The Barwon River flows for 160km from the Otway and Brisbane Ranges, through Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula, entering the sea at Barwon Heads.

It is part of the Murray–Darling basin and is considered to be a perennial river, but in December 2018 it ceased flowing at Walgett, being reduced to a series of pools.

There are 36 tributaries, making it a significant coastal river system in Victoria.

Much of the river runs through muddy substrates, so it is quite turbid, and also quite saline.

The freshwater section of the Barwon contains mainly redfin, carp, trout, eels and tench. There are also native fish such as Australian grayling, river blackfish, smelt, galaxias, congoli, gudgeon, lamprey, hardyhead and pigmy perch.

The river downstream of Buckleys Falls fishes well for freshwater fish such as redfin, carp, eels and brown trout.

The three associated lakes Modewarre, Murdeduke and Wendouree are stocked with brown and rainbow trout when water levels are suitable.

Carp are easily caught on baits of worms, dough or even bread, and berley works well in bringing them around. Warm weather is best.

The estuarine section of the Barwon River at Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads produce plenty of whiting, flathead, bream, yelloweye mullet and salmon.

Mulloway and snapper are caught at times in the lower river. Fish at night for best results.

Estuary perch are a highlight of the Barwon River and respond well to small lures on ultralight tackle.

Barwon River fishing areas

Forrest to Birregurra – a 32km section of river with a channel averaging 5-9m in width and with pools to 220cm deep. Forrest and Birregurra have fishable areas with brown trout, redfin, river blackfish and eels.

Birregurra to Winchelsea – a 25km section of river flowing through farmland with an average width of 10-12m and pools to 150-230cm deep. Redfin, brown trout, eels and river blackfish can be caught. Access is difficult because of private property and dense vegetation.

Winchelsea to the Weir upstream of Buckleys Falls – this 35km section of river has good pools between Winchelsea and Inverleigh and between Ceres and the Weir. The width varies from 17-25m, with pools to 470cm deep. This stretch contains tench, eels, redfin, blackfish and brown trout.

Between the Weir and Buckleys Falls – this short 400m stretch of river is a deep pool surrounded by parkland. It has many eels, and a few brown trout and redfin.

Buckleys Falls to the lower breakwater 1.5km upstream of Lake Connewarre – this 18km section is up to 60m wide with pools 4-6m deep. There is good access via Queens Park in Geelong. Rushes along the banks restrict access but boardwalks through Geelong section allow fishing. Carp, eels, redfin, brown trout, tench and congoli are caught.

Lower Barwon downstream of Lake Connewarre – these are estuarine waters about 50m wide and 3-4m deep. This stretch is 10km. It shallows out to 1-2m at Barwon Heads. There is good bank and boat fishing. Expect salmon, sand mullet, yelloweye mullet, flathead, silver trevally, black bream and king george whiting. Fish an incoming tide in the early morning for best results.

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Hopkins River is one of the more popular fishing waterways in Victoria, located at Warrnambool in the state’s southwest.

The tidal river extends from a sea entrance at Point Ritchie to Tooram Stones at Allansford, a distance of about 9km.

The main species caught in the estuarine reach are black bream, estuary perch, yelloweye mullet, juvenile salmon and eels.

Mulloway, whiting and flathead also show up.

In the freshwater upstream, trout, perch, tupong and redfin are caught.

The Hopkins River mouth is intermittently open.

When it is open an incoming tide usually fishes well, and in the days after a sea opening bream fishing is almost always good in the section below the Hopkins River bridge.

Like elsewhere, black bream fishing is best around natural and manmade structure such as jetties and rock walls, and along drop-offs of channels.

The river usually floods in winter and spring and has only slight flows in summer and autumn.

Bream are caught all year, day and night.

During rain events bream move into the lower reaches, usually from July-September.

In the breeding season, big bream move upstream in schools.

Estuary perch can be found near the same structure that bream like, and in deep holes during the day.

Estuary perch can be caught all year, but are best in summer.

Estuary perch are best targeted at night.

Mulloway are best between spring and autumn. Fish at night on the big tides of the new and full moon, concentrating on the tidal turn, and always fishing with livebait or lures.

Salmon are caught all year, but rain pushes them down and out of the river.

Yelloweye mullet enter the river in large schools. They are caught in the river all year but are best from local beaches in autumn.

Hopkins River fishing spots

1. The Blue Hole is on the east side of the river at the end of Blue Hole Road. It is fished from land or boat. The area has flats, weedbeds and a drop-off. Most species are caught here.
Try wading and casting. The Danger Board is opposite on the western bank and accessible from the Point Ritchie Road carpark. Boat access is restricted by high water levels which can prevent passage beneath the road bridge. The entrance is shallow and dangerous and boat passage to the ocean should not be attempted.

2. The Hopkins road bridge has lots of space for shore based fishing from both sides. Casting underneath the bridge will find bream and estuary perch. Mullet and salmon pass through. Downstream of the bridge there are flats on the east side where flathead and whiting can be caught.

3. Lyndoch has shore fishing with a footpath running upstream from the bridge on the west bank. A floating platform allows fishos to cast past weedbeds for bream and estuary perch.
Further upstream is a concrete wall that can be fished.

