Species › Australia & New Zealand › Australian Salmon

Saltwater

Australian Salmon

Arripis trutta · Eastern Australian salmon, Kahawai, Salmon trout (juvenile)

Water temp
57–68°F
Peak season
Mar–May
Best light
Daytime
IGFA record
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Australian Salmon (Arripis trutta by Frank Edward Clarke.jpg)

Photo: Frank Edward Clarke · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

Australian salmon are streamlined, silver-green fish with a forked tail, yellow-tinged pectoral fins and rows of dark spots on juveniles. The eastern species ranges from southern Queensland around Tasmania to South Australia and throughout New Zealand, where it is the kahawai; a western species covers Western Australia and South Australia. They roam the surf zone and bays in dense schools chasing baitfish and krill, feeding by day and showing as dark patches and bird activity. Anglers love them because they are plentiful, fight like small tuna on light gear and can be caught from the beach.

Typical size2–5 lb (1–2.5 kg); 16–24 in
Trophy8 lb+ (3.6 kg+)
Table fareFair — strong, dark flesh; good smoked or bled and eaten fresh as sashimi

Where & when

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Available year-round, with the biggest southern Australian beach runs in autumn and early winter (March–June); New Zealand kahawai peak in summer when they herd bait into harbours.

Ninety Mile Beach, AustraliaVictoria's premier surf salmon beachBay of Islands, New ZealandSummer kahawai schools on the surfaceSalmon Holes (Albany), AustraliaWestern Australian rock mark during the autumn run

How to catch

Casting metals from the beachScan for dark schools and diving birds, then cast a 40–60 g metal slug beyond the fish and retrieve fast with the rod low, speeding up if a fish follows. Gutters and deep holes beside sandbars hold fish when nothing shows.
Surf bait fishingFish a whole pilchard or blue bait on a paternoster rig with a star sinker in beach gutters at dawn or on a rising tide. Let the fish run before striking; salmon take on the move and often hook themselves.

Gear

Rod9–11' medium surf spinning
Reel4000–6000 spinning
Line15–20 lb braid; 20–30 lb mono leader

Lures

Metal slugSurface popperSoft-plastic jerk shad

Baits

PilchardBlue bait (whitebait)Squid strips

Regulations

Australian states and New Zealand set minimum sizes and daily bag limits for Australian salmon or kahawai, and licences are required in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania; limits differ by state.

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: not listed. State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

Are Australian salmon good to eat?

They are better than their reputation if bled immediately and chilled. The flesh is dark and oily, so it suits smoking, curing or eating raw as sashimi on the day of capture. Left unbled in a warm bucket it turns soft and strong, which is why many anglers release them.

Bite forecast — Australian Salmon

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Australian Salmon.

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