Species
Pearl Perch
Glaucosoma scapulare
Tier 3Eating10/10medium tackleVulnerableNSWQLD
54 waypoints~35–55 cm typical
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Range & spots
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Overview: about pearl perch
Premium east-coast reef fish found mainly off southern QLD and northern NSW in 40-150m. Targeted with bait and jigs over offshore reef and gravel grounds. Slow-growing, tightly regulated and one of the best eating fish on the east coast.
Biology: Pearl Perch size, diet & habitat
- Habitat
- Offshore, Reef
- Typical size
- 35–55 cm (max 70 cm)
- Weight
- 1–3 kg (max 8 kg)
- Depth range
- 40–200 m
- Diet
- small reef fish, squid, crustaceans
- Most active
- diurnal
- Global range
- Endemic to east coast Australia
How to target: Pearl Perch angling strategies
Generally fished with medium tackle — match gear to the conditions and the size of fish you expect.
- squid or pilchard on a paternoster rig over deep reef in 60-120m
- soft plastics and slow-pitch jigs over offshore pinnacles
Best season: when to catch pearl perch in Australia
- NSW
- year-round (offshore)
- QLD
- Sep-Apr (outside closure)
Seasons shift with water temperature and local conditions, so check recent reports before a trip.
Where to catch: pearl perch fishing spots in Australia
54 mapped fishing spots, marks and waypoints for pearl perch across Australia, covering land-based fishing, rock fishing, estuary fishing and offshore and bluewater fishing. Each location below links through to access notes and coordinates.
Queensland40
- 10 mile North endReef · QLD-26.60°
- 12 mileReef · QLD-26.53°
- 12 mile SouthReef · QLD-26.57°
- 18 mile MiddleReef · QLD-26.57°
- 18 mile NorthReef · QLD-26.53°
- 18 mile SouthReef · QLD-26.58°
- 21 mile edge of the Barwon Banks in MiddleReef · QLD-26.55°
- 23 mile edge of the Barwon Banks NW endReef · QLD-26.48°
- 85m Ridge of the Barwon BanksReef · QLD-26.47°
- Caloundra 12 mileReef · QLD-26.80°
- Caloundra Wide Northern endReef · QLD-26.70°
- Caloundra Wide South Western endReef · QLD-26.85°
- Cape Moreton TrenchReef · QLD-26.93°
- Chardons Reef off NoosaReef · QLD-26.43°
- Deep Little ShipReef · QLD-26.30°
- Deep Tempest Reef off Cape MoretonReef · QLD-27.12°
- Ex-HMAS Brisbane WreckWreck · QLD-26.60°
- Flinders Reef ApproachesReef · QLD-27.00°
- Hutchison Shoal off Cape MoretonShoal · QLD-26.93°
- Inner GneeringsReef · QLD-26.63°
- Middle North Reef off NoosaReef · QLD-26.28°
- Mooloolaba WideReef · QLD-26.60°
- North of Hutchison ShoalsShoal · QLD-26.92°
- Northern Little ShipsReef · QLD-26.25°
- Northern North Reef off NoosaReef · QLD-26.27°
- Outer GneeringsReef · QLD-26.62°
- Palm Beach Artificial ReefReef · QLD-28.12°
- Smiths RockReef · QLD-26.98°
- Sothern end of Barwon banksReef · QLD-26.71°
- Southern Little Ships MarksReef · QLD-26.38°
- Southern North Reef off NoosaReef · QLD-26.30°
- Sunshine Reef off NoosaReef · QLD-26.38°
- Tiger Kelly wreckWreck · QLD-26.60°
- Top of the Barwon Banks Northern endReef · QLD-26.47°
- Western end of the TrenchReef · QLD-26.88°
- Wide Bay Artificial ReefReef · QLD-25.90°
- Wide CurrimundiReef · QLD-26.77°
- Wreck 11 miles East of MooloolabaWreck · QLD-26.70°
- Wreck of the Centaur/Kyogle off Cape MoretonWreck · QLD-27.00°
- Wreck of the JodieWreck · QLD-26.73°
New South Wales14
- 12 Mile ReefReef · NSW-33.87°
- Crowdy HeadHeadland · NSW-31.84°
- Evans Head BarRiver Mouth · NSW-29.12°
- Lennox Head ReefReef · NSW-28.80°
- Port Stephens - Broughton IslandReef · NSW-32.62°
- SS Birchgrove Park WreckWreck · NSW-33.58°
- SS Myola WreckWreck · NSW-33.80°
- SS Undola WreckWreck · NSW-34.45°
- SS Wollongbar WreckWreck · NSW-28.82°
- Solitary Islands WideReef · NSW-30.02°
- South West Rocks Artificial ReefReef · NSW-30.88°
- The 32 FathomReef · NSW-33.90°
- The PeakReef · NSW-33.84°
- Twelve Mile Reef NewcastleReef · NSW-32.90°