Pick the right day and the right tide, and it’s tough to beat a day’s fishing on the Far South Coast of NSW in Merimbula. Mark Frauenfelder, formally of Merimbula Tween Waters Holiday Park, explains why.
Back in the day, fisherman like my Grandfather, Don Mitchelson, commercially fished in Merimbula bay and lake.
Perched on the cliff ledge just beyond Bar Beach was a small stone hut, which they built for their lookout. They kept warm by the fire as they all watched for signs of diving birds, which signalled a school of salmon.
Once the salmon were spotted, the fishermen clambered down wooden ladders to their boats below and rowed out to where the schools were. The salmon were slowly brought into the lake and stored in fish pens waiting to be transported to the fish markets in Sydney and Melbourne. This is why the area is called Fishpen.
Today, Merimbula is still widely known as a great fishing spot. There is no need to bring your boat, as you are spoilt for choice with great shore-based fishing spots.
There is the beach for salmon, or the lake for bream, whiting, flathead, and the occasional tailor.
The best time to beach fish is on a rising tide: choose one of the many gutters up and down the beach. Gutters can be recognised by darker water, which is deeper water, or the lack of a breaking wave.
Popular bait for beach fishing is beach worms, and these can be caught on the beach. However, it takes a lot of practice and skill to catch these worms. They are quick, and if you miss once they are gone. I must admit that I often think worming is more fun than fishing! The best tip for worming is to find someone who has mastered the art and have them teach you.
Elsewhere, Merimbula Lake offers superb fishing. You can pump for nippers at low tide just near the causeway and then cast out in the channel to land flathead or whiting. It is very easy to fish around the foreshore of the lake on the many small jetties. And walking tracks ensure it is easy to reach prime fishing spots.
Merimbula Lake is flanked by oyster leases, which offer great fishing. Walk past the Fisheries’ office along the boardwalk to the sandbank to catch flathead and bream.
If you are bringing your boat, you will reliably get a feed of flathead in the bay. Venture around the point to the reefs for snapper, ‘kingies’, and the odd tuna.
Merimbula is a beautiful location, and you are spoilt for choice when it comes to fishing. We hope to see you soon at Merimbula Tween Waters Holiday Park for your next fishing adventure.
We have two great Partner Parks in Merimbula.
This holiday park offers a variety of powered grassy & slab sites, as well as non-powered sites, for tents and motorhomes, all with fantastic views of the Merimbula Lakes. We offer a range of basic amenities including a large, enclosed camp kitchen, guest laundry, amenities block, BBQ area, saltwater pool and more. Plus, they're pet friendly, so furry family members are welcome!
A pet-friendly caravan park perched on the headland overlooking the sea. There are so many accommodations to choose from, you’ll be spoiled for choice. The resort is a kids’ paradise, with a huge range of facilities that’ll keep them entertained for hours including a splash park, resort-style swimming pool, bouncing pillow, go-karts, games room, playground, tennis court, kids’ club and more.
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