Mitchell River Silt Jetties (Eagle Point)

The Mitchell River Silt Jetties at Eagle Point are long, narrow banks of river silt that run out into Lake King — about 8 km of them, the longest in the Southern Hemisphere. Parks Victoria manages them as the Mitchell River Silt Jetties Gippsland Lakes Reserve, and Rivermouth Road runs out along them. The Mitchell has many kilometres of accessible riverbank, with bream along the grassy banks and bream and flathead in reasonable numbers at The Cut in the warmer months. Bream fish well from the river mouth through to The Bluff on live local sandworm. It is a geological oddity with a bream problem, in the good sense.

Drive or walk out along Rivermouth Road and fish from the bank wherever there is deeper water close to the grassy edge, snags or a drop-off. Live sandworm is the bait for bream, fished on a light running sinker or unweighted close to the bank. Evening and morning are the best times to get a bite. Lure anglers cast small soft plastics and hard-bodies tight to the snags and grassy banks. In winter, the river often holds a good run of mullet that take small baits readily.

Black bream are the main target, with mullet in winter, dusky flathead around The Cut and lower river in the warmer months, and estuary perch around snags and overhanging cover. Luderick turn up occasionally near the river mouth. Black bream inside the Gippsland Lakes and their tributaries carry a slot — 28 cm minimum and 38 cm maximum — and a bag of 7, and they must stay whole or in carcass form until you are off the water (filleting on a boat-ramp cleaning table is fine). Dusky flathead are 30–55 cm with a bag of 5 and, like bream, must stay whole until you leave the water. Estuary perch have a 27 cm minimum and a combined bag of 5 with Australian bass.

Bring live sandworm if you can get it — it is the bait for bream from the mouth to The Bluff. Fish the edges, not the middle: grassy banks, snags and deeper water. Bream school in big numbers before spawning, and they are more reliable downstream towards the river mouth. The Mitchell River Silt Jetties boat ramp at the river delta is a sheltered launch for small boats and kayaks if you want to reach the far banks.

From Paynesville or Bairnsdale, drive to Eagle Point and follow Rivermouth Road out onto the silt jetties; the outer section is an unsealed track. Bank access is easy from the roadside in many places, but there are few formal facilities along the jetties themselves, so bring water and plan toilet stops in Eagle Point or Paynesville. The banks are uneven and grassy, not wheelchair-friendly. It suits kids who like a walk and a picnic. There is no fee.

The river is sheltered by the jetties themselves, which makes this a good option when wind has blown out the open lakes. The geography does the windbreak; all you bring is the chair. Flow and colour from the Mitchell catchment drive the fishing: a few days after rain, as the water clears, can be excellent, while a big fresh pushes fish out to the lake. Early morning and evening produce best. Strong westerlies can still chop up the river mouth.

The silt jetties are narrow with deep water on either side, and the banks can be soft and slippery; watch children closely. The outer road is an unsealed track that can be rough after rain. Snakes are possible in the grass in warmer months. Bring sun protection and water, as shade and facilities are limited.

Yes. The Mitchell River has many kilometres of accessible riverbank with good road access, and walking and fishing the silt jetties is a local favourite.

Live local sandworm is the standout bait for bream from the river mouth through to The Bluff. Prawn and crab baits also work, fished close to grassy banks and snags.

The Mitchell River is often home to a good run of mullet during winter.

Yes. The Gippsland Lakes black bream slot of 28–38 cm and bag of 7 applies in the lakes and their tributaries, and fish must be kept whole until you leave the water.