Nungurner Jetty

Nungurner Jetty sits on the tip of the Nungurner shore looking across Reeve Channel, a short drive from Metung, and it is the jetty locals mention when the conversation turns to whiting. It is a popular shore-based spot, with bream, mullet and whiting the common catches. Spring whiting come readily on local sandworm and pipis. It is quieter than the Metung foreshore, with fewer boats and more room to cast. If Metung is the lakes in a linen shirt, Nungurner is the lakes in thongs.

Whiting are a bait-and-patience game: fish small pieces of sandworm or pipi on a light running-sinker rig over the sand off the end and sides of the jetty, and move the bait slowly every so often. Bream sit closer to the pylons and respond to a lightly weighted prawn or crab bait. Mullet are easy targets with small baits and a little berley. A small soft plastic worked along the sand finds flathead in the warmer months.

King George whiting are the reason most people come, with black bream and yelloweye mullet the other everyday fish. Dusky flathead, silver trevally and luderick are possible. King George whiting must be 27 cm or more, with a bag of 20, and must be kept whole until you are off the water. 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.

Buy fresh sandworm and pipis from a Lakes Entrance or Metung bait supplier — local, fresh bait makes the difference with whiting. If you collect your own, worms are limited to 0.5 L, pipis come from the ocean beaches by hand only (5 L), and no digging tools are allowed in the intertidal zone. A light berley of bread and fish oil keeps mullet and whiting interested. Fish a moving tide and keep baits small; whiting have small mouths and take a long-shank size 6 better than a bream hook. The fisheries artificial reefs off Nungurner are a boat or kayak option on calm days.

Nungurner Jetty is at the end of Nungurner Jetty Road, which turns south off Nungurner Road (the turn-off is on Metung Road, just north of Metung). Parking is roadside near the jetty. Bring water — there is little else at the jetty but the jetty. The jetty is flat and fine for older kids with supervision; there is no fee.

The channel in front of the jetty is sheltered from most directions, though strong westerlies blow straight down it. A moving tide is important for whiting; slack water is the slow time, and a slack in the middle of a bright day is the slowest of all. Clear water and calm conditions make whiting shy, so overcast days and low light help. It is one of the few places on the lakes where a grey morning counts as good weather. Rain upstream can discolour the channel for days.

Low-risk jetty fishing. Watch jetty edges and wet boards, keep children supervised and keep clear of boats using the jetty. Bring sun protection in summer. Check for any summer blue-green algae warnings for the Gippsland Lakes.

Whiting. Nungurner Jetty is a popular shore-based spot for bream, mullet and whiting, and it is the local pick for whiting on sandworm and pipis.

Usually — it is quieter, has more sand off the end and fewer boats, which suits small baits. King George whiting must be at least 27 cm, with a bag limit of 20, and must be kept whole or in carcass form until you are away from the water.

Yes, with supervision. It is a calm lake jetty with mullet and whiting that take small baits, and it is quieter than the Metung foreshore.