 400g, small redfin, and short-finned eels. The river blackfish population is considered one of the best in the area. Sufficient trout spawning occurs in the stream to maintain the fishery. Last stocked with trout by the Department in 1978.

Rich River, Orbost G 13
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Tributary of the Brodribb River, clear water with pools and riffles, rubble, bedrock, gravel and boulder substrate. Extensive overhanging bank cover. Accessible by 4WD track off the Bonang Highway. Contains river blackfish to 100g, brown trout to 300g, tupong, unidentified spiny crayfish species and short-finned eel.

Rocky River, Orbost H 14
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Tributary of the Brodribb River and similar to the Rich River (above). Contains river blackfish to 100g, tupong, unidentified spiny crayfish, both eel species, common galaxias, southern pygmy perch and reported to also contain some very small brown trout.

Rodger River E 10
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Tributary of the Snowy River. A relatively large river (8m wide) flowing in natural forest within the Snowy River National Park. Mostly gravel and rubble substrate with good instream cover. Extensive riffles 40cm deep with pools to 200cm. Accessible by vehicle only at one point near its junction with the Snowy River. Has not been fished extensively but surveys reveal abundant brown trout, both eel species, river blackfish, East Gippsland spiny crayfish and abundant mountain galaxias.

Serpentine Creek F 11
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Tributary of the Yalmy River flowing through forest. A small creek (6m wide) with a boulder and clay bed. Riffles 40cm deep with pools to 120cm. Carries both eel species, river blackfish, broad-finned galaxias and mountain galaxias.

Snowy River, Orbost D 11
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Snowy River

The river is about 160km long and all accept the lower 10km flows through mixed species forest. Most of the river is not accessible by conventional vehicle. There is no accommodation and very few camping sites along the Buchan/Gelantipy Road. Lightly fished because of its inaccessibility. There is spectacular scenery, with high bluffs and panoramic views and some tracks into the river. One of the largest wilderness areas in Victoria and with several areas classified as Natural Catchment Areas.

New South Wales border to McKillops Bridge E 6

Flows through forest in a broad valley flanked by high hills. Riparian vegetation of willows, wattles and pink bottlebrush. Predominantly sand substrate with some rock, rubble and gravel. River width varies from 30-40m. Mostly riffles and runs, average depth 60cm, with pools to 1-2m. Deeper pools over 3m and boulder and sand substrate at McKillops Bridge. Access by road to last few km near the NSW border and at McKillops Bridge.



Elsewhere access is difficult because of the distance of the river from the nearest road. Carries occasional brown trout, av. 350g, max. 1.6kg, some Australian bass, both eel species, short-headed lamprey, tupong, abundant Australian grayling, abundant Australian smelt, and common galaxias. Some rainbow trout to 350g reported to be present. Trout fishing is best in late summer and autumn and usually just upstream of the junction with the Deddick River.

Last stocked with trout by the Department in 1978.

McKillops Bridge to Buchan C 12

Flows through forest, with riparian vegetation of eucalypts, tea-trees and wattles. River width varies from 20-40m with all types of water (riffles, runs and pools). Substrate is predominantly sand upstream and rubble /sand downstream but there is also, bedrock, boulders and extensive areas of rubble. Some sections have water depths of 60-100cm while other sections have extensive pools over 300-400cm deep. The river is about 10km from the main road through the Snowy River National Park and is accessible only from tracks. Carries all species listed above as well as flat-headed gudgeon, southern-pygmy perch and spotted galaxias, near Bruthen.

Australian bass

Buchan to Orbost E 15

The river flows for 20 km through forest and then into open flat farmland near Orbost. It is now up to 43m wide with a sand substrate. Riparian vegetation is grass, red gums, wattles and willow on a steep bank. Water is mostly runs (30-100cm deep) and some pools to 3m. Species taken in surveys are Australian bass, Australian grayling, estuary perch, tupong, short-finned eel, common galaxias and southern pigmy perch.

Downstream of Orbost

	Snowy River

The river flows through a flat flood plain with occasional large eucalypts along the banks. There is an extensive section of sand sedimentation just downstream from the Princess Highway resulting in fast flowing water up to 100cm deep and a moving sand bed. This sand bar has moved progressively downstream into the top of the estuary.

The lower reaches provide good fishing for estuary perch, black bream, flounder and yellow-eye mullet and sea mullet during the summer. Other species commonly taken are Australian bass, trevally, luderick, tupong, tailor, both eel species, Australian salmon and mulloway in some years.

There are camping grounds at Orbost and Marlo and boat ramps at Marlo and the other end of Old Marlo Road into the lower Brodribb River. Lake Coringle, the lower Snowy River and the estuary downstream are all accessible by boat. The lower river and estuary, in the Marlo area, are usually very productive and is best fished by boat. The local DPI office has published a good fishing guide to this area.

Research:
Research aims at rejuvenating Australian Bass populations in the Snowy River (PDF 58kb)
Estuary perch movement and habitat use in the Snowy River (PDF 151kb)

Suggan Buggan River, Suggan Buggan D 4
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Flows through forest, rubble bottom. Good native riparian vegetation and instream habitat. Width varies from 3m upstream to 10m in its lower reaches. Runs and riffles 30-50cm deep with pools to 200cm deep. Access is limited and difficult due to the terrain. Carries occasional brown trout to 900g, river blackfish, tupong, abundant Australian grayling at times, mountain galaxias, common galaxias, Australian smelt and flat-headed gudgeon. An important spawning area for Australian grayling. Only lightly fished.

Wulgulmerang Creek, Wulgulmerang C 6
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Small fast-flowing stream in forested country, rock bottom. Carries some small brown trout. Inaccessible and lightly fished.

Yalmy River E 11
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Tributary of the Rodger River. A 10m wide river flowing through forest. Predominantly riffles and runs to 80cm deep, large gravel substrate. Limited access. Carries a good population of small river blackfish, mountain galaxias and both eel species.

Australian Bass
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Australian bass

Australian bass are found in coastal rivers in eastern Australia from southern Queensland to the Gippsland Lakes. Wilsons Promontory is considered to be the southern extremity of their natural range. Populations tend to be small in number in Gippsland. Australian bass have been located by departmental surveys in at least 21 rivers. Surveys from 1975-80 and in 1993/94 revealed some information on Australian bass but much is yet unknown. Adult Australian bass 55cm in length and 14years old have been captured in Gippsland. They live in fresh or slightly brackish water and enter more saline water (salinities 13,000-23,000EC) during June to early December to spawn on submerged aquatic plants, reefs and sand bars. Stomachs of Australian bass taken in Gippsland were found to contain mostly (80-98%) shrimp and prawns, with fish remains (2-11%) and also various quantities of aquatic insects. Surveys caught most Australian bass in areas of boulder and gravel pools.

The species is readily caught with hook and line or by lures but the resource is probably under-utilized at present. Stocking of the species in inland lakes elsewhere, such as Lake Glenmaggie and Blue Rock Reservoir, may result in more interest in angling for this species. There is a minimum legal length of 25cm and a daily bag/possession limit of two fish in all Victorian waters, other than Lake Bullen Merri where there is a bag/possession limit of 5 bass per day. This more liberal bag/possession limit only applies to Lake Bullen Merri because it is a stocked population of no conservation value, unlike wild bass populations in Gippsland rivers.

© The State of Victoria