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Estuary Perch
Macquaria colonorum (Günther, 1863)
An Estuary Perch caught on hook and line at a depth of 2 m, Apple Tree Bay, Hawkesbury River, New South Wales, March 2007. The fish was caught at night after heavy rain. Photo © E. Ren. View larger image.
The Estuary Perch is greyish above, silvery on the sides and white below. Its fins are darker than the body colour. The species looks similar to the Australian Bass but has a concave dorsal head profile rather than the straight dorsal head profile of the Australian Bass.
The species grows to about 75 cm in length and a weight of 10 kg. Specimens are more commonly seen to 40 cm and 3 kg.
The Estuary Perch is endemic to Australia, occurring in coastal drainages and estuarine waters from northern New South Wales around the south east coast to eastern South Australia. It is also recorded from northern Tasmania.
It is usually found in coastal lakes and rivers.
The species has also been called the Brackish Water Perch, Estuarine Perch and Gippsland Perch.
Related links
- Australian Bass fact sheet
- View the Family Percichthyidae list
- View the Freshwater Cods & Basses list
Further reading
- Allen, G.R. 1989. Freshwater Fishes of Australia. T.F.H. Publications. Pp. 240.
- Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & M. Allen. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 394.
- Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
- Harris, J.H. & S.J. Rowland in McDowall, R.M. 1996. Freshwater Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Reed Books. Pp. 247.
