Species
Swallowtail Dart
Trachinotus coppingeri
Tier 3Eating6/10light tackleNSWQLDWANT
5 waypoints~25–45 cm typical
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Range & spots
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Overview: about swallowtail dart
Fast schooling fish of the surf zone and inshore beaches along the east and northern coasts. Targeted from beaches with small metal slugs, pipi baits and beach worms in shallow gutters. Hits hard for their size and great fun on light beach tackle.
Biology: Swallowtail Dart size, diet & habitat
- Habitat
- Beach, Inshore
- Typical size
- 25–45 cm (max 75 cm)
- Weight
- 0.5–2 kg (max 6 kg)
- Depth range
- 0–20 m
- Diet
- pipis, beach worms, small crustaceans
- Most active
- diurnal
- Global range
- Indo-West Pacific subtropical and tropical
How to target: Swallowtail Dart angling strategies
Generally fished with light tackle — match gear to the conditions and the size of fish you expect.
- pipi or beach worm on a long-shank hook in beach gutters
- small metal slugs cast through surf foam at dawn
- soft plastics worked through the wash on shallow points
Best season: when to catch swallowtail dart in Australia
- NSW
- Oct-May (north coast)
- QLD
- year-round
Seasons shift with water temperature and local conditions, so check recent reports before a trip.
Where to catch: swallowtail dart fishing spots in Australia
5 mapped fishing spots, marks and waypoints for swallowtail dart across Australia, covering land-based fishing, rock fishing, beach fishing and surf fishing. Each location below links through to access notes and coordinates.