AKA: grunter, Murray perch, black bream, silver bream, Murray bream, bidyan, sooty grunter, terapon.

 
North of the Great Dividing Range excluding Wimmera Basin:

May only be taken from lakes and impoundments.

MINIMUM LEGAL SIZE: 25cm.

BAG/POSSESSION LIMIT: 5. Landed whole or as a carcass.
Note: a total bag/possession limit of 40 fish applies to all scale fish species.

South of the Great Dividing Range including Wimmera Basin:

May be taken from all waters.

MINIMUM LEGAL SIZE: 25cm.

BAG/POSSESSION LIMIT: 5. Landed whole or as a carcass.
Note: a total bag/possession limit of 40 fish applies to all scale fish species.

Another of our vunerable inland fish, the silver perch is the third most important native freshwater fish behind the Murray cod and the golden perch.

Increased restrictions are aimed at protecting this fish, once common throughout the warmer waters of the Murray-Darling system. Commercially bred silver perch now inhabit many lakes, impoundments and dams but, like the Murray cod, changes in river environments have limited breeding opportunities in more original habitats.

Silver perch are known by many names including grunter, thanks to a peculiar habit of making a grunting sound when captured. An excellent fighting fish and a popular target for many anglers.

SIZE: Up to 60cm and 8kg although commonly much smaller.

WHERE: Moving water with sand, mud or gravel bottom.

TACKLE: Light spinning tackle with a variety of lures and flies. For bait, small hooks on 2-4kg line.

BAIT: Freshwater shrimp, scrubworms.

EATING: Smaller fish make excellent eating with white and firm flesh. The taste of larger specimens will benefit from skinning the fillets which can have a slightly weedy or muddy taste. Many small bones.