McLoughlins Beach is a popular destination for Melbourne fishos as it has a long jetty that produces most species, with estuary and offshore grounds for boaters, and surf fishing on the nearby Ninety Mile Beach.

The jetty and inlet produce squid, bream, estuary perch, luderick, whiting, KG whiting, trevally, mullet, salmon and flathead.

Snapper are caught by boat in the deeper inlet entrance.

Big flathead are on the local flats and channel edges in summer.

Expect strong currents in the channels, especially at the entrance.

Local facilities include a boat ramp, jetty and a footbridge that gives access to Ninety Mile Beach, where snapper, mulloway, shark, salmon and tailor are caught.

Reeves Beach is the southernmost section of Ninety Mile Beach accessible by road, via Reeves Beach Road. There is a camping area behind the beach.

A 4WD track runs at the back of the dunes, joining the foot track from McLoughlins Beach.

McLoughlins Beach itself has a picnic shelter, playground and toilets.

The South Gippsland region offers some of Victoria’s best fishing, especially for larger snapper, whiting, flathead, kingfish and gummy sharks.

The area that makes it great is vast Corner Inlet north of Wilsons Promontory, which extends east to McLoughlins Beach.

McLoughlins is reached from Yarram on the South Gippsland Highway.

The jetty near the McLoughlins boat ramp is a great spot for those without a boat, and those who make the 3km walk to the sea entrance will find superb surf fishing, with the
chance of snapper or large salmon.

The inlet has big flathead, spotted whiting, garfish, mullet and flounder.

Yabbies can be pumped on the flats and beach worms can be caught in the surf.

Fishing is best in summer, with mainly trevally, salmon and tailor in winter.

Nearby Robertsons Beach has good landbased fishing on the Tarra River channel at low tide, with big flathead and spotted whiting, and mulloway at night.

Here is a list of recommended tackle for Victorian waters.

Book your fishing stay early at Booking.com

McLoughlins Beach weather and tides
McLoughlins Beach coastline
VIC fishing regulations
VIC marine parks
Return to the VIC fishing map

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Lake Maraboon, or Fairbairn Dam, is on the Nogoa River, 20km east of Emerald.

The lake was formed in 1972, with a vast area when full of nearly 8000ha, but with only an average depth of 9m.

There are considerable irrigation demands on the water, which has reduced levels to almost empty during drought.

The dam has barramundi, Murray cod, saratoga, silver perch, eels, yellowbelly, eel-tail catfish, leathery grunter, redclaw, sleepy cod and spangled perch.

Redclaw crayfish are a hugely popular catch.

Yellowbelly tend to inhabit the upper reaches of the lake.

Silver perch and cod are usually hard to find, and not enough barramundi have been released to build useful fishing densities.

There is a better chance of catching barramundi and other fish in the town weir section below the dam.

Saratoga are also caught in the lake, but redclaw are likely to remain the main attraction for Fairbairn fishermen for some time.

Best fishing is usually in the Nogoa River and Sheep Station Creek arms, where there are ample weedbeds, timber and channels.

Lake Maraboon Holiday Park and boat ramp is near the dam wall, this is the only public launch site.

Queensland dam water levels
Queensland stocked impoundment permits

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