Fishing Paynesville
General fishing in Paynesville benefits immensely from the convergence of multiple lake systems which creates an incredibly nutrient-rich environment. The dynamic tidal flows pushing through the straits constantly circulate baitfish across the shallow weed beds. These prime estuarine conditions support a massive variety of target species from trophy flathead to schooling pinkie snapper.
Land-based anglers are heavily catered for with numerous town jetties, rock walls, and the accessible foreshores of Raymond Island. Fishing the Progress Jetty yields massive black bream and silver trevally for those using delicate finesse techniques. The shallow sandy beaches also provide fantastic shore-based opportunities to target cruising flathead and whiting right off the bank.
Offshore and boat fishing enthusiasts use Paynesville as a strategic launching pad to explore the vast sheltered waters of the surrounding lakes. Drifting the expansive sand flats or anchoring in the deep channels of McMillan Strait are highly proven local tactics. Navigating this system is generally very safe, making it an ideal destination for family boating and targeting estuarine predators.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- Progress Jetty: Progress Jetty provides premium shore-based access right in the centre of town for catching massive black bream. Fishing these pylons during a rising tide with a light fluorocarbon leader is the key to deceiving wary fish. Dropping lightly weighted crab imitations or unweighted local prawns vertically down the structure yields the best results.
- Raymond Island Ferry Ramp: Raymond Island Ferry Ramp is a phenomenal land-based location for anglers casting lures into the deep channel current. You should target the tide change on a calm morning to encounter the largest schools of tailor and trevally. A medium spin rod paired with a fast retrieved metal slug is highly effective for these aggressive pelagics.
- Sunset Drive Foreshore: Sunset Drive Foreshore offers a fantastic stretch of accessible bank for land-based fishers wanting to target flathead and bream. Fishing the run-out tide when the water drains from the shallows provides the optimal bite window. A simple running sinker rig baited with fresh sandworm will keep you constantly hooked up.
- Eagle Point Bay: Eagle Point Bay is an iconic local shallow flat where families can easily wade and wet a line for whiting. Fishing the sandy patches on a high tide brings the fish right into casting range. Using a light spinning setup with a running sinker and fresh pipis is a guaranteed way to catch dinner.
- Newlands Arm Boardwalk: Newlands Arm Boardwalk provides fantastic deep water access for shore-based anglers hoping to intercept passing estuary perch. You will find the best success fishing this structure during the quiet hours of dawn or dusk. Casting small shallow diving hardbodies on ultralight tackle is incredibly effective in this specific location.
Offshore
- Lake Victoria Flats: Lake Victoria Flats are expansive submerged sandbanks where boaters can target large flathead feeding in the shallows. Drifting silently over these beds on a high tide with minimal wind disturbance is the best strategy. Casting unweighted soft plastics or suspending hardbodies over the weed will entice aggressive strikes from schooling fish.
- McMillan Strait: McMillan Strait acts as a major highway for estuarine predators moving through the lakes system. You should drift along these steep underwater ledges during the peak tidal flow to locate feeding fish. Casting heavily weighted soft plastics down the face of the drop-off is the best way to hook large flathead.
- Mitchell River Mouth: Mitchell River Mouth is a wide deep channel accessible by boat that holds massive aggregations of bream during their spawning run. You should fish this junction during a neap tide when the water currents are easily manageable. Casting crab imitations or small paddle tail plastics tightly into the drop-offs yields the best results.
- Waddy Point Drop-offs: Waddy Point Drop-offs act as a major ambush zone for large dusky flathead waiting for baitfish to flush from the shallows. You should drift along these steep underwater ledges during the peak tidal flow to locate feeding fish. Casting heavily weighted soft plastics down the face of the drop-off is the best way to hook large flathead.
- Jones Bay Weed Beds: Jones Bay Weed Beds are expansive submerged structures where boaters can target large luderick and bream. Anchoring silently near the edge of the weed on a high tide is the best strategy for this area. Suspending weed baits under a delicate float rig will entice aggressive strikes from schooling luderick.
Hot Spots
- Point Fullarton: Point Fullarton is an exceptional shallow flat for targeting large dusky flathead with paddle tail plastics.
- Duck Arm entrance: Duck Arm entrance provides a superb ambush point where estuary perch strike at passing baitfish.
- Steamer Landing drop-off: Steamer Landing drop-off is a fantastic deep hole where boaters can consistently catch quality black bream.
- Raymond Island Flats: Raymond Island Flats offer expansive shallow sandy patches perfect for wading and chasing king george whiting.
- McMillan Strait Pylons: McMillan Strait Pylons feature heavily encrusted timber that holds large numbers of grazing luderick.
Local Bait Tips
- Sandworms: Sandworms are a highly effective local bait that can be pulled from the sandy beaches using a piece of pipi. You must collect these worms completely by hand to comply with Victorian regulations which strictly forbid the use of cast nets.
- Bass Yabbies: Bass yabbies can be hand-pumped from the exposed estuarine mudflats during a low tide. This manual harvesting method perfectly aligns with Victorian rules that ban cast nets and enforce strict daily limits.
- Sand Crabs: Sand crabs are easily gathered by hand amongst the shallow weed beds during a running out tide. Collecting these crabs must be done manually without prohibited cast nets while adhering to all Victorian catch limits.
Boat Ramps
- Paynesville Community Lions Park Boat Ramp:
Paynesville Community Lions Park Boat Ramp: Located at 60 Esplanade in Paynesville, this concrete ramp provides access to McMillan Strait on the Gippsland Lakes, with an unspecified lane configuration. It features a dedicated boarding jetty for staging. Boaters must navigate with caution through the narrow strait to avoid the Raymond Island vehicular ferry route and are subject to local vessel transit restrictions. Overhead navigation is limited by the McMillan Strait northern end power cable, which has a vertical safety clearance of 22.9 metres.
- Sunset Cove Reserve Boat Ramp:
Sunset Cove Reserve Boat Ramp: This facility is situated at Sunset Cove in Paynesville, at the transition zone between Lake King and Lake Victoria on the Gippsland Lakes. It features a concrete ramp with an unspecified lane configuration and has an adjacent boarding jetty for vessel staging. The primary hazards include exposure to wind-generated chop and shifting wave conditions on Lake King and Lake Victoria driven by prevailing winds.
- Slip Road Boat Ramp:
Slip Road Boat Ramp: Located at the Slip Road Maritime Precinct on Slip Road in Paynesville, this concrete ramp provides launch access to McMillan Strait on the Gippsland Lakes. While a second boat ramp is planned for construction at the northern end of the site to separate public boaters from the marine services industry, the lane configuration of the active ramp is not specified. Boarding and staging are supported by the Slip Road Boat Ramp Jetty, configured as a floating pontoon jetty that provides disabled and all-abilities access. The ramp is subject to high boat traffic, an active ferry route, and shoreline development, with vertical clearance restricted by the northern McMillan Strait overhead power cable at 22.9 metres.
- Dawson Cove Boat Ramp:
Dawson Cove Boat Ramp: Located at Dawson Cove on the Newlands Arm Foreshore, along Balmoral Crescent in Newlands Arm, this facility provides access to Lake King on the Gippsland Lakes. The concrete ramp’s lane configuration is not specified. Staging is supported by the Dawson Cove Boat Ramp Jetty, which is a floating pontoon structure designed for disabled and all-abilities access. The primary hazard is exposure to wave action across Lake King, which is highly affected by prevailing south-westerly and easterly winds.
- Raymond Island Boat Ramp:
Raymond Island Boat Ramp: Located in Ferry Reserve on Seventh Parade on Raymond Island, this facility launches into McMillan Strait on the Gippsland Lakes. The concrete ramp’s lane configuration is not specified. Staging is supported by the Raymond Island Boat Ramp Jetty, which is a floating pontoon jetty providing disabled and all-abilities access, with newly added nearby temporary tie-up space. Boaters must exercise extreme caution to avoid the active path of the high-frequency Raymond Island vehicular ferry, and navigation is subject to local vessel transit restrictions.
Bait and Tackle
- PAYNESVILLE BOAT HIRE & BAIT: The Esplanade, Paynesville VIC 3880 | Phone: (03) 5156 6577
- GIPPSLAND BAIT & TACKLE: 69 Main Street, Bairnsdale VIC 3875 | Phone: (03) 5152 4477
Basecamp & Accom
- Paynesville Holiday Park | 100 Gilsenan Street, Paynesville VIC 3880 | 03 5156 6342
- Mariners Cove Resort | 134 Slip Road, Paynesville VIC 3880 | 03 5156 7444
- Eagle Point Caravan Park | 40 School Road, Eagle Point VIC 3878 | 03 5156 6232
Emergency & Safety
- Emergency: 000 | Paynesville Coast Guard, 49 Langford Parade, Paynesville VIC 3880, VHF Channel 16
