Fishing Lake Tyers
General fishing in Lake Tyers is characterized by its pristine labyrinth of forested arms and shallow sand flats. Because the system is often closed, the water retains high nutrient levels which support an incredible baitfish population. The dynamic mix of deep timbered drop-offs and vast shallow basins creates an absolute paradise for lure and bait anglers alike.
Land-based anglers can easily access numerous vantage points, sandy beaches, and fishing platforms around the lower lake basins. The town beaches and foreshore reserves like Fishermans Landing offer fantastic shore-based opportunities to target cruising bream. Surf fishers can also walk across the sandbar to access deep oceanic gutters teeming with aggressive salmon and tailor.
Offshore and boat fishing inside this closed estuarine system focuses heavily on exploring the vast network of sheltered, timber-lined river arms. Drifting the shallow sand flats near the entrance is a legendary local tactic for sight-casting to trophy flathead. Navigating this waterway is generally safe, though boaters must keep a careful watch for submerged timber and shallow mud banks.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- Mill Point: Mill Point provides a fantastic rocky shoreline for land-based anglers wanting to cast soft plastics into deeper water. Fishing this point during an overcast day with a light breeze offers the best conditions for aggressive flathead. A medium-light spin outfit rigged with a quarter-ounce jighead and a four-inch plastic is highly effective here.
- Lake Tyers Surf Beach: Lake Tyers Surf Beach is a premier shore-based destination for casting metal lures at large schools of Australian salmon. You will find the most success fishing the deep gutters during the last two hours of the incoming tide. A long surf casting rod paired with a heavy metal slug retrieved at high speed will guarantee explosive strikes.
- Fishermans Landing: Fishermans Landing offers excellent bank access and a small jetty perfectly suited for targeting quality black bream. Fishing during the low light hours of dawn on a rising tide brings the fish right to the edges. Using a light running sinker rig baited with live local shrimp on a size four hook is a proven technique.
- The Glasshouse Sand Flats: The Glasshouse Sand Flats provide expansive shallow water where shore-based anglers can comfortably wade and sight-cast to flathead. Wading on a warm afternoon during the run-out tide pushes the fish into the slightly deeper channels. Casting shallow diving hardbody lures or lightly weighted soft plastics on finesse tackle will result in constant action.
- Nowa Nowa Boardwalk: Nowa Nowa Boardwalk sits in the upper reaches of the system offering elevated land-based access to heavy timber structures. Anglers should fish this heavily structured area during a neap tide when the water is clear and calm. Dropping lightly weighted crab imitation plastics vertically down the pylons on light fluorocarbon leader will tempt the smartest bream.
Offshore
- Lake Tyers Lower Basin: Lake Tyers is primarily a closed estuarine system so boaters treat the expansive lower lake basins as their main open water. Drifting across the massive sand flats in the lower lake during a warm summer day is a legendary flathead tactic. A steady drift using a drogue while casting paddle tail plastics ahead of the boat will locate the largest fish.
- Toorloo Arm: Toorloo Arm features deep forested edges and submerged timber that boat anglers target for trophy estuary perch. You should slowly navigate this arm using an electric motor during the early morning hours to avoid spooking fish. Pitching weedless rigged soft plastics tightly into the submerged branches on medium tackle is essential to pull fish from cover.
- Blackfellows Arm: Blackfellows Arm offers a secluded and heavily structured boating environment where large black bream seek refuge. Fishing this area on a high tide allows you to cast right up into the flooded marginal vegetation. Suspending hardbody lures twitched slowly with long pauses will trigger aggressive strikes from territorial bream.
- The Artificial Reefs: The Artificial Reefs in the lower lake provide concentrated fish holding structures that boaters can easily locate on their sounders. Anchoring slightly away from the reef modules on a slack tide allows you to present baits naturally. Dropping unweighted local prawns or live bass yabbies directly onto the structure will produce massive silver trevally and pinkie snapper.
- Cherry Tree Creek: Cherry Tree Creek is a shallow feeder arm requiring a stealthy kayak or small punt to successfully navigate and fish. Exploring this creek after a period of heavy rainfall provides incredible action as nutrients wash into the system. Casting small surface walkers or poppers during the late afternoon will elicit spectacular topwater strikes from eager bream.
Hot Spots
- Crystal Bay Drop-Off: Crystal Bay Drop-Off is a steep underwater ledge where massive flathead lie in wait to ambush passing baitfish schools.
- Long Point Weed Beds: Long Point Weed Beds offer a dense submerged habitat perfectly suited for slow rolling soft plastics to catch large tailor.
