Fishing in Barmah National Park

Barmah National Park sits on the Victorian side of the Murray River, roughly 225 kilometres north of Melbourne, where the floodplain spreads into the largest river red gum forest in the world.

The park is built around water — seasonal floods pulse through the forest, filling channels, drains, and shallow lakes that define both the landscape and the fishing.

This is not a single-river destination; it's a mosaic of interconnected wetland water that changes character with the seasons. Barmah Lake is the most prominent still water inside the park and draws consistent attention for Murray cod and golden perch.

The lake sits within the broader floodplain system and fishes differently depending on how much water is moving through the forest. Broken Creek threads through the eastern edges of the park and connects the system to wider Murray catchment waters.

The network of named creeks — Ulupna, Budgee, Gulf, Tongalong, Snag, Sandpit, Tullah — and the numbered drains like No. 5 and No. 6 fill and recede with flood cycles, opening and closing access across the season.

When the forest is in flood, fish spread wide; as water drops, they concentrate back into the permanent channels. Murray cod and golden perch are the target species here. Yabbies are also worth pursuing in the shallower waters.

Access to many of the interior creeks and drains requires a 4WD when conditions are wet, and boat ramps give access to the lake and main channels when water levels allow. Parks Victoria manages the park, and the standard Victorian fishing licence applies.

Check current rules with Parks Victoria before you go — the Ramsar-listed wetland status means this country carries real conservation weight, and conditions on the water change faster than any printed guide can track.