Bass, Australian
Description
Australian bass are a small to medium sized, primarily freshwater (but estuarine spawning), highly predatory native fish found in coastal rivers and streams along the east coast of Australia. They are an important member of the native fish faunas found in east coast river systems and an extremely popular angling species. They have a moderately deep, elongated body that is laterally compressed, a forked caudal ("tail") fin and angular anal and soft, spiny dorsal fins. They also have a medium sized mouth and relatively large eyes than can appear dark in low light or red in bright light. The opercula or gill covers on Australian bass carry extremely sharp flat spines. Australian bass vary in color from gold in clear sandy streams to the more usual bronze or bronze-green coloration in darker streams. They generally avoid sitting directly in currents to conserve energy.
Average Length
Average Weight
Temperature Range
Habitat
In the freshwater reaches of coastal rivers in the warmer months, Australian bass require reasonable quality, unsilted habitats with adequate native riparian vegetation and in-stream cover/habitat. Sunken timber, undercut banks, boulders, shade under trees and bushes overhanging the water and thick weedbeds are all used as cover often in shallow water.
Range
Coastal rivers and streams along the Eastern seaboard from central Queensland, south through New South Wales and into the Gippsland