Perth fish species guide

Tailor

Shore / Surf

Aggressive schooling predator that hunts baitfish in packs along rock walls and beaches. Best targeted at dusk and da...

Pomatomus saltatrix · Feb–Jun

Australian Herring

Shore / Jetty

Bread-and-butter species found year-round on almost every structure and beach in Perth. Reliable on small bait rigs, ...

Arripis georgianus · Year-round

Australian Salmon

Shore / Surf

Hard-fighting pelagic that schools along beaches and rock walls during the autumn migration. Cast metals or pilchards...

Arripis truttaceus · Mar–Jun

Skipjack Trevally (Skippy)

Jetty / Harbour

Fast-moving schooling fish found around jetty pylons and rocky structure. Takes small lures and bait readily. Often c...

Pseudocaranx georgianus · Year-round

Mulloway (Jewfish)

Shore / Surf

Perth's premier land-based trophy fish. Patrols rock walls, channels, and river mouths after dark. Best targeted with...

Argyrosomus japonicus · Year-round (night)

King George Whiting

Shore / Estuary

Prized table fish found over sandy bottom near weed beds in sheltered waters. Target with light tackle and fresh bait...

Sillaginodes punctatus · Sep–Apr

Yellowfin Whiting

Shore / Estuary

Excellent eating fish found on sandy shallows and estuary flats. Often caught alongside King George whiting. Target w...

Sillago schomburgkii · Year-round

Southern Calamari (Squid)

Jetty / Harbour

Hugely popular target around jetty pylons and weed beds from August through February. Target at night under lights wi...

Sepioteuthis australis · Aug–Feb

WA Dhufish

Reef / Offshore

Western Australia's premier table fish, endemic to WA. Mostly boat-caught over reef but occasionally taken from deep-...

Glaucosoma hebraicum · Year-round

Pink Snapper

Reef / Offshore

Prized reef fish found over hard bottom and structure. Land-based catches possible from deep-water rock walls and cha...

Chrysophrys auratus · May–Sep

Black Bream

Estuary / River

The Swan River's signature species. Found around bridge pylons, jetties, and rocky edges year-round. Best on light ta...

Acanthopagrus butcheri · Year-round

Flathead

Estuary / River

Ambush predators that lie on sandy and muddy bottoms in estuaries and near-shore waters. Target with soft plastics or...

Platycephalus spp. · Year-round

Yellowtail Kingfish

Shore / Reef

Powerful pelagic that pushes through Cockburn Sound and along the coast in summer. Occasionally taken from rock walls...

Seriola lalandi · Dec–Apr

Samson Fish

Reef / Offshore

Close relative of the kingfish, endemic to southern Australia. Occasionally taken from deep-water structure on heavy ...

Seriola hippos · Year-round

Snook

Shore / Jetty

Sleek, fast predator with sharp teeth found around jetties, groynes, and rocky structure. Often caught while targetin...

Sphyraena novaehollandiae · Year-round

Western School Whiting

Shore / Estuary

Small but excellent eating fish found on sandy beaches and shallow flats. Common catch when targeting whiting species...

Sillago vittata · Year-round

Tarwhine

Shore / Jetty

Silver bream relative found around estuary mouths and sheltered coastline. Takes similar baits to bream — prawns, wor...

Rhabdosargus sarba · Year-round

Cobbler

Estuary / River

Estuary catfish with venomous dorsal and pectoral spines — handle with care. Decent eating despite its looks. Common ...

Cnidoglanis macrocephalus · Year-round

Garfish

Jetty / Shore

Slender surface-feeding fish found in estuaries and sheltered bays. Excellent live bait for bigger species, and good ...

Hyporhamphus melanochir · Oct–Apr