The East Gippsland estuaries of eastern Victoria encompass the region from Lake Tyers to Mallacoota and provide the best opportunity for anglers to catch a big dusky flathead in this State. These estuaries offer the perfect habitat for flathead with sand flats mixed with tidal channels and abundant weed beds. Most duskies are targeted using live poddy mullet or rubber tail lures. Trolling with deep diving lures is not commonly practiced in East Gippsland due to the fouling problems with weed.

Dusky flathead (platycephalus fuscus) are not encountered west of Wilson Promontory in Victoria, whereas they are caught in most estuaries in N.S.W. and southern Queensland. They are an extremely popular species with sport fishing minded anglers as they can grow to large proportions and will readily strike at lures and flies. Fish to12kg have been caught but any fish 5kg plus is considered a trophy.

An ambush feeder, dusky flathead prefer to lie in wait nestled in the sand and attack an unsuspecting baitfish or prawn as it moves past in the tide. Whilst the dusky flathead will be encountered in flat terrain (say on sand flats with scattered weed beds), they also like to inhabit drop-offs from shallow to deep water. Most bait fish and other prey will stay close to these shallow areas for protection. Often tidal forces will push the baitfish into the deeper water and for them dangerous territory, as the dusky flathead is preparing to strike.

Tackle & Tips
Medium 1.5 to 2m rods with threadline reels are suitable for dusky flathead. A typical dusky flathead rig is a 1/0 wide gap hook (Gamatsku or Mustad wide gap hooks, chemically sharpened are best), a metre of 30 pound braided line, small ball sinker and a swivel. Using 4-6kg monofilament for the main line, pop the ball sinker onto the line then connect the length of braid by a swivel and tie the hook onto the end of the braid.

A solid dusky caught by the author at Mallacoota.

Live poddy mullet is a prime bait for dusky flathead. The hook is threaded through the mullet's tail wrist and allowed to swim off the bottom above the sinker.

There is usually no need to set the hook, just allow the fish to move away and then strike. Some anglers hook the mullet through the mouth believing the flathead strikes the head first, I suggest a trial and error approach here. The reason for using braid as a leader, is to prevent the flatheads' sharp incisors located in the bottom jaw from sawing through the line.

Dusky flathead will take a range of baits from simple but very effective dead baits like bluebait or cut pilchard through to live prawn. Lures to try include the Mr Twister rubber tail jigs (twin tails are often better than one), Soft plastic shads, Mad Mullet micro mullet, Manns Stretch 5+, Halco Scorpion 52. The best lure colour for flathead in my opinion is undoubtedly pink.

Locations Guide
Working from east to west, anglers have five major estuarine systems to choose from when targeting dusky flathead in East Gippsland. Firstly, Mallacoota and Tamboon Inlet are by far the best propositions for flathead. Further west, Bemm River and Marlo provide limited opportunities but do turn up big fish, whilst Lake Tyers has a reputation almost in the same class as Mallacoota for dusky flathead.

A 5kg dusky flathead that Mallacoota is famous for.

Mallacoota
Mallacoota is the fifth largest estuary system in Victoria with excellent boat and land-based access. Two major rivers, the Genoa and Wallagaraugh converge just above Gypsy Point to feed this unique estuarine system before becoming a single river, the Genoa. The Genoa River then meanders south forming the first of two estuarine lakes, simply known as the 'Top Lake' and the 'Bottom Lake'.

The Top Lake is connected by the 'Narrows", a passage of some 7m depth and barely 200m wide, to the Bottom Lake. Several islands, sand bars and shallow channels have formed in the lower half of the Bottom Lake, before it enters the Tasman Sea through a treacherous and highly tidal entrance channel.

Above all other species, Mallacoota is famous for its dusky flathead population, with specimens in the 1 to 4kg range caught regularly and a few monsters above 5kg encountered.

By late October, the flathead go on the move particularly in the Bottom Lake and will fish well until at least the autumn months. Flathead are caught year round, in locations from well upstream on the Genoa and Wallagaraugh Rivers, Drop offs in the Top Lake, the 'Narrows', throughout the Bottom Lake through to the shallows around the entrance.

The Bottom Lake offers the newcomer the best chance of tangling with a big dusky. Goodwin Sands near Swimming Point, Harrison's Channel and off the John Bull Light are worth a try first up. Generally speaking any weed beds and deep drop-offs are prime locations to fish a live mullet or cast a rubber tail lure. Live mullet is best obtained from the Betka River estuary just 3km from town.

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A pair of average duskies from the Bottom Lake at Mallacoota.

Mallacoota is 520km from Melbourne and 550km from Sydney via the Princes Highway, taking the turnoff at Genoa for the last 24km into town. The main boat ramp is located off the intersection of Buckland and Allan Drive at the northern end of the foreshore caravan park.

This is an excellent facility with a two-lane concrete boat ramp suitable for boats up to 6m. The ramp has jetties either side for ease of access, with ample car parking, public toilet facilities and fish cleaning tables. Boat hire can also be arranged at the wharf. Tackle, bait and local knowledge can be obtained from Mallacoota bait & tackle run by Wayne Granger located near the main wharf and boat ramp.

The town has a permanent population of around 1,200 which swells to 2 or 3 times that figure in holiday times particularly over Christmas, so booking is mandatory. The full range of accommodation is available from excellent caravan parks, including one positioned right on the foreshore of the Bottom Lake where you can moor your boat, through to holiday units, flats, guest houses and private house rentals.