4. Proudfoots has shore fishing. Just downstream of Proudfoots is a fishing platform where bream, estuary perch, mullet and salmon can be caught. Just upstream is a floating jetty that has the same species.

5. The Ski Club has shore fishing from a jetty, with a beach upstream. Busy in summer with skiers.

6. Mudflats has boat fishing for bream and estuary perch, best when the sea entrance mouth is closed and the river level is high. Fish the edges of the mudflats. There are shallow reefs here and there are channel markers.

7. Old Pumping Station has boat fishing in a 5m hole. Bream, mulloway and estuary perch are caught. In summer it is busy with skiers.

8. Hulls Reef is shallow and marked with channel markers. Bream and estuary perch are caught here by boat.

9. Mahoneys Road is a shore and boat fishing spot, the road runs from the Princes Highway. Bank fishing and wading can be done here in mornings and evenings.

10. Deakin University has shore and boat fishing, with a jetty at Deakin University. Reach it via Warrnambool Institute Road. The shore can be fished for 200m upstream. Expect bream, flathead and estuary perch around the weedbeds. Wading and using artificial lures and flies is recommended. Cliffs along on the opposite bank are a good location for boat fishing, with occasional mulloway.

11. Bay of Biscay/Kings Head are popular with boaters. There are drop-offs, rock walls and reefs on the southern side. The north bank is shallower with weedbeds and reefs. mulloway are caught in the deeper channel, with bream, flathead and estuary perch elsewhere.

12. Rowans Lane has limited access but bream and estuary perch can be caught near the weedbeds here.

13. Rowans Flat is a boating spot with mudflats and shallow weedbeds. Expect bream and estuary perch during high river levels.

14. Kinnears/Shipley is a boat access where the river reaches 8m deep. There is a shallow reef on the east bank which has bream, estuary perch and mulloway. Upstream on the north bank at Shipley are steep rocky banks which have bream.

15. Hens & Chickens is a boating spot for bream and estuary perch. The depth varies between 4m and 8m. reefs and drop offs. Further upstream is an 8m hole just off Wilsons Bank which often has mulloway.

16. The Islands is a shore and boat fishing spot. There are flats around the islands, with bream, yelloweye mullet and estuary perch. Snags on the south bank and reef provide further fishable grounds. Shore fishing is via Kinnears Road, which runs off Hopkins Point Road on the southern side of the river.

17. Jubilee Park is a shore and boat fishing spot. Jubilee Park Caravan Park and Allansford Angling Club are here. Good land-based fishing can be had from the wall and floating fishing platforms. An 11m hole in front of the jetties often has mulloway.

18. The Pass is a shore spot. Signage warns boaters of submerged rocks, with shallow reefs running across the river. Bream are best here at dawn and dusk. Access is via Kinnear Road on the south bank or from Jubilee Park on the north side.

19. Breakfast Rock/Sandy Point/Tooram Stones is a boating spot with drop-offs in front of Breakfast Rock and Sandy Point. Expect bream and estuary perch. Just upstream is Tooram Stones which marks the end of navigable water, with a rockbar across the river. Just below the rocks is an 8m hole. Fishing The Stones produce estuary perch and bream. The mudflats in front of Lake Gillear drain produce bream, mullet and estuary perch. mulloway are caught in the holes.

20. Smith Lane is a shore spot that runs off Jubilee Park Road. A 40m length of bank produces eels, estuary perch, bream and occasional brown trout. Canoes can be launched here.

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Lorne is one of the most popular holiday fishing destinations on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road.

The road runs for 240km from Torquay to Warnambool and encompasses some of Victoria’s most spectacular coastline, including some great fishing spots.

Lorne Pier is a renowned fishing spot. It is quite a large pier but becomes busy during holiday periods.

Non-stop salmon fishing can be had at times in winter, and snapper, silver trevally, king george whiting, pike (snook), barracouta, yakkas, flathead, squid, kingfish, leatherjackets, rays and sharks are all caught.

Snapper are best from roughly October to March.

Squid are best during clearest water periods, especially at dusk, dawn and night, but they can be caught all year.

Most squid are caught from the shallows around the weedbeds, using jigs.

As with all piers, look for squid stains to note where they are being caught.

Gummy sharks are best at night.

Lorne’s Jump Rock is a good landbased spot, located just before Stony Creek, with salmon, whiting and snapper.

There is a fishable rock ledge that begins at the main road opposite Albert St.

Lorne boat ramp is difficult or even dangerous in a swell, which often comes in the afternoons.

Offshore game fishing can be very good, with blue, mako and thresher sharks, bluefin and yellowfin tuna and albacore.

A special feature of this area is a consistent run of big southern bluefin tuna from about March to August, along with the albacore.

The tuna are generally caught by fast-trolling skirted lures.

Lorne is busy during holiday periods, so book your accommodation advance.

There are several other great fishing communities along Victoria’s south-eastern coastline, but safe sea access points for boating are few and far between. One of the best access points, located 45km south-east of Lorne, is Apollo Bay.

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