- Burnt Bridge Pylons: Burnt Bridge Pylons provide incredible vertical structure where giant black bream actively feed on encrusted barnacles and mussels.
- Trident Arm Snags: Trident Arm Snags feature dense submerged timber that provides exceptional cover for wary estuary perch.
- Devils Hole: Devils Hole is a deep estuarine basin that concentrates schooling silver trevally during the colder winter months.
Local Bait Tips
- Estuary Prawns: Prawns occasionally flood the lake system and can be gathered using a hand-held dip net during dark moonless nights. You must adhere to Victorian regulations that strictly forbid the use of cast nets for prawn collection in any waterway.
- Bass Yabbies: Bass yabbies are highly sought after and can be hand-pumped from the exposed mudflats near the lake entrance at low tide. This manual harvesting technique perfectly complies with VFA rules that ban cast netting and enforce strict daily bag limits.
- Sand Crabs: Sand crabs can be easily caught by hand amongst the shallow weed beds while wading during a run-out tide. You must manually collect these crabs ensuring you respect all Victorian rules including the absolute ban on cast nets.
Boat Ramps
- Nowa Nowa Boat Ramp:
Nowa Nowa Boat Ramp: Located on the southern edge of the Nowa Nowa township adjacent to Lake Tyers and the lower reaches of Boggy Creek, this concrete ramp provides access to the Nowa Nowa Arm. Its specific lane configuration is not detailed. Staging is supported by a floating landing pontoon installed in 2022 to replace a deteriorated timber jetty. Due to the periodic closure of the Lake Tyers ocean entrance, the foreshore experiences prolonged water backups and severe inundation, and boaters must observe SP Ausnet overhead power lines which have a vertical clearance limit of 19.9 metres above Australian Height Datum.
- Lake Tyers Boat Ramp No. 2:
Lake Tyers Boat Ramp No. 2: Located near Lake Tyers Beach, this facility launches into Lake Tyers. It is a dual-lane prefabricated concrete ramp designed with a slanting herringbone pattern to provide traction and wash away debris. Staging is supported by dual parallel floating pontoons and articulated walkways. The facility experiences extreme water level fluctuations depending on whether the estuary entrance is open or closed, but the walkways are raised above normal flood levels to maintain dry pedestrian access.
- Fishermans Landing Boat Ramp:
Fishermans Landing Boat Ramp: Located off Fishermans Landing Road, this concrete ramp launches into the Fishermans Landing Arm of Lake Tyers, with an unspecified lane configuration. Staging is supported by a T-shaped floating landing platform and jetty with a hinged walkway designed to adjust to fluctuating water levels. The ramp is subject to closed-estuary flooding and is restricted by overhead power lines spanning the arm with a clearance of 19.2 metres above Australian Height Datum.
- Lake Tyers Lakeside Drive Boat Ramp:
Lake Tyers Lakeside Drive Boat Ramp: Located along Lakeside Drive in Lake Tyers, this facility provides estuary access via a single-lane concrete ramp. No staging jetty or pontoon is specified in official sources. Boating operations are tide dependent and the ramp is noted as being shallow at times.
- Lake Tyers Mill Point Launching Area:
Lake Tyers Mill Point Launching Area: Situated on Mill Point Road at the Lake Tyers Recreation Reserve near Lake Tyers Beach, this facility provides access to the Toorloo Arm of Lake Tyers. It consists of a basic dirt and gravel beach launching area with an unspecified lane configuration. Staging infrastructure is absent, with no jetty or pontoon available. Boaters face fluctuating water levels based on estuary closures, limited parking for cars and trailers, and a complete lack of public amenities at the ramp.
Bait and Tackle
- LAKES ENTRANCE TACKLE WORLD & OUTDOORS: 545 Esplanade, Lakes Entrance VIC 3909 | Phone: (03) 5155 1744
- EAST END BAIT TACKLE: 577 The Esplanade, Lakes Entrance VIC 3909 | Phone: (03) 5155 1593
Basecamp & Accom
- Lake Tyers Camp and Caravan Park | 1 Tyers Street, Lake Tyers Beach VIC 3909 | 03 5156 5530
- The Waterwheel Beach Tavern and Accommodation | 577 Lake Tyers Beach Road, Lake Tyers Beach VIC 3909 | 03 5156 5855
- Lake Tyers Holiday Units | 15 Lake Tyers Beach Road, Lake Tyers Beach VIC 3909 | 03 5156 5501
Emergency & Safety
- Emergency: 000 | Lakes Entrance Coast Guard, Bullock Island, Lakes Entrance VIC 3909, VHF Channel 16
