Species › Australia & New Zealand › Golden Perch

Freshwater

Golden Perch

Macquaria ambigua · Yellowbelly, Callop, Murray perch

Water temp
68–79°F
Peak season
Nov–Mar
Best light
Dawn · Dusk
IGFA record
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Golden Perch (Golden perch.JPG)

Photo: Codman · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

Golden perch are deep-bodied, olive-gold to bronze fish with a yellow belly, a concave forehead, a large mouth and rounded fins; dam fish often grow fat and pale. They are native to the Murray–Darling Basin of eastern Australia and the Lake Eyre and Bulloo drainages, and they are heavily stocked into impoundments across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia. Yellowbelly ambush shrimp, yabbies, small fish and insects from snags, rock bars and weed edges, feeding hardest in warm water at dawn, dusk and after rises in river flow. They are the most-stocked native fish in Australia, grow past 20 lb (9 kg) in dams and are a cornerstone of inland Australian fishing.

Typical size1–4 lb (0.5–2 kg); 14–20 in
Trophy10 lb+ (4.5 kg+); 20 lb+ in some impoundments
Table fareGood — river fish are clean and firm; big dam fish can be fatty

Where & when

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Best from October to April when water exceeds 64°F (18°C); rising river levels in spring and early summer trigger spawning runs and feeding, while winter fish are sluggish in the cold inland water.

Lake Windamere, AustraliaNSW dam famous for trophy golden perchMurray River (Mildura), AustraliaSnaggy river reaches; classic yellowbelly waterLake Boondooma, AustraliaQueensland impoundment; big stocked goldens

How to catch

Lipless crankbaits and blades on structureCast a 1/4–1/2 oz lipless crankbait or metal blade to drowned timber, rock walls and drop-offs, let it sink to the fish, then hop it with sharp lifts and controlled falls. Most hits come on the drop, so stay in contact with the lure.
Bait fishing with live yabbies or shrimpFish a live yabby or freshwater shrimp on a running sinker rig tight against snags and undercut banks in rivers, or suspended off the bottom in dams. Yellowbelly take gently, so hold the rod and strike at a steady pull.

Gear

Rod6'6"–7' medium spinning or casting
Reel2500–3000 spinning or light baitcaster
Line10–15 lb braid; 12–20 lb fluorocarbon leader

Lures

Lipless crankbaitSpinnerbaitSoft-plastic grub or paddletail

Baits

Live yabbyFreshwater shrimpScrub wormsWood grubs (bardi grubs)

Regulations

Golden perch have minimum sizes and daily bag and possession limits in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, and a recreational fishing licence is required in NSW and Victoria; river closures protect spawning fish in some areas, and rules differ between states.

Records

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

Frequently asked

When is the best time to catch golden perch?

Warm months from October to April, especially the first few days after a rise in river level or a run of hot weather, are best. Fish feed hardest around dawn and dusk and after dark in summer, and dam fish move into shallow weed and timber as water warms. Cold inland winters shut them down almost completely.

Bite forecast — Golden Perch

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Golden Perch.

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