Fishing Guide
The Murray River runs the length of the Mallee's northern border, from Mildura through Merbein, Red Cliffs and Robinvale to Swan Hill, with billabongs, ephemeral lakes and Wimmera-Mallee lakes scattered across the region behind it. It's some of the best native fish water in Victoria — Murray cod and golden perch (yellowbelly) are the local prize, alongside introduced redfin and carp.
Anyone aged 18–69 fishing in Victoria needs a Recreational Fishing Licence — under-18s and over-70s are exempt, along with Victorian Seniors Card holders and some Commonwealth/DVA concession card holders. Buy one at vfa.vic.gov.au ↗.
Target species
Murray cod
Maccullochella peelii
Victoria's largest native freshwater fish. Native, takeable within a 55–75 cm slot limit, closed season 1 September – 30 November in most rivers (some lakes/impoundments now stay open — check current VFA rules for your water).
Golden perch (yellowbelly)
Macquaria ambigua
Native and takeable, no closed season. Minimum size 30 cm.
Silver perch
Bidyanus bidyanus
Native and protected in the Murray River — a declining species; do not take. A limited allowance applies at Lake Mulwala only. Check the VFA before targeting this species anywhere else.
Trout cod
Maccullochella macquariensis
Native and fully protected statewide — must be returned to the water alive if caught. Easily confused with Murray cod: look for a straighter forehead profile, a dark stripe through the eye, and smaller, more numerous spots.
Redfin (English perch)
Perca fluviatilis
Introduced. No size or bag limit — take as many as you like, which helps reduce pressure on native fish.
European carp
Cyprinus carpio
Introduced noxious pest, no size or bag limit. Must NOT be returned to the water alive — Victorian law requires carp to be killed immediately on capture.
Freshwater catfish
Tandanus tandanus
Native and a threatened species — recreational take is prohibited everywhere in Victoria except the Wimmera Basin, which does not include the Mallee stretch of the Murray. Treat any catfish caught here as catch-and-release.
Murray spiny crayfish (Murray cray)
Euastacus armatus
Native and listed as threatened, but a limited recreational take is allowed under strict rules: open season 1 June – 31 August, slot limit 10–12 cm carapace length, daily bag limit 2, possession limit 4. Females carrying eggs must always be returned.
Where to fish
Where to fish — spot map
- Murray River at Mildura: Deep snags and weir pools around town — Murray cod, golden perch and redfin off the banks or by boat.
- Murray River at Merbein: Quieter stretch upstream of Mildura with good bank access and river red gum snags.
- Murray River at Red Cliffs: Below Mildura Weir — popular cod and yellowbelly water with several public reserves.
- Murray River at Robinvale: Wide river frontage near the Robinvale Bridge, with boat ramp access on both Victorian and NSW banks.
- Murray River at Swan Hill: Town reach with easy bank and jetty access; a long-time cod and yellowbelly fishery.
- Kings Billabong: A regulated Murray River anabranch and reserve near Mildura — golden perch and redfin in calmer water.
- Hattah Lakes: Ephemeral lake system in Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, fishable when Murray floodwaters fill the chain of lakes.
- Lake Charm: Popular holiday lake near Kerang stocked with golden perch — camping and a boat ramp on the foreshore.
- Lake Boga: Large recreational lake south of Swan Hill — yellowbelly and redfin, with a full-service boat ramp.
- Lake Albacutya: Remote terminal lake north of the Wyperfeld ranges — only fishable in wetter years when it holds water.
Murray River — Mildura, Merbein & Red Cliffs
Deep snags, weir pools and reserves right through town — the most accessible cod and yellowbelly water in the region.
Parks Victoria ↗Murray River — Robinvale
Wide river frontage near the Robinvale Bridge with boat ramp access on both the Victorian and NSW banks.
Parks Victoria ↗Murray River — Swan Hill
Town reach with easy bank and jetty access; a long-time local cod and yellowbelly fishery.
Parks Victoria ↗Kings Billabong
A regulated Murray anabranch and reserve near Mildura — calmer water for golden perch and redfin.
Parks Victoria ↗Hattah-Kulkyne lakes
Ephemeral lake chain in the national park, fishable when Murray floodwaters fill them.
Parks Victoria ↗Lake Charm
Popular holiday lake near Kerang, stocked with golden perch — foreshore camping and boat ramp.
Parks Victoria ↗Lake Boga
Large recreational lake south of Swan Hill with a full-service boat ramp — yellowbelly and redfin.
Parks Victoria ↗Lake Albacutya
Remote terminal lake near Wyperfeld — only holds water (and fish) in wetter years.
Parks Victoria ↗Rules & seasons
- Licence: a Recreational Fishing Licence is required for ages 18–69, with exemptions for under-18s, over-70s and some concession card holders.
- Murray cod: slot limit 55–75 cm, bag limit 1 per day in rivers (2 in some lakes/impoundments), closed season 1 September – 30 November in most waters — a small number of lakes and impoundments are now exempt from the closure, so check the specific water before you go.
- Golden perch: minimum size 30 cm, bag limit 5, no closed season.
- Silver perch and trout cod: protected in the Murray — do not take. Return any caught to the water immediately.
- Freshwater catfish: protected everywhere in Victoria except the Wimmera Basin — return any caught in the Mallee's Murray River waters.
- Murray spiny crayfish: open season 1 June – 31 August only, slot limit 10–12 cm carapace, daily bag limit 2, possession limit 4, no females carrying eggs.
- Redfin: no size or bag limit. European carp: no size or bag limit, but must not be returned to the water alive — Victorian law requires carp to be killed on capture.
Regulations change — always confirm current rules, bag limits and closed waters at the Victorian Fisheries Authority ↗ before you fish.
Boat ramps & access
The main public boat ramps are at Mildura, Robinvale, Swan Hill and Lake Charm, all suitable for trailer boats. Smaller, informal launch points exist along the river at Merbein and Red Cliffs. Some river frontage and lake access — particularly around Hattah-Kulkyne and remoter Murray-Sunset tracks — is permit-only or seasonal; check Parks Victoria conditions before you tow a boat or camp overnight.
Parks Victoria — camping & access ↗