At a glance
What's local
Dusky flathead and black and yellowfin bream. Flathead fire roughly November to April, and bream are caught year-round.
Seafood on the inlet
Scallywags, at 14 Allan Drive, is a waterfront seafood restaurant serving fresh locally caught fish and chips.
Fishing licence
You need a Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence for fresh and saltwater fishing. Buy it online. Under-18s are among the exemptions.
Clean your catch
The Main Wharf, at the northern end of Buckland Drive, has fish-cleaning tables and a public boat ramp.
On this page6 sections
Fresh seafood in Mallacoota: the short answer
For fresh seafood in Mallacoota, start at Scallywags Restaurant & Bar, a waterfront seafood restaurant on the inlet that serves fresh locally caught fish and chips. The other way is to catch it yourself: you need a Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence, and the Main Wharf has fish-cleaning tables for your catch. Lee's Takeaway has closed, so don't plan around it.
What's local?
Mallacoota is best known for dusky flathead and for black and yellowfin bream. There are also tailor, Australian salmon, luderick, trevally, estuary perch and mulloway, and offshore there are snapper, gummy shark and kingfish.
Flathead fire in the warmer months, roughly November to April, and bream are caught year-round. For what bites when, see our Mallacoota fishing season guide.
Where to eat fresh seafood
These are the places to start for seafood or fish and chips:
| Where | What's on offer | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Scallywags Restaurant & Bar, 14 Allan Drive | A waterfront seafood restaurant on the inlet, serving fresh locally caught fish and chips. Takes bookings online. | 03 4110 2059 |
| Mallacoota Hotel Motel, 51–55 Maurice Avenue | The Family Bistro serves seafood, seven days for lunch and dinner, and the pub does sit-down fish and chips. | 03 5158 0455 |
| Cafe 54, 54 Maurice Avenue | Does fish and chips. Open year-round, seven days. | 03 5158 0646 |
Our Mallacoota restaurant guide covers more places to eat, and our page on fish and chips since Lee's closed covers the pub's pizzas too.
Where to buy fresh seafood
We haven't been able to confirm a shop or stall in town selling fresh local seafood, so we won't send you to one. If we confirm one, it'll go on this page.
The Wild Harvest Seafood Festival is Mallacoota's seafood festival. It has black-lip abalone, oysters, mussels and sea urchin from local divers, plus a market, inlet cruises, fishing workshops and kids' activities. The next date hasn't been announced, so check wildharvestseafoodfestival.com, or read our Wild Harvest guide.
Catching and cooking your own
You need a Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence for fresh and saltwater fishing. You can buy one online, and under-18s are among the exemptions.
- Where to fish without a boat: kids can fish off the jetties and the Main Wharf, in sheltered water with no boat needed.
- Gear: tackle and bait can be found at the Caltex & BP service station as well as IGA. Mallacoota Hireboats, at 10 Buckland Drive, hires fishing rods for $10 a day (0474 818 058).
- Whiting: they're caught on light gear in the shallows with pipis or sandworms.
- Cleaning: the Main Wharf, at the northern end of Buckland Drive, has fish-cleaning tables and a public boat ramp.
- Cooking: Betka Beach has a grassy area, picnic tables, gas barbecues and toilets.
Keep only what you'll eat. For where to fish and hiring a boat, read our guide to fishing in Mallacoota. For an offshore trip, Mallacoota Fishing Charters is run by Matt and Luke from Bastion Point Road, and its trips target kingfish, snapper and bottom fish. See our guide to fishing charters.
Bringing your boat
15 of our 17 houses have room to park a boat. Lacy's Place and Vista Views don't. Booking direct means lower fees than Airbnb or Stayz, and Amelia will help match you to the house that suits you. Book by phone on 0401 825 547 or through the enquiry form, or browse the houses.
Good to know
Seafood and fish and chips
- Scallywags, 14 Allan Drive03 4110 2059
- Mallacoota Hotel Motel, 51–55 Maurice Avenue03 5158 0455
- Cafe 54, 54 Maurice Avenue03 5158 0646
Catching your own
- Tackle and baitthe Caltex & BP service station, and IGA
- Rod hireMallacoota Hireboats, 10 Buckland Drive, $10 a day, 0474 818 058
- Fish-cleaning tablesthe Main Wharf, northern end of Buckland Drive