Werribee River Fishing

Werribee River Fishing Overview

Werribee River – Photo Credit Ferylbob CC Licensed

Fishing Werribee River has increasingly become a better option in recent years.

The efforts by the Victorian Fisheries Authority to stock the river with species like Estuary Perch are very welcome.

The river starts its life near the townships of Ballan and Bachus Marsh.  Mostly as small pools linked by what is a small creek.

The river itself flows through into the Melton area.  There’s where Melton Reservoir fishing for Redfin has become a popular spot.  Landbased and especially kayak.

As the river flows out of the reservoir towards the sea it begins to widen to a much larger degree.  By the time it makes it to the Werribee Open Planes Zoo and the golf course where it becomes increasingly more brackish before meeting the sea at Werribee South.

To be clear – above the Werribee Weir the water is fresh, below that it gradually becomes saltier.

Bream range from the river mouth all the way up to the Golf Course.

Werribee River fishing opportunities, therefore, include the Melton Reservoir and below for Redfin and Carp.  The brackish zones where kayak fishing is awesome.

Then on into the Werribee River Estuary at Werribee South where you can fish the Werribee South Pier, Werribee South Beach and out to Port Phillip Bay from the Werribee Boat Ramp.

The amount of flow in the river is controlled by the Melton Reservoir and the Werribee River.  Both of these reduce or increase the amount of flow which in turn affects the depth of the river.

In the fresh chasing Redfin, I’ve had some success with the Strike Tiger Nymph patterns in the past.  My favourite is the Black Caviar.

But I’ve done one with regular spinners with a flash of red and a silver blade with Reddies too.

In the estuary, I have targetted Bream with a wide variety of tackle.  Including bait and lures.  I have had more success with bait.  However, that is not an experience shared by all fishos with a huge number doing well on a variety of soft plastics.

Bait wise I’ve had success using chicken (with my “secret sauce”), pippis and pilchards.  I’ve only caught flathead using prawn here.

Keep your lines light unless your hunting Mulloway exclusively (not my pick of locations if that’s the case.)

For most fishing on the river, a 6 to 7-foot spinning rod is going to work well.

I’d probably keep hook and jig sizes small too if I were you.  Bigger fish are going to caught on the smaller sized hooks.  This may result in a lot of smaller numbers, but at least you’ll land fish.  Not just get bites.

Fish Species	Quick Info
Australian Bass	Season: Seasonal Note: Suggested Bait:
Black Bream	Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Can become less active during Winter. Activity picking up late August. Active during warmer months. Suggested Bait: Bluebait, Chicken Breast, Crabs, Earthworms, Mussels, Pilchards, Pipis, Prawns, Sandworms, Whitebait
Estuary Perch	Season: Seasonal Note: Suggested Bait:
European Carp	Season: All Year Round - Noxious Imported Species. Must *not* be returned to waterways alive. Help our freshwater systems - actively target carp. Seasonal Note: Suggested Bait: Earthworms, Corn, Chicken
Flathead	Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Suggested Bait: Bluebait, Chicken Breast, Flathead Fillets, Mullet Fillets, Mussels, Pilchards, Pipis, Prawns, Sandworms, Squid Tentacles, Whitebait, Whiting Fillets
Mullet	Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Can sometimes be the only game in town during cooler weather. Suggested Bait: Bluebait, Chicken Breast, Earthworms, Mussels, Pilchards, Pipis, Prawns, Squid Tentacles
Mulloway	Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Suggested Bait: Squid, Pilchards, Whitebait, Bluebait, Pippis, Prawn, Chicken, Fish Fillets
Pinky Snapper	Season: All Year Round. But much more prevalent during warmer months. Seasonal Note: October through to March. Suggested Bait: Bluebait, Chicken Breast, Flathead Fillets, Mullet Fillets, Pilchards, Pipis, Squid Tentacles, Whitebait, Whiting Fillets
Rainbow Trout	Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Has a Closed Season in Some States of Australia. Victoria’s Trout Season can be checked here. Suggested Bait: Bardi Grub, Earthworms, Scrub Worms,Soft Plastic Lures, Spinners, Spoons, Flys
Redfin	Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Sometimes known as English Perch. Can be less active in warmer weather. Suggested Bait: Bardi Grub, Chicken Breast, Earthworms, Scrub Worms, Yabbies. Soft plastics. Spinners - love dashes of Red and even a bit of green colour on lures
Short Finned Eel	Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: Suggested Bait:
Snapper	Season: Later September to end of March. Seasonal Note: Adult specimens often come closer towards shore to feed on reefs during rougher weather. Suggested Bait: Bluebait, Chicken Breast, Crabs, Flathead Fillets, Mullet Fillets, Mussels, Pilchards, Pipis, Prawns, Sandworms, Squid, Squid Hoods, Squid Tentacles, Whitebait, Whiting Fillets
Yabby	Season: All Year Round Seasonal Note: With a Scientific name like this what's not to love? Similar to the Crawdads of the United States. Great eating. Great bait. Suggested Bait: Earthworms, Diced Steak, Pieces of Fish, Dried Dog Food. Usually caught in traps.

*Some fish species vary according to time of year and local environmental conditions.

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