Fishing in Croajingolong National Park

Croajingolong stretches along the far eastern edge of Victoria's coastline for roughly 100 kilometres, taking in a string of coastal inlets, tidal rivers, and estuaries backed by eucalypt forest and heathland.

The fishing here is almost entirely estuary and inlet work — sheltered water bodies where tidal influence, bream, and patience tend to go together. Wingan Inlet is the water most anglers come back to.

Black bream school up through the lake system between December and May, and the inlet's relative remoteness keeps pressure low. Access requires a 4WD, and the campground at Wingan puts you right on the water.

Thurra River is another focal point, with camping nearby and the same estuary species mix.

The broader park holds estuary perch, sea mullet, luderick, trevally, and yellowfin bream across its tidal systems, along with common galaxias and long-finned eels further into the freshwater reaches.

Surf beaches within the park hold Australian salmon and tailor, along with sharks and rays. Boat ramps serving the park's waters are at Bemm River, Tamboon Inlet, Karbeethong, Mallacoota, and Gipsy Point — worth knowing before you load the tinnie.

The Genoa River and Bemm River are both accessible from those ramp points and fish the same estuary species. Fishing here sits inside a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, which shapes how you move through it.

Standard Victorian recreational fishing rules apply; check with Parks Victoria for any conditions specific to individual waters before you go, as rules can vary by location within the park.

The park rewards anglers who treat the access as part of the deal — long drives on dirt, tides that matter, and water that hasn't been hammered. That's the trade-off, and most people who make it once come back.