East Gippsland Fishing Report For May 2026
Looking for the latest fishing action across East Gippsland? Our Monthly fishing report brings you up-to-date insights from Lakes Entrance, Lake Tyers, Metung, Mallacoota, Marlo, and beyond. Whether you’re chasing bream on the Tambo River, salmon off 90 Mile Beach, or flathead around the Gippsland Lakes, we’ve got the tips you need for a successful trip.
From the ever-popular Lakes Entrance fishing report and local updates from Lake Tyers, to what’s biting at Metung, Mallacoota, and Marlo, this East Gippsland guide covers the region’s top fishing spots. You’ll also find detailed information on the Tambo River fishing report, plus conditions for anglers around the Nicholson, Mitchell, and beyond.
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or just want the latest East Gippsland fishing report, our on-the-ground updates make it easy to know where the fish are biting right now.
Hook line and sinker, we’ve got you covered with this May East Gippsland fishing update, packed with expert tips and the best spots from our local guides.
Lakes Entrance – The fishing around Lakes Entrance has been firing up over
the past few days. Trevally are biting on prawn, with anglers also having luck
with small soft plastics or lightly weighted prawn imitations. Off the beach it’s
been all about the salmon, try metal lures, with long casts and a steady
retrieve, especially in the early morning and late afternoons.
Lake Tyers – Bream are smashing prawns or lightly weighted rigs, mainly
around structures and drop offs. Flathead are liking neutral soft plastics, and
tailor are chasing pilchards, diving minnows and metal lures.
From The Cut through to the Port of Bairnsdale, flathead are
showing up in solid numbers and are actively taking local prawns, live
sandworm, and soft plastics. There’s also a healthy showing of bream in the
system, responding well to cut crab and fresh local prawns.
Mulloway have been on the chew between the two bridges,
hitting both lures and blue bait, particularly. Closer to the mouth, bream are
active and feeding on live sandworm, local prawns, and hard body lures.
From the river mouth to the Highway Bridge for bream,
taking live sandworm, soft plastics, local prawns, and blue bait. Drifting the
flats or slow trolling plastics have also had good results.
For whiting and flathead, try Chinamans Creek, town jetties, and the
boardwalk, using local prawns and pipis. The odd tailor is showing up along the
back beaches chasing metal lures, while bream are taking crabs, mussels and
local prawns.
The jetties are the standout spots at the moment, producing
good-sized bream along with the occasional mulloway with live sandworm
being the preferred bait. Estuary perch are also being caught throughout the
lake system, soft plastics proving the most effective.
A mixed bag on offer here, with bream, the odd mulloway,
and flathead all in the system, taking local prawn and live sandworm. Prawn
activity has been strong right through towards Loch Sport, for that try a night
session.
Bream and luderick are chasing live sandworm, local prawn and soft
plastics around the Second Island. The Brodribb River has perch on the chew,
taking live sandworm and hard body plastics in the deeper sections. Offshore,
anglers are picking up gummies and flathead, with the main baits being blue
bait and fresh fish fillets.
The entrance is open, with tailor and salmon being landed off the
beach and in the deeper channels. Larger bream are more active in the
mornings, try the channel on soft plastics. Nice sized flathead are also around.
Squid, flathead, snapper and gummy have all been landed
recently using fresh baits such as squid cubes, and pilchards. Also give jigs a
try. Large schools of Yellowtail Kingfish are also in the system, for baits use
Bridled yakkas or squid.
Mitta Mitta, Gibbo & Ovens Rivers around Ht Hotham and Omeo
have been producing some nice sized trout chasing hard bodys. With the colder
weather on its way, please check the forecast before venturing out.
We gratefully acknowledge the following local fishermen for sharing their professional expertise and extensive fishing knowledge.
Please consider them for your bait and fishing supply needs.
Gippsland Bait and Tackle
69 Main St, Bairnsdale VIC 3875
Lakes Entrance Angler
577 Esplanade, Lakes Entrance VIC 3909
Orbost Angler
53 Nicholson St, Orbost VIC 3888
Bemm River Bait & Tackle
20-26 Sydenham Inlet Rd, Bemm River VIC 3889
Recreational Fishing License
A Recreational Fishing Licence is required when fishing in Victoria between the ages of 18-70 years (exemptions apply).
You can buy a licence by visiting the Victorian Fisheries Authority website.
Protect Victoria’s waterways and fisheries for everyone by following the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s Recreational Fishing Guide.
Staff at Lakes Entrance and Bairnsdale Visitor Information Centres can provide assistance to create a licence, and provide information.
Safety Tips
- Wear a life jacket when on a boat.
- Check the weather forecast before heading out.
- Always tell someone where you are going.
- Use sunscreen and wear protective clothing.
- Ensure you have a current fishing licence and follow the recreational fishing guidelines.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
Lakes Entrance Fishing Charters
Far Out Fishing Charters – 0428 401 819
Lakes Charter Fishing – 0458 669 820
Lakes Entrance Offshore Charters – 0434 778 275
More to Explore
Fishing in East Gippsland is just the beginning. East Gippsland is full of extraordinary adventures, charming towns, and natural wonders waiting to be explored. Dive into our other “Top Things to Do” guides, suggested itineraries and uncover even more reasons to make your next escape truly unforgettable.
Visit the enchanting Buchan Caves or take a scenic drive up the iconic Great Alpine Road to East Gippsland’s High Country.
Find a beach to yourself in the spectacularly rugged Croajingolong National Park in the Coastal Wilderness or take an awe-inspiring walk to the Tulloch Ard Lookout across the mighty Snowy River.
Catch a bite to eat in the waters around Marlo and Cape Conran Coastal Park and boast about “the one that got away” in the Marlo Hotel.
These adventures and more await you in East Gippsland.
