Fishing Information:
Local species of fish that are known to anglers are Bream, Flathead, Perch, Salmon, Taylor, Mullet, Bass above the waterfall and Gummy Shark at the surf beaches at night.
Petrol is not available in the Town and should be purchased from either Orbost or Cann River on the way.
Inlet Fishing
It is advisable to fish from a small to medium sized boat, as access to the inlet and the channel to the ocean requires the use of a boat, which can be hired locally. The Inlet closes to the ocean when the sand bar at the mouth accumulates, and the Inlet is opened by blasting or hand digging only after it rises about 1.6 metres above the normal level. The main landing ramp can be accessed continually as the water rises. Care should be taken in rough weather retrieving your boat. If it is really rough and the wind is from the south or west, do not attempt to cross the inlet in a small boat. Stay at the refuge hut at the mouth of the channel until the weather calms down.
When the Inlet is open to the ocean, the water level in Sydenham Inlet can result in the sand bars being covered by only a few centimeters of water or even becoming exposed. If the water level is low, you may be required to get out and pull your boat across the sand bars into the river or to Swan Lake Channel.
Bank fishing in the Inlet can be done from the fishing platform near the main jetty, from the small finger jetty or via access tracks to the inlet on the Pearl Point Road.
River Fishing
There are several places to access the river by walking including at the back of the farm through the walk way provided to the fishing platform on the river. Secondly, the road into town at Dolly’s Garden offers access to a cleared bank and also a fishing platform. There are also several access points along the road heading out of town up to the bridge and waterfall. Above the waterfall near the bridge, the river is fresh and trout and bass are sought in some of the upstream rugged valleys.
Beach Fishing
Surf fishing is possible southwest of the town by a short road trip toward Pearl Point or by boating across the inlet to the channel and surf fishing at the blowhole or at the mouth of the inlet channel. Tides at the beach around the Bemm are 3 hours 21 minutes before Port Phillip Heads.
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The township is famous for its fishing but in more recent times other nature-based activities have also attracted holiday makers to the area including bird watchers, eco-tourists and hikers. The town contains a hotel, a shop, a caravan park and a number of self-contained flats and bungalows. For more information about Bemm River, including accommodation and fishing supplies go to bemmriver.org.au.