Species
Estuary Perch
Macquaria colonorum
Tier 3Eating7/10light tackleNSWVICSATAS
10 waypoints~25–40 cm typical
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Range & spots
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Overview: about estuary perch
Close cousin of Australian bass found in coastal estuaries and lower river reaches from southern QLD to TAS. Targeted with soft plastics, hardbodies and live baits around snags, drop-offs and bridge pylons. Closed seasons protect winter spawning aggregations.
Biology: Estuary Perch size, diet & habitat
- Habitat
- Estuary, River
- Typical size
- 25–40 cm (max 60 cm)
- Weight
- 0.4–1.5 kg (max 4 kg)
- Depth range
- 0–15 m
- Diet
- shrimp, small fish, insects
- Most active
- crepuscular
- Global range
- Endemic to south-east Australia (Percalates colonorum)
How to target: Estuary Perch angling strategies
Generally fished with light tackle — match gear to the conditions and the size of fish you expect.
- small soft plastics and 50mm hardbodies along snag edges in tidal rivers
- live shrimp under a small float at dusk
- blade vibes hopped through deep estuary holes in winter
Best season: when to catch estuary perch in Australia
- NSW
- May-Sep (south coast rivers)
- VIC
- Mar-Sep (Gippsland Lakes)
Seasons shift with water temperature and local conditions, so check recent reports before a trip.
Where to catch: estuary perch fishing spots in Australia
10 mapped fishing spots, marks and waypoints for estuary perch across Australia, covering land-based fishing, estuary fishing, freshwater fishing and impoundment fishing. Each location below links through to access notes and coordinates.
Victoria9
- Erskine RiverRiver Mouth · VIC-38.54°
- Genoa RiverRiver Mouth · VIC-37.50°
- Lake WellingtonDam · VIC-38.12°
- Mitchell River Silt JettiesEstuary · VIC-37.89°
- Painkalac CreekEstuary · VIC-38.46°
- Tambo River - Swan ReachEstuary · VIC-37.75°
- Tamboon InletEstuary · VIC-37.77°
- Wingan InletEstuary · VIC-37.73°
- Wye RiverRiver Mouth · VIC-38.64°