Fitzroy River Mouth (Tyrendarra)

The Fitzroy River reaches the sea between Portland and Port Fairy, and its estuary runs some 13–16 km up to the lava flow at Tyrendarra and holds black bream to 800 g, estuary perch to 1 kg, flounder, yellow-eye mullet, Australian salmon and sea mullet. The estuary offers boat and bank fishing all year round. Public vehicle access is limited — the boat ramp at the river mouth is one of only three public places to reach the riverbank — which keeps the crowds thin. It is the quiet cousin of the Glenelg and the Hopkins, and it seems happy that way.

Shrimp, crab, sandworm, minnow, whitebait and clickers are the baits. Fish them lightly weighted along the edges and drop-offs near the mouth for bream, flounder and mullet. Small soft plastics and hard-body lures cast at snags and weed edges suit estuary perch, especially early and late. A small boat or kayak launched at the mouth opens up the rest of the estuary.

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

Wrights Bridge access crosses private property — ask permission first. Fish the mouth area and the water reachable from the ramp. Mullet respond well to a little bread berley.

The public boat ramp and jetty at the river mouth are reached by road from the Princes Highway area near Tyrendarra. Parking is at the ramp. The Fitzroy River Reserve campground is a few hundred metres along Thompsons Road from the ramp, but facilities are limited, so bring water and supplies. The ramp area is flat and a short walk to the water. Pack like you are going somewhere remote, because by Victorian standards you are.

The estuary is sheltered from ocean swell, though wind can chop up the wider reaches. The mouth is often closed behind a sand bar, and while it is shut there is little or no tide in the estuary. When it opens with river flow and swell, salinity and the fish shift with it. Clear, calm mornings and evenings suit lures. After heavy rain, fish often move down towards the mouth.

Banks can be soft and muddy near the water. The river mouth opens onto an exposed coast with swell and rips — do not wade the entrance. Watch for boats at the ramp. Snakes are active along the river in warm weather.

Black bream to 800 g, estuary perch to 1 kg, flounder, yellow-eye mullet, Australian salmon and sea mullet.

Public vehicle access to the riverbank is only at Heywood, the Princes Highway bridge and the public boat ramp at the river mouth.

Shrimp, crabs, sandworms, minnow, whitebait and clickers.