Barramundi

The Barramundi would have to be one of this country’s most iconic sports fish and can be caught in both fresh and salt water. The freshwater fish are generally a lot bigger in girth than the salties as they don’t have to fight current or tide. But both can be caught using the same methods.

Habitat
Inhabits a wide variety of habitats in rivers creeks and mangrove estuaries in clear to turbid water. Most common in rivers and creeks with large catchments with a slow continuous flow and water temperatures above 20°C. Shows a distinct preference for submerged logs, rock ledges and other structure in the water. Barramundi are a catadromous species, that is it grows to maturity in the upper reaches of freshwater rivers and streams and adults move downstream, especially during flooding, to estuaries and coastal waters for spawning.

Angling
An exciting and popular target for anglers in northern Australia, Barramundi responds well to lures either cast or trolled. Large minnow pattern lures are popular and productive when fished around snags, mangrove roots rocky outcrops, submerged timber and other heavy cover. Bright metallic gold or bronze a particularly popular lure colours for these feisty fellows. Often known for its spectacular leaps from the water during the fight, the Barramundi justifiably commands respect from those who seek it out. Barramundi are also popular on heavier weight fly gear, and they will take live bait, especially mullet and prawns. Whilst some excellent specimens have been taken on dead baits, it is not generally a recommended option.

On the Table
Considered an excellent eating fish. Sometimes considered ‘muddy’ dependent on the environment.

Saratoga

Habitat
Prefers long deep muddy holes with overhanging vegetation.  Saratoga are solitary fish and are very territorial and aggressive to other members of their species.  Captured specimens often exhibit the scars of past battles.

Diet
A carnivorous fish, saratoga mainly take food from the water surface.  The bulk of their diet comprises terrestrial insects, although saratoga will take small fish, frogs, shrimps and yabbies.

Angling
A well regarded angling species, saratoga are spectacular, jumping fighters and are a favourite amongst fly fishers in the North.  Queensland minimum size 50 cm, combined possession limit for saratoga and gulf saratoga is one fish. In order to protect this ancient and wonderful fish, most anglers for saratoga use catch and release.

Size
Commonly 500-600 mm, to 900 mm & 4 Kg

On the table
Not generally considered a table fish.

Sooty Grunter

Sooty Grunter are popular freshwater fish in the Northern Parts of Australia. Sooty Grunter as the name suggests, range from a dark black colour to almost purple (hence its other name Purple Grunter). The Sooty Grunters fins are the same colour as its body. Sooty Grunter have a deep body taping down to a relatively small head. They have a small mouth with obvious lips. Common around 0.5-1.5kg but can grow as large as 3kgs

Habitat
The Sooty Grunter is found in the upper fresh water reaches of our rivers and are usually very active feeders in the clearing waters following heavy rain fall. They hit hard and provide great entertainment for light tackle sports fishing enthusiasts.

Angling
Sooty Grunter can be caught on most fresh baits suited to freshwater fishing such as live shrimp, yabbies, or worms. However most sooty now days are targeted with small lures and flies. Usually small surface poppers are around dawn and dusk can be very successful and loads of fun. Switching to minnows and sub surface lures as the sun gets higher and concentrating the casting to cover and snag areas.

On the table
Considered a good eating fish.

Yellow Belly (Golden Perch)

Golden perch are a medium sized fish, commonly 30–40 cm and 1–2 kg in rivers. Golden perch can vary greatly in shape and size. Fish from rivers are smaller and somewhat streamlined. Fish in man-made impoundments are much deeper-bodied and show much greater average and maximum sizes. Golden perch have been recorded up to 9 kg in rivers, and up to 15 kg in impoundments.

Golden perch have a distinctive concave forehead with a protruding lower jaw and truncate caudal fins, the humped back appearance increases with age. They vary in colour from bronze, olive or brownish all over with a yellow to white underside. Median fins are grey-black, while paired fins are dusky grey to yellowish. Juveniles are silvery with scattered grey mottling on the sides and dusky grey fins.

Habitat
Golden perch are predominantly found in the lowland, warmer, turbid, slow flowing rivers. In rivers when water current is still they tend to sit on or close to snags (fallen trees) or rocky outcrops. In rising waters or flooding events fish will form large schools and enter into very turbulent or fast flowing waters when trying to migrate upstream.

Angling
Golden perch or yellow belly as they are more commonly known, are a good fighting fish, they are vigorous takers of both bait and lures. Early morning and evening are the best times of the day. When the water is rising you can catch them almost anywhere on the river bank.
When water isn’t rising – cast your bait in close to snags (fallen timber, rocky outcrops or any underground structure, where they might hunt under cover). Bibbed lures and spinner baits are worth trying. A running sinker works well with some people, and sinker on the bottom will work well for the fisherman who generally fishes this way. Shrimps, worms and small yabbies are the most popular baits, and hungry perch will take prawns if the other 3 are unavailable.

On the Table
Excellent eating fish – A white flesh with a mild, light and delicate taste. It has a moist medium to firm texture, which holds its shape when cooked. Golden perch are very good fried, steamed or baked.

Silver Perch

Also known as Grunter, Murray bream, Murray perch, black bream, silver bream, bidyan, Tcheri. Sizes commonly to 410 mm; to 600 mm, 8 kg. They are vulnerable in their natural environment.

Habitat
Schools in large numbers sometimes seen near the surface. In summer often congregates below rapids and weirs. Prefers warmer sluggish waters with debris cover. Once very common throughout the warmer waters of the Murray-Darling, silver perch river numbers have dropped alarmingly in recent years. Bred extensively in the commercial sector and a popular warm water aquaculture and farm dam species, silver perch are stocked heavily in impoundments, especially in New South Wales and Queensland where it has gained a popular reputation for “disappearing” after a few years. However, this is believed to be due primarily to the change of diet experienced by larger silver perch. Despite their reputation, silvers are caught in large numbers by bank anglers using bait, in many of these impoundments.

Angling
An excellent fighting fish, silver perch are a popular target for many anglers. Because of their small mouth, smaller baits and lures are best. The best bait by far is freshwater shrimp, followed by scrubworms.

On the Table
Smaller fish (less than about 1.5 Kg) are good eating. Larger fish are better if skinned and can have a “weedy” taste.