From rivers to the sea, here are our favourite spots to take the family on a fishing vacation.

In quiet lakes and gently flowing rivers, pounding surf and the depths beneath your boat, the waters of Victoria’s parks and reserves offer prize catches, says Parks Victoria’s david clay.

Beside the river

The mighty Murray River provides excellent fishing opportunities, particularly for Murray cod, golden perch, catfish and yabbies. The best places to drop a line are Barmah National Park and Murray River Reserves near Echuca, and Kings Billabong, Mildura.

In Gippsland, the Tarwin River is brimming with bream, and the Aron River is home to trout and redfin. You can also head to the High Country’s Goulburn River where the trout is well known for being enthusiastically caught on a casual line.

On the lake

The largest inland body of water in the Mornington Peninsula belongs in the Devilbend Natural Features Reserve, which is also home to rainbow trout, brown trout and estuary perch. These species have been stocked, making it a great place for recreational fishing. It’s also a top spot for sightseeing, as the reserve provides valuable habitat for water birds and shorebirds, and non-powered watercraft are allowed in certain areas.

Victoria’s High Country is home to lush Lake Eildon, a fishing haven frequently used for freshwater fishing sports events.

Keen fisher folk and canoeing enthusiasts will not want to miss the little treasure that is Lake Wartook, surrounded by the mountains and forests of the Grampians National Park. Just half an hour from Halls Gap and boasting a big reputation for redfin and brown trout, Lake Wartook is suitable for canoeing adventures as well as fly-, boat and shore fishing.

In Gippsland, Blue Rock Lake is famous for fly-fishing. Visitors can try their hand at trout fishing in the Goldfields, home to more than 1,000 public and private trout lakes, and popular Lake Wendouree, Lake Eppalock and Cairn Curran Reservoir.

Closer to Melbourne, Albert Park boasts an array of fish, with 15,000 silver perch recently restocked into its waters. While those won’t quite be ready for a couple of years, there are plenty others that are, with estuary perch and golden perch reaching sizes of over five kilograms. Fishing here makes for a great activity in what is already a highly regarded family friendly location.

Around the bay

Like snapper? The arrival of spring signals that the migration of the species into Port Phillip is on in earnest, and it continues through to late autumn. Visitors should head to Patterson River next to Chelsea Beach, which is a favourite fishing spot among local residents.

In the shallow waters of Western Port, you can find the famous King George whiting. Renowned for its flavour and putting up a good fight on a light line, King George whiting are a great catch. Fish in three to five metres of water among seagrass beds and sand patches from late spring through autumn, with pipis, sandworms, mussels, squid and bass yabbies as bait on a 4-6 hook.

Also, the Bellarine Peninsula is an easy drive from Melbourne and a great spot for fishing during the warmer months, while St Leonards Pier provides good fishing for snapper, squid, flathead and whiting.

Into the sea

Victoria’s vast Gippsland region offers excellent surf fishing, with a plethora of great spots to choose from. Pearl Point at Cape Conran Coastal Park to Loch Sport Beach, Inverloch, and the wild waters at Corinella, are all worthy destinations.

On the Great Ocean Road it’s all about surf fishing around Portland and nearby Narrawong Beach.

Meanwhile, surrounded by the beautiful Croajingolong National Park, Mallacoota Inlet, in Victoria’s northeast, is a flathead oasis. Snap up the best catch on the Mornington Peninsula on a Port Phillip Bay fishing charter during the “crimson tide”, the annual snapper migration.

For more on fishing across the state, visit parkweb.vic.gov.au.