Tamboon Inlet
Tamboon Inlet is a large estuarine lake just over 3km long and up to 2km wide in its northern section, it is fed by the Cann River. The southern portion of the inlet narrows to 1-1.5km before narrowing further into a short Entrance Channel.

The beginning of the Entrance Channel is flanked to the west by the tiny holiday town of Tamboon South, which can only be accessed by boat. The Entrance Channel flows beside a huge sand dune behind Tamboon South, before pouring into the Tasman Sea. Like many of the estuaries in this region, the entrance closes from time to time.

Tamboon Inlet produces it's fair share of large dusky flathead.

Most of the lake has an average depth of between 3 and 6m. An extensive sand spit at Pelican Point forms two distinct halves in the lake, being north and south.

There is a large weed bed known as 'Eagan Bank' that is concentrated along the eastern bank in the northern section. Also along the eastern bank of the inlet are submerged rocks, known as 'Aeroplane Rocks' and 'Peters Rocks'. Weed beds are located right around the inlet's margins.

All of these areas provide good angling opportunities for big duskies. An extensive sand bar on the western side of entrance of Cann River into Tamboon Inlet is well worth a wade early morning or late afternoon, casting lures to likely flathead holding ground.

Cann River is 450km from Melbourne on the Princes Highway. A right turn onto Tamboon Road (unmade) at Cann River provides access to Tamboon Inlet.

A dusky flathead is netted on Tamboon Inlet.

The road is suitable for 2WD vehicles however corrugations limit speed. It is best to allow around 30 minutes driving time, especially if towing a boat. Approximately 20km along Tamboon Road you will reach Furnell Landing and Cann River itself.

There is a good single lane concrete boat ramp at Furnell Landing that is suitable for boats up to 5m. A holding jetty is to the right of the ramp and a large car park is available for vehicles and trailers.

This is an ideal boat ramp to use if day tripping to Cann River and Tamboon Inlet.

An earthern ramp is found at Peach Tree Camping Ground where camping facilities are provided by Parks Victoria, a permit is easily obtained outside peak holiday times.

Bemm River
The Bemm River winds it's way down from the Errinunda National Park before flowing into Sydenham Inlet. The inlet then drains into an entrance channel approximately 2km in length that intermittently breaks through to the Tasman Sea.

Sunrise on Sydenham inlet

The Entrance Channel is one of the most productive locations at Bemm River, with the full range of estuarine species, however this is the best location to target dusky flathead. Numerous reed beds, snags and weed beds line both sides of the channel.

During summer is the best time to fish a live mullet adjacent to the reed beds found on the northern bank just after the first bend. There are also several large areas at the eastern end of the Entrance Channel that are suitable for wading the flats to cast rubber tail jigs and soft plastics for flathead.

The flats either side of the Bemm River mouth as it enters Sydenham inlet are also worth a wade for big duskies.

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Bemm River is 440km from Melbourne via the Princes Highway and Sydenham Inlet Road. The Township of Bemm River is actually situated on the banks of Sydenham Inlet amongst magnificent towering gum trees. Accommodation varies from caravan parks to holiday units and rental flats. A hotel and a small general store with bait and tackle are the main amenities in town; however there are no fuel supplies for motor vehicles, these must be obtained prior to heading to Bemm.

Marlo
Like many of the East Gippsland estuaries, Marlo Inlet is fed by one or more rivers that eventually break open through an inlet or estuarine lake to the sea. In Marlo's case, the estuarine system is fed by the Snowy River and the Brodribb River via Lake Curlip. The inlet consists of Lake Corringle, the entrance channel and a backwater.

Whilst not renowned for producing many dusky flathead, several big fish have been caught over the years particularly around the backwater sand flats or Frenchs Narrows near the entrance.

Access from Melbourne is via the Princes Highway to Orbost and onto Marlo Road. Marlo Road passes under the Highway Bridge and then follows the Snowy River for some 16km before reaching the town. Marlo has a population of around 500 permanent residents with a good supply of tourist accommodation including several caravan parks, holiday units and private house rentals. Other enterprises in town include a hotel, general store, bait & tackle, take-away and fuel supplies.

Lake Tyers
Lake Tyers is one of the most picturesque estuarine lakes in East Gippsland with it's two main Arms; the Toorloo and the lengthy Nowa Nowa providing considerable fishable water. These Arms are separated by land owned by the Aboriginal Settlement Trust which is off limits to camping and exploring on foot, however there is ample coastline in other parts of the lake and it's Arms to explore and enjoy.

The waiting game!

The fishing for dusky flathead is very good at Lake Tyers with the Nowa Nowa and Toorloo Arms and the estuarine lake all providing good opportunities. As the lake is deep in parts it is possible to troll deep diving minnows for the flathead, although floating weed can still be a nuisance. Most anglers here, fish dead baits of cut pilchard or blue bait for the flathead.

Lake Tyers is a ten minute drive from Lakes Entrance approximately 315km from Melbourne via the Princes Highway. The town itself is more a settlement of holiday houses with some permanent residents. The general store, service station and hotel are the main commercial enterprises in Lake Tyers. Accommodation is plentiful at nearby Lakes Entrance.

Conclusion
The East Gippsland region of Victoria is mostly wilderness, apart from the enjoyment of the superb scenery, the lack of people outside of holiday times often means you can find a spot all to yourself.

Bemm River and Marlo have been commercial net free for some time, Tamboon Inlet recently benefited from the commercial netting buy-back and now it looks like Mallacoota and Lake Tyers are to be the first 'Recreational Fishing Only' zones to be created in Victoria,. The future certainly looks bright for the region.