Australian Salmon photos and information

Australian Salmon (Arripis trutta) Photographs and Information

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Scientific Name	Arripis trutta
Location	Sth QLD to TAS, across to sth WA
Season	November to May
Size	To 75 cm and 9 kg
Australian Species Code	37 344900
Taste, Texture	Strong fishy taste, firm texture.

Information about Australian Salmon (Arripis trutta):

Australian Salmon have moderately rounded, elongated bodies. Their dorsal fin is much longer than the anal fin and has 9 spines and 15-19 rays. Their caudal fin is forked. Australian Salmon are olive green to steel blue with small dark spots on the back and upper sides, and pale yellow-green to silvery white below. The pectoral fins are bright yellow. Juveniles are silvery white with several rods of large golden or brown spots on the back and sides.

Australian Salmon are endemic to the Australasian region, and inhabit southern Australian waters and also Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, the north and south islands of New Zealand and the Kermadec Islands.

They live in continental shelf waters including estuaries, bays and inlets. They school in shallow, open coastal waters and can move over reefs in depths just sufficient to cover their bodies. Juvenile Australian Salmon are found over soft substrates in shallow and sheltered coastal waters. They are often found over seagrass beds and in mangrove-lined creeks. They can tolerate temperature and salinity extremes, such as those found in the gulfs in South Australia and the Coorong. Larger fish move into exposed coastal waters such as around rocky headlands near reefs and the surf zone.

Australian salmon are a commercial species harvested primarily by beach seining or bottom set gillnetting. They can also be caught using modified purse seining techniques in which fishers operate in shallow waters behind the surf line. Large fish are also taken on trolling gear.

Australian Salmon are taken by recreational anglers. they are especially popular with beach and rock anglers. They are targeted by shoreline and boat based trolling. The most common method is the use of pilchard bait on 'ganged' (linked) hooks. Metal lures also work well.

They are opportunistic feeders and they feed on crustaceans and small fish, pilchards, anchovies, tommy ruff, southern sea garfish and calamari, squid and polychaete worms. Migrating schools of Australian salmon are preyed on by whaler sharks, white pointer sharks, grey nurse sharks, dolphins and occasionally seals.