Fish Identification

 

Australian Bass

 

Mary River Cod


Golden Perch (Yellowbelly)

 

Siver Perch

Pest Species Identification

Other Fish Identification

 

Australian Bass

Scientific name

Macquaria novemaculeata

 

 

 

 

Other names

bass, estuary perch

Frequent misidentifications

silver perch

Distribution

Freshwater environment, occasionally enters estuaries during spawning season in winter or peak flood periods

Found in South East Queensland, north to the Burnett River system

Also stocked in many impoundments.

Size

  • common length - 40cm

  • maximum length - 65cm

Size and bag limits

  • minimum size - 30cm

  • bag limit - 2

Features that distinguish Australian bass from silver perch

  • mouth - relatively large compared to silver perch

  • dorsal and anal fins - deeply notched

  • body - deeply compressed

 

Mary River Cod

Scientific name

Maccullochella peelii mariensis

Frequent misidentifications

Murray cod

Description

  • body colouration; golden-yellow to green to dark brown mottling, soft dorsal, anal and caudal fins have thin white margins.

  • head profile concave, with large mouth, extending back to behind the eye.

  • The pelvic fins are longer and the caudal peduncle (tail wrist) shorter than in the Murray cod.

  • Reportedly grow to 40kg, but uncommon over 70cm and 5kg.

Distribution

Restricted to the Mary river catchment and stocked in some SEQ impoundments. Likes areas of low flow, resides around undercut banks and fallen timber.

Size

  • common length - 50 cm

  • maximum length - 120 cm

Size and bag limits

  • minimum size - 50 cm from listed stocked impoundments.

  • bag limit - 1 from listed stocked impoundments below.

  • NO TAKE SPECIES IN ALL OTHER WATERS. If accidentally caught, these species should immediately and carefully be returned to the water.

Stocked impoundments where Mary River cod can be taken

Upstream of the walls of Cressbrook, Hinze, Maroon, Moogerah, North Pine, Somerset and Wivenhoe Dams and lakes Dyer (Bill Gunn dam) and Clarendon.

 

Golden Perch (Yellowbelly)

Scientific name

Macquaria ambigua

Other names

None

Frequent misidentifications

Australian bass

Description

  • Large perch with distinctive concave  forehead profile, humped back appearance increases with age.

  • Protruding lower jaw and truncate tail fin.

  • Adults bronze/olive/brownish overall with a yellow belly.

Distribution

  • Prefers warm slow moving turbid sections of streams but also found in flooded backwaters and stocked impoundments.

  • Found naturally in the Murray Darling, Lake Eyre /Bulloo basins and Dawson and Fitzroy rivers.

  • Commonly stocked in most impoundments from Yeppoon south.

Size

  • common length - 40 cm

  • maximum length - 75 cm

Size and bag limits

  • size limit - 30 cm

  • bag limit - 10

 

Silver Perch

Scientific name

Bidyanus bidyanus

Other names

None

Frequent misidentifications

Barcoo grunter, Welsh´s grunter

Description

  • Large grunter species characterized by a small mouth and head relative to body size.

  • Colour usually silvery grey with darker scale margins, belly whitish and fins dusky grey to black.

Distribution

Rivers lakes and impoundments preferring areas of rapid flow

Size

  • common length - 30 cm

  • maximum length - 50 cm

Size and bag limits

  • size limit - 30 cm minimum

  • bag limit - 5 combined silver perch, Welsh´s grunter and Barcoo grunter

  • Silver perch caught in the Paroo and Warrego river basins are a NO TAKE species