Seaspray, VIC

Fishing Seaspray

Top 10 Species

Landbased

• Seaspray Main Beach: Anglers should fish the deep gutters forming directly in front of the surf life-saving club during the incoming tide. A heavy paternoster rig baited with salted pilchards is highly effective for intercepting large schools of migrating salmon. You must use grapnel sinkers to ensure your bait remains anchored in the aggressive sideways sweep of the surf.
• Merriman Creek Mouth: Casting small metal slugs into the wash where the dark creek water meets the ocean yields excellent catches of tailor. This location fishes incredibly well just after heavy rainfall when small baitfish are flushed out into the open water. Light fluorocarbon leaders are preferred, but anglers must be prepared for occasional bite-offs from sharp-toothed pelagics.
• Honeysuckle Beach: This secluded stretch of sand south of the main township offers untouched gutters perfect for targeting gummy sharks. Fishing late into the night with fresh chunks of eel or salmon on large circle hooks provides the best results. Anglers must carry their own lighting and safety equipment as this remote location is completely devoid of artificial illumination.
• Lake Reeve Margins: Walking the shallow, muddy banks of this inland saltwater lake provides excellent opportunities for targeting black bream. Unweighted baits cast accurately near submerged weed patches will often tempt wary fish hiding from overhead predators. The water here can become incredibly hypersaline during summer, concentrating the fish in the deeper, cooler holes.
• Flamingo Beach: This quiet surf zone requires a decent walk but rewards dedicated anglers with deep, consistent gutters that hold mulloway. Using live mullet caught in the adjacent creek is the ultimate tactic for tempting these highly prized, elusive ghosts of the surf. You must fish the changing of the tide during the darkest phases of the moon to maximize your strike rate.

Offshore

• Lake Wellington Flats: Launching from nearby Marlay Point allows small boats to access the expansive, shallow weed beds of this massive lake. Drifting unweighted baits across the muddy bottom is a highly effective method for targeting the robust local carp population. Anglers must remain vigilant of sudden wind changes that can quickly whip the shallow lake into a dangerous chop.
• McLennan Strait: This deep, narrow waterway connects the major lakes and acts as a concentrated funnel for migrating estuarine species. Trolling deep-diving hardbody lures close to the reedy banks often produces aggressive strikes from large dusky flathead. Fishing during periods of low boat traffic in the early morning ensures the fish remain undisturbed and actively feeding.
• Lake Victoria Drop-offs: Navigating into the deeper sections of the lake reveals steep underwater ledges that hold impressive schools of black bream. Anchoring precisely on the edge of the drop-off and casting lightly weighted baits into the shallows yields the best results. A sensitive fiberglass rod tip is essential for detecting the subtle, tapping bites characteristic of these wary fish.
• Merriman Creek Upper Reaches: Launching a kayak or small tinny into this tannin-stained creek provides access to untouched snags and deep holes. Pitching small soft plastics directly into the submerged timber is the only way to extract the resident estuary perch. Heavy fluorocarbon leaders are critical to survive the abrasive friction when fish inevitably wrap around the wooden structures.
• The Golden Beach Artificial Reefs: Boaters willing to travel from the Lakes Entrance bar can target these submerged structures located along the vast coastline. Dropping heavy jigs directly over the reef marks will quickly attract the attention of large snapper and silver trevally. You must utilize heavy braided lines to maintain direct contact with your lure in the strong ocean currents.

Hot Spots

• The Wreck of the Trinculo: An exposed iron spine on the beach that creates a permanent, fish-holding surf gutter.
• Seaspray Creek Bend: A sheltered inland muddy curve that consistently produces quality flathead on the outgoing tide.
• Glomar Beach Gutter: A highly reliable surf depression just north of Seaspray that holds massive schools of winter salmon.
• Merriman Creek Bridge: A concrete structural crossing holding schools of estuary perch and bream.
• Honeysuckle Dune Wash: A deep oceanic gutter located behind the coastal dunes holding large sharks.

Local Bait Tips

• Bass Yabbies: Locate soft mudflats in the lower estuary at low tide and look for their distinct small burrows. Use a metal hand pump to extract them from the wet sand and store them in fresh saltwater.
• Pipis: Search the wet sand of the intertidal surf wash zones along ocean beaches just as the wave recedes. Twist your feet into the sand to locate the hard shells and collect them by hand.
• Sand Worms: Lay a wet mesh bag containing oily fish frames in the active surf wash on an outgoing tide. Watch for the worm heads emerging from the sand and use specialized pliers or your fingers to pull them out quickly.

Boat Ramps

• Seaspray:

  Location: At the mouth of Merriman Creek on Foreshore Road, Seaspray, tucked behind the coastal dunes of Ninety Mile Beach. Highly vulnerable to high-energy coastal surf conditions, the estuary mouth dynamically opens and closes, making it highly prone to riverine and storm-water flooding. This sand launch site has no formalised ramp structure but features wooden ramps and stairs over the dunes to facilitate beach hand-launching of non-powered craft. Staging and boarding facilities are not specified in official sources, though a fishing platform and shelter are located nearby. The facility is managed by the Wellington Shire Council.

Bait and Tackle

• ALLWAYS ANGLING: Shop 1/29 Church Street, Traralgon VIC 3844 | Phone: (03) 5174 8544

Basecamp & Accom

• Seaspray Caravan Park: 1 Foreshore Road, Seaspray, Phone: 03 5146 4364
• Loch Sport Holiday Park: 1-3 Basin Boulevard, Loch Sport, Phone: 03 5146 0264
• Golden Beach Holiday Retreat: 1-5 Surf Edge Drive, Golden Beach, Phone: 03 5146 3252

Emergency & Safety

• Coast Guard Port Albert: Emergency: 000, VHF: 16, Phone: 03 5183 2555