Barham River (Apollo Bay)

The Barham River runs out of the Otways and through the southern edge of Apollo Bay to the sea, and its estuary is a calm-water alternative to the harbour. The estuary holds black bream, mullet, Australian salmon and flounder, with estuary perch in the snags — 500 m of it has been re-snagged for them and fishing platforms built, funded by Recreational Fishing Licence money. In other words, your licence fee is sitting in the water here, and it would be rude not to visit.

Fish the re-snagged timber with small soft plastics or hard-body lures for estuary perch, working close to the snags at dawn and dusk. For bream, a light running sinker rig with sandworm, prawn or a small crab fished near the snags and bank edges works best. Mullet come up to bread berley on a float. Salmon run in and out of the mouth while it's open to the sea and take small metal lures.

Black bream and mullet are the most dependable, with estuary perch around the snags, salmon near the mouth and flounder on the sand. Victorian limits: black bream 28 cm and 10, estuary perch 27 cm with a combined bag of 5, mullet no minimum and 40 combined, Australian salmon 21 cm with 20 combined with Australian herring, flounder 23 cm and 20 combined. Bream and estuary perch must be kept whole until you are away from the water. Many anglers release perch.

Use the fishing platforms where you can — they were built for anglers and they protect the restored banks. Upstream, the Barham is a brown trout stream, and trout and salmon rules (including a closed season in rivers and streams) apply in fresh water; check VFA before targeting trout. Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary is just offshore to the south and no-take.

The lower river runs along the southern edge of Apollo Bay township, with access from the streets near the Great Ocean Road. Parking is in town, and the walk to the water is short and flat. Banks are grassy in places and muddy in others; the fishing platforms are the easiest spots for families. Town amenities are close by.

The estuary is sheltered from ocean swell and fishes in most weather. The mouth is intermittently open, so when the sand bar shuts it there is little or no tide here. After heavy rain the river runs fresh and dirty, which can push fish down towards the mouth. Calm, overcast days and low light suit lure fishing for perch. Clear, bright days are tougher — fish deeper and lighter. The Barham drains the Otways, which are green for a reason, so the river is rarely short of fresh water to colour things up.

Banks can be undercut and slippery — keep children back from the edge. The river mouth meets a surf beach with rips; do not wade the entrance. Snakes are active on riverbanks in warm weather. Be aware of traffic on the Great Ocean Road near the bridge.

Black bream, mullet, Australian salmon and flounder in the estuary, with estuary perch around the re-snagged timber and brown trout upstream.

Yes. Fishing platforms were built and 500 m of the estuary re-snagged for estuary perch, paid for with Recreational Fishing Licence revenue.

Upstream of the estuary, yes — the Barham is a brown trout stream, and Victoria's trout rules, including the closed season in rivers and streams, apply in the fresh water.