Species
Sea Garfish
Hyporhamphus melanochir
Also known as Southern garfish · garfish
Tier 3Eating9/10ultralight tackleNSWVICSAWATAS
64 waypoints20–35 cm (max 50 cm) typical
Regulations
VICbag 40SA25 cm min · bag 60
| State | Size | Bag |
|---|---|---|
| VIC | — | 40 |
| SA | 25 cm min | 60 |
Regulations change. Always verify with the relevant state fisheries authority before fishing.
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
Recent community catches: anglers who caught sea garfish
No sea garfish catches logged yet. Log one and you'll be recognised here.
Where to catch: sea garfish fishing spots in Australia
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°
Victoria8
Western Australia1
New South Wales1
More information: sea garfish references & sources
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