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Freshwater Fish of Victoria: Australian Bass | FN0059 |
Fisheries Victoria, Melbourne
Updated: March 2007
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Often confused with Estuary Perch; the body of Australian Bass is not as deep, is usually less glossy and has darker marking on the sides. The anal and pelvic fins have white tips, and the rear part of the pelvic fin has a white margin.
Common Name:
Australian Bass
Other Names:
Freshwater perch, Perch, Eastern Freshwater Perch
Family:
Percichthyidae
Scientific Name:
Macquaria novemaculeata (Steindachner, 1866)
Status:
Native | |
Description
Tapered snout. Moderately large eyes on the side of the head. A large, oblique mouth extending to below the middle of the eye in adult fish. Lower jaw protrudes beyond upper jaw. Dark olive-green or grey on the back and upper body, lighter on the sides, yellowish-white to silver on the belly. Upper and lower rear fins often have white edges. Fins are generally greyish to colourless, and translucent. Usually a very distinct lateral line, following the upper body profile. Often has a red eye colour when freshly caught, which fades quickly after removal from water.
Distribution
Coastal species, occurring in Victoria eastwards from Wilsons Promontory,, but rarely reported west of the Promontory. Several fish taken from the Yarra River below Dights Falls. Not common as the Victorian populations are the southern limit of wider and more abundant distribution in New South Wales and Queensland.
Habitat
Victorian coastal rivers and lakes, it appears to be much more tolerant of fresh water than Estuary Perch and moves far upstream.
Brief Biology
Known to reach 575 mm in length and 3.4 kg in weight, but most commonly taken in Victoria between 750g and 1 kg. Moves from fresh water to estuaries to breed, with a spawning season from June to September in water temperatures 14-20°C.
Successful breeding appears to require water salinity levels of between 12,000 and 15,000 p.p.m. Body colour may change with sexual maturity.
Males appear to mature at a smaller size than females. Eggs are transparent and non-adhesive. Young fish hatch within 5 days and soon begin feeding. The Australian Bass is carnivorous, feeding in estuaries mainly on shrimps, insects, worms and smaller fishes. In fresh water it will feed on insects falling onto the water surface and a variety of organisms living on or near the bottom such as insects, crustaceans, tadpoles and small fish.
Other Notes
An excellent angling species, although much of the Victorian population is relatively inaccessible because of access to the streams. Specimens trapped in impoundments have been known to live for more than 15 years. Species can now be produced in hatcheries.
One of the best sport fish in south-eastern Australia, although it is not a major fishery in Victoria.
Readily caught on artificial lures and a variety of baits. An aggressive feeder and a vigorous fighting fish on the line.
Dams on coastal streams are affecting seasonal movements and possibly survival of populations in some streams.
Regulations
The Fishing Regulations specify Recreational Fishing Licence requirements and the means by which the angler may take eels. Details of licencing requirements and fishing regulations are provided in the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide available free of charge from DPI Offices and RFL sales agents.
Further Reading
Freshwater Fish of Victoria is a series of brief information material on the native and introduced freshwater fish of Victoria's inland waters. Further, detailed reading on Australian Bass is contained in:
- A Guide to the Freshwater Fish of Victoria, Phillip Cadwallader & Gary Backhouse, Department of Conservation and Environment
- Australian Freshwater Fishes, John R. Merrick & Gunther E. Schmida
- Biological Information for Management of Native Freshwater Fish in Victoria, J D Koehn, W G O'Connor
Acknowledgement
This Information Note was developed by Charles Barnham PSM, with the assistance of Gary Backhouse, Phillip Cadwallader and Tarmo Raadik. The previous version was published in April 1998.
The advice provided in this publication is intended as a source of information only. Always read the label before using any of the products mentioned. The State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
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