Species
Australian Herring
Arripis georgianus
Also known as ruff · tommy ruff · Australian ruff
Tier 3Eating6/10ultralight tackleVICSAWATAS
85 waypoints20–30 cm (max 40 cm) typical
Regulations
SA21 cm min · bag 30WAbag 12
| State | Size | Bag |
|---|---|---|
| SA | 21 cm min | 30 |
| WA | — | 12 |
Regulations change. Always verify with the relevant state fisheries authority before fishing.
Overview: about australian herring
Southern Australian schooling fish (also called tommy ruff in SA) found from WA across to VIC. Targeted with metal slices, small flies and bait from jetties, beaches and rock walls. Fun light-tackle target and excellent fresh or smoked.
Biology: Australian Herring size, diet & habitat
- Habitat
- Beach, Estuary, Inshore
- Typical size
- 20–30 cm (max 40 cm)
- Weight
- 0.2–0.5 kg (max 1 kg)
- Depth range
- 0–30 m
- Diet
- small baitfish, krill, prawns
- Most active
- diurnal
- Global range
- Southern Australia (Australian herring, Arripis georgianus — NOT a true herring)
How to target: Australian Herring angling strategies
Generally fished with ultralight tackle — match gear to the conditions and the size of fish you expect.
- small metal slugs cast off WA beaches and jetties
- ganged pilchards under a float off rock platforms
- small soft plastics around jetty pylons
Best season: when to catch australian herring in Australia
- WA
- Mar-Aug (south-west)
Seasons shift with water temperature and local conditions, so check recent reports before a trip.
Recent community catches: anglers who caught australian herring
No australian herring catches logged yet. Log one and you'll be recognised here.
Where to catch: australian herring fishing spots in Australia
Western Australia54
- Albany - Princess Royal HarbourEstuary · WA-35.03°
- Ammo Jetty (Woodman Point)Jetty · WA-32.14°
- Augusta / Blackwood River MouthRiver Mouth · WA-34.31°
- Binningup BeachBeach · WA-33.15°
- Bremer Bay Back BeachBeach · WA-34.41°
- Bunbury Artificial ReefReef · WA-33.27°
- Bunbury Cut (The Plug)Estuary · WA-33.33°
- Busselton JettyJetty · WA-33.64°
- Cape Le Grand BeachBeach · WA-33.96°
- Cape LeeuwinHeadland · WA-34.37°
- Cape NaturalisteHeadland · WA-33.54°
- Cape Peron (Rockingham)Headland · WA-32.27°
- Cape RicheHeadland · WA-34.60°
- City Beach GroyneBreakwall · WA-31.93°
- Coogee Beach JettyJetty · WA-32.12°
- Cottesloe ReefReef · WA-31.99°
- Dawesville CutEstuary · WA-32.63°
- Duke of Orleans BayBeach · WA-33.95°
- Eagle Bay / MeelupBay · WA-33.56°
- Emu PointBreakwall · WA-34.99°
- Esperance - Bandy CreekBoat Ramp · WA-33.84°
- Floreat Beach GroyneBreakwall · WA-31.94°
- Fremantle North MoleBreakwall · WA-32.06°
- Fremantle South MoleBreakwall · WA-32.06°
- Frenchman BayBeach · WA-35.09°
- Garden Island Careening BayBay · WA-32.22°
- Geographe Bay Artificial Reef (Dunsborough)Reef · WA-33.56°
- Geraldton ForeshoreShoreline · WA-28.78°
- Hamelin BayBeach · WA-34.23°
- Hillarys Boat HarbourBreakwall · WA-31.82°
- Hopetoun JettyJetty · WA-33.95°
- Israelite BayBeach · WA-33.61°
- Leighton BeachBeach · WA-32.02°
- Lucky BayBeach · WA-33.99°
- Mandurah Artificial ReefReef · WA-32.52°
- Margaret River MouthRiver Mouth · WA-33.96°
- Mindarie Keys MarinaBreakwall · WA-31.69°
- Misery BeachBeach · WA-35.11°
- North Beach ReefReef · WA-31.86°
- North Cottesloe ReefReef · WA-31.99°
- Old Dunsborough BeachBeach · WA-33.62°
- Penguin Island ChannelShoal · WA-32.31°
- Salmon HolesBeach · WA-35.12°
- Sorrento BeachBeach · WA-31.83°
- Success Boat HarbourBoat Ramp · WA-32.11°
- Swanbourne BeachBeach · WA-31.97°
- Trigg Island ReefReef · WA-31.87°
- Two Peoples BayBay · WA-34.97°
- Walpole-Nornalup InletEstuary · WA-34.98°
- West Beach (Esperance)Beach · WA-33.87°
- Whitfords Beach ReefReef · WA-31.79°
- Wilson InletEstuary · WA-34.98°
- Wylie BayBeach · WA-33.86°
- Yallingup ReefReef · WA-33.64°
South Australia31
- Aldinga BeachBeach · SA-35.28°
- Boomer BeachBeach · SA-35.57°
- Brighton JettyJetty · SA-35.02°
- Cactus BeachBeach · SA-32.07°
- Carrickalinga BeachBeach · SA-35.44°
- Fowlers Bay JettyJetty · SA-31.99°
- Glenelg JettyJetty · SA-34.98°
- Granite Island CausewayBreakwall · SA-35.56°
- Henley Beach JettyJetty · SA-34.92°
- Horseshoe Bay, Port ElliotBeach · SA-35.54°
- Kingscote JettyJetty · SA-35.65°
- Largs Bay JettyJetty · SA-34.83°
- Marino RocksRock Platform · SA-35.05°
- Middleton BeachBeach · SA-35.52°
- Moonta Bay JettyJetty · SA-34.06°
- Normanville BeachBeach · SA-35.45°
- Penneshaw JettyJetty · SA-35.72°
- Petrel CoveBeach · SA-35.59°
- Pine PointShoreline · SA-34.58°
- Point Turton JettyJetty · SA-34.94°
- Port Noarlunga ReefReef · SA-35.15°
- Port Rickaby JettyJetty · SA-34.69°
- Second Valley JettyJetty · SA-35.52°
- Semaphore JettyJetty · SA-34.84°
- Stansbury JettyJetty · SA-34.91°
- The BluffHeadland · SA-34.07°
- Tickera JettyJetty · SA-33.75°
- Victor Harbor Screwpile JettyJetty · SA-35.56°
- Wallaroo JettyJetty · SA-33.94°
- West Beach ShorelineBeach · SA-34.95°
- Wool Bay JettyJetty · SA-35.02°
More information: australian herring references & sources
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