Australian Bass

Australian Bass a.k.a. Bass, Perch

Australian Bass are aggressive and predatory fish well known for their spectacular fighting ability. This great sportfish is a predominantly estuarine/river species, however due to pressures on Bass habitat their numbers have dramatically declined, leaving recreational fisheries as the best place to catch Bass.

Physical Description: Bass have an elongated body and a protruding jaw. Bass are dark grey or olive green along the back and creamy or silvery underneath. Smaller fish have a large dark blotch on top of the gill cover.

Size: Bass can grow to more than 57 cm and 3.5 kg but are usually caught at around 1 kg.

Hint! Natural Bass populations have declined dramatically in recent years due to mismanagement of agriculture and water resources and construction of dams and weirs. As a result, Bass should be caught on a catch and release system to ensure their survival in the future.

Habitat: Bass occupy fresh and brackish waters of river and estuary systems, extending from salty river mouths to fresh waters upstream. Bass can be found in areas where there is plenty of cover, such as logs, snags, submerged and floating vegetation, roots, rocks, holes and waterfalls. Best times to catch Bass are dawn and dusk, immediately before a thunderstorm and half an hour each side of the tidal change.

Hint! The first major obstruction upstream is an excellent place to fish for Bass.

How to Catch:
Bait - Bass are best caught on lures, as baitfishing tends to gut-hook them which makes releasing them difficult. If you want to try using baits, opt for sand crickets, small grasshoppers and gudgeons.
Rod and Reel - Lure gear for casting and trolling is prime Bass-catching equipment. If you are using bait try light spinning or baitcasting gear.
Line and Tackle - Line should be light (around 2 kg). Lures such as minnows and surface lures work well, as do metal spoons, bladed lures and plastic tailed worm baits.

Hint! Throw, drift or troll lures and bait close to cover or shady patches or areas where water flow is diverted around snags or logs.

Hot Spots: Bass can be found in eastern-flowing rivers, streams and estuaries from Noosa Heads, Queensland to the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria. Bass are found more readily in these areas in the warmer months, from December to February.

Hint! Try fishing in one of the many freshwater impoundments that are well-stocked with hatchery-reared fingerlings and you'll not only have a great time but you'll also help decrease pressure on natural Bass populations