Species
Sea Garfish
Hyporhamphus melanochir
Also known as Southern garfish · garfish
Tier 3Eating9/10ultralight tackleNSWVICSAWATAS
64 waypoints~20–35 cm typical
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Where to catch
Range & spots
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Overview: about sea garfish
Slender surface-feeding baitfish of southern Australian bays and estuaries — especially SA, VIC, TAS and southern WA. Targeted with light floats, small hooks and dough or maggot baits over berleyed weed beds. Outstanding eating when fresh and a top livebait.
Biology: Sea Garfish size, diet & habitat
- Habitat
- Estuary, Inshore
- Typical size
- 20–35 cm (max 50 cm)
- Weight
- 0.05–0.2 kg (max 0.5 kg)
- Depth range
- 0–20 m
- Diet
- plankton, weed, small crustaceans
- Most active
- diurnal
- Global range
- Southern Australia (sea garfish, river garfish, snub-nosed)
How to target: Sea Garfish angling strategies
Generally fished with ultralight tackle — match gear to the conditions and the size of fish you expect.
- berley with bread and pollard, then drift a tiny piece of prawn under a quill float
- long-shank hook with a maggot or peeled prawn under a pencil float in 1-3m over weed
- wadeable seagrass flats at SA jetties with light handlines
Best season: when to catch sea garfish in Australia
No seasonal pattern for sea garfish yet. Seasons shift with water temperature and local conditions — check state fisheries advice and recent local reports before planning a trip.
Where to catch: sea garfish fishing spots in Australia
64 mapped fishing spots, marks and waypoints for sea garfish across Australia, covering land-based fishing, rock fishing, beach fishing, surf fishing, estuary fishing, jetty and wharf fishing and offshore and bluewater fishing. Each location below links through to access notes and coordinates.
South Australia44
- Adelaide - Outer HarborBreakwall · SA-34.79°
- Beachport JettyJetty · SA-37.48°
- Black PointShoreline · SA-34.60°
- Brighton JettyJetty · SA-35.02°
- Ceduna JettyJetty · SA-32.13°
- Christies BeachBeach · SA-35.14°
- Coffin BayBay · SA-34.62°
- Coobowie BayEstuary · SA-35.05°
- Cowell JettyJetty · SA-33.69°
- Edithburgh JettyJetty · SA-35.09°
- Fisherman BayShoal · SA-33.55°
- Fitzgerald BayShoreline · SA-32.93°
- Glenelg JettyJetty · SA-34.98°
- Henley Beach JettyJetty · SA-34.92°
- Kangaroo Island - American RiverEstuary · SA-35.79°
- Kingscote JettyJetty · SA-35.65°
- Largs Bay JettyJetty · SA-34.83°
- Marino RocksRock Platform · SA-35.05°
- Moonta Bay JettyJetty · SA-34.06°
- Penneshaw JettyJetty · SA-35.72°
- Pine PointShoreline · SA-34.58°
- Point Turton JettyJetty · SA-34.94°
- Port Broughton JettyJetty · SA-33.60°
- Port Germein JettyJetty · SA-33.04°
- Port Julia JettyJetty · SA-34.54°
- Port Noarlunga ReefReef · SA-35.15°
- Port Vincent Artificial ReefReef · SA-34.78°
- Port Vincent JettyJetty · SA-34.78°
- Rapid Bay JettyJetty · SA-35.53°
- Robe BreakwallBreakwall · SA-37.16°
- Second Valley JettyJetty · SA-35.52°
- Semaphore JettyJetty · SA-34.84°
- Smoky Bay JettyJetty · SA-32.38°
- Stansbury JettyJetty · SA-34.91°
- Streaky Bay JettyJetty · SA-32.80°
- Sultana PointHeadland · SA-35.10°
- Telowie BeachBeach · SA-33.06°
- Tickera JettyJetty · SA-33.75°
- Troubridge IslandShoal · SA-35.12°
- Tumby Bay JettyJetty · SA-34.37°
- Victor Harbor Screwpile JettyJetty · SA-35.56°
- Wallaroo JettyJetty · SA-33.94°
- Whyalla - Spencer GulfShoreline · SA-33.03°
- Wool Bay JettyJetty · SA-35.02°
Tasmania10
- Bellerive BeachBeach · TAS-42.87°
- Bridport JettyJetty · TAS-41.00°
- Coles Bay JettyJetty · TAS-42.12°
- Kettering PierJetty · TAS-43.13°
- Lewisham BeachBeach · TAS-42.84°
- North West BayBay · TAS-43.02°
- Pipe Clay LagoonEstuary · TAS-42.97°
- Port Arthur BayBay · TAS-43.15°
- Port CygnetEstuary · TAS-43.16°
- Swansea JettyJetty · TAS-42.12°