Species
Cocky Salmon
Polydactylus macrochir
Also known as king threadfin · blind salmon · burnett salmon · gold threadfin · king salmon · kingfish · Sheridan threadfin · threadfin salmon
Tier 5Eating7/10light tackleQLDWANT
10 waypoints20–40 cm (max 60 cm) typical
Overview: about cocky salmon
Cooktown and Cape York local name for the king threadfin salmon. Found across northern Australia in turbid estuaries, river mouths and beaches. Targeted with vibes, soft plastics and live baits around tide changes — soft mouths reward steady pressure rather than heavy hooksets.
Biology: Cocky Salmon size, diet & habitat
- Habitat
- Estuary, River
- Typical size
- 20–40 cm (max 60 cm)
- Weight
- 0.3–1 kg (max 3 kg)
- Depth range
- 0–10 m
- Diet
- prawns, small baitfish
- Most active
- crepuscular
- Global range
- Indo-West Pacific tropics (Lates calcarifer juvenile or Threadfin spp. depending on region)
How to target: Cocky Salmon angling strategies
Generally fished with light tackle — match gear to the conditions and the size of fish you expect.
- small soft plastics and shallow hardbodies in tropical creek mouths
- live prawns under a small float
Safety & handling
In the same waters
- saltwater crocodiles in northern estuaries
Conservation
IUCN: Least Concern
Regional vernacular — confirm species locally.
Recent community catches: anglers who caught cocky salmon
No cocky salmon catches logged yet. Log one and you'll be recognised here.
Where to catch: cocky salmon fishing spots in Australia
Tasmania10
- Boat Harbour BeachBeach · TAS-40.95°
- Bowen Bridge DerwentWharf · TAS-42.79°
- Cornelian BayShoreline · TAS-42.86°
- Fortescue BayShoreline · TAS-43.14°
- Lindisfarne BayShoreline · TAS-42.85°
- Risdon CoveEstuary · TAS-42.81°
- Sandy Bay BeachBeach · TAS-42.90°
- Strahan WharfWharf · TAS-42.15°
- The Nut StanleyHeadland · TAS-40.76°
- Trumpeter Bay BrunyShoreline · TAS-43.24°
More information: cocky salmon references & sources
Saved.