Fishing Robinvale & Euston
While Robinvale sits on Victorian soil, note that Euston and the Murray River water column fall strictly under New South Wales jurisdiction, requiring a valid NSW Recreational Fishing Licence to fish the river or northern bank. Warm weather triggers active feeding runs for Golden Perch and Silver Perch along the clay banks. Anglers must respect the annual Murray Cod breeding closure from September 1 to November 30 across all river stretches.
Land-based fishers can work public riverfront parks, caravan park banks, and red gum reserves on both sides of the river. Setting up bank rod stands with fresh yabbies or scrub worms in deep clay drop-offs produces steady catches of Golden Perch. Walking the steep timbered banks casting spinnerbaits or hardbodies close to fallen logs yields aggressive Murray Cod strikes.
Boaters launching from Robinvale Park or Euston Recreation Reserve can explore vast stretches of impounded river water away from crowds. Trolling deep-diving hardbodies close to steep timbered outer bends is the primary method for pinning big river cod. Electric trolling motors allow anglers to stealthily hold position while casting soft plastics and spinnerbaits directly into heavy timber laydowns.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- ROBINVALE PARK RIVERBANK: Expansive public reserve offering accessible red gum banks and deep river bends. Cast running sinker rigs baited with fresh yabbies or scrub worms into deep clay drop-offs for Golden Perch. Early morning sessions before boat traffic increases deliver peaceful fishing and active bites.
- EUSTON RECREATION RESERVE FORESHORE: Grassy reserve on the NSW side featuring deep water access directly off the bank. Drop live freshwater shrimp or yabbies straight down beside fallen timber laydowns for Golden Perch and Silver Perch. Note that fishing from this NSW bank strictly requires a valid NSW fishing licence.
- EUSTON WEIR DOWNSTREAM BANK: Public reserve access downstream of the weir wall where heavy water flushes into the river channel. Cast heavy 1oz spinnerbaits or chatterbaits into the swirling eddy water where current seams meet. This current junction acts as a prime ambush point for roaming Murray Cod.
- CARAVAN PARK RIVER BEND: Quiet riverbank access near the park featuring steep clay banks and fallen timber logs. Walk the bank casting 100mm hardbody lures or surface plugs parallel to submerged logs at dusk for Murray Cod. Sturdy footwear and caution are required when walking steep, muddy river slopes.
- ROBINVALE BRIDGE PYLONS: Concrete pylons supporting the river bridge that attract resident native fish. Drop fresh yabbies or scrub worms straight down beside the concrete pylons on a simple running sinker setup. Fishing during early morning hours minimizes disturbance from passing road traffic.
Offshore
- EUSTON WEIR POOL MAIN CHANNEL: Deep impounded river channel reaching 6 to 10 meters depth upstream of the weir wall. Troll 120mm+ deep-diving wooden hardbody lures at slow idle speed along the outer timbered bank for big Murray Cod. Keep your lure bumping the submerged logs occasionally to trigger reaction strikes.
- ROBINVALE BENDS TIMBER LAYDOWNS: Massive red gum trunks resting in deep water along the outer river channel. Position your boat up-current using an electric motor anchor-lock and pitch 5/8oz spinnerbaits or 120mm soft plastics into the timber heart. Allow your lure to sink deep into the snag structure before starting a slow retrieve.
- HAPPY VALLEY BENDS: Long winding river stretch upstream of town featuring steep clay drop-offs and undercut banks in 5 to 8 meters depth. Slow-troll wooden hardbodies or vertical jig heavy soft vibes along the undercut clay ledges for Golden Perch and Murray Cod. Monitor your fishfinder to track bottom contours and locate snag piles.
- LOWER MURRAY DEEP HOLE: An underwater clay depression dropping to 9 meters depth opposite the main reserve. Anchor on the upstream edge of the hole and drop fresh yabbies or large scrub worms on heavy ledger rigs for Golden Perch. The deep water provides shelter for big fish during hot summer days.
- MURRUMBIDGEE CONFLUENCE MARGINS: River junction area upstream where nutrient-rich water enters the Murray River. Cast surface lures or shallow wakebaits close to submerged log jams during warm summer evenings for Murray Cod. Navigating this stretch requires watching for floating logs and shallow sandbars.
Hot Spots
- Euston Weir Pool: Impounded river stretch famous for producing large Murray Cod and schooling Golden Perch.
- Robinvale Park Reserve: Accessible riverbank parkland offering prime land-based fishing for Golden Perch and Murray Cod.
- Euston Weir Tailrace: Deep river outflow downstream of the weir wall holding heavy Murray Cod and Golden Perch.
- Happy Valley Bends: Deep river channel packed with massive fallen red gum laydowns holding metre-plus cod.
- Robinvale Bridge Pylons: Deep timber and concrete structure in the heart of town providing shelter for resident Golden Perch.
Local Bait Tips
- FRESHWATER SHRIMP: Collected using fine-mesh shrimp traps submerged along riverbank roots and reed beds, baited with soap or meat. Keep alive in an aerated bucket as the premier bait for river Golden Perch.
- FRESHWATER YABBIES: Harvested using legal open-top drop nets baited with meat in shallow farm dams or river backwaters. Store on damp sea-sponge or wet newspaper in a cool container. Thread through the tail for Murray Cod and Golden Perch.
- SCRUB WORMS: Dug from damp clay riverbanks and garden soil following rain. Thread whole worms onto size 6 hooks for targeting Golden Perch, Silver Perch, and Redfin around deep clay banks.
- BARDEE GRUBS: Collected from decaying gum logs and stumps along dry river flats where legally permitted. Thread whole grubs onto snelled hooks as a traditional, highly prized bait for trophy river Murray Cod.
Boat Ramps
- Robinvale Park Boat Ramp:
Robinvale Park Boat Ramp is located off Murray Road along the Robinvale foreshore on the Murray River. The facility features a concrete launching ramp with floating pontoon facilities providing direct access to the impounded Euston Weir pool. Amenities include paved car-trailer parking, public toilets, playground, and parkland facilities.
Bait and Tackle
- MILDURA OUTDOOR & TACKLE: 103 Lime Avenue, Mildura VIC 3500 | Phone: (03) 5022 8444
Basecamp & Accom
- Robinvale Riverside Holiday Park: 1 Murray Rd, Robinvale VIC 3549 - Ph: (03) 5026 3133
- Euston Waterfront Caravan Park: 1 Nixon St, Euston NSW 2737 - Ph: (03) 5026 1543
- Euston Club Resort: 2 Nixon St, Euston NSW 2737 - Ph: (03) 5026 2300
Emergency & Safety
- Transport NSW Maritime / NSW Police Euston: Murray St, Euston NSW 2737 - Ph: (03) 5026 2000 / Emergency 000 - VHF Ch 16 / UHF Ch 40
