Blue Salmon (Blue Threadfin)
Surf / EstuaryBlue salmon — the WA name for blue threadfin, also called Cooktown salmon or simply 'threadie'. Not a true salmon; a threadfin of the tropical north that hunts prawn and baitfish across beaches, sand flats and creek mouths from the Pilbara to the Kimberley. A hard-pulling light-tackle sportfish on the run-in tide and excellent eating.
Blue salmon is the everyday WA name for blue threadfin (Eleutheronema tetradactylum) — a slim, silver threadfin of the tropical north that's neither a salmon nor related to one. It works the beach gutters, sand flats, creek mouths and estuary channels of the Pilbara and Kimberley, hunting prawn, mullet and small baitfish on the rising tide, usually in better numbers than its larger cousin the king threadfin. It's a favourite light-tackle target on the northern beaches: a willing biter, a clean fighter that often skips across the surface, and fine eating. Like all threadfin it has a soft mouth, so a gentle take-and-lift beats a hard strike. Often caught in the same waters and on the same baits as king threadfin and barramundi.
Live prawn, mullet, herring, fresh mullet fillet, strip baits
Soft plastics on 1/4–3/8oz jigheads, soft vibes, small suspending hardbodies, slow-rolled paddle-tails
Light to medium estuarine spin gear — running sinker rig with a 3/0–4/0 circle hook and 20–30lb fluorocarbon leader, with just enough lead to hold in the wash or current. Unweighted live baits work well on the run-in. Keep drag moderate; the soft mouth tears under heavy load.
Cast plastics and small hardbodies into beach gutters and along creek-mouth sandbanks, working them slowly with the current on the run-in tide. On bait, drift a prawn or mullet through the wash and feed line on the take before lifting into the fish. Blue salmon often hold where freshwater or a creek meets the sea — fish those edges at change of light. Slide or net them rather than lifting by the line.
April through November, peaking through the dry season when the beaches and creeks are most fishable. The last hour of the run-in before high and the first of the run-out are prime, especially around the new and full moons. Dawn and dusk outproduce the middle of the day.
Up to 1.2m, commonly 40–70cm (captures to ~3kg common)
Apr–Nov (dry season peak)
Excellent — moist, white, mild flesh that's among the better eating fish of the tropical north. Bleed and ice on capture in the heat. Pan-fries and grills beautifully; the smaller blue salmon are arguably better on the plate than big king threadfin.
Blue salmon is a blue threadfin, which falls under 'Threadfin, other species' in WA rules: no minimum size, bag limit 4, within the statewide nearshore/estuarine finfish mixed daily bag of 16. (King threadfin is managed separately at 450mm and a bag of 2.) Always check current DPIRD rules — regulations may change.
The Pilbara back creeks around Onslow, Dampier and Karratha, the De Grey, Port Hedland and the Kimberley beaches and creeks all hold blue salmon through the dry season. Fish light — natural presentation on the flats beats heavy rigs. Don't over-strike: feed line on the take, then lift. Watch for crocs in the creeks north of Broome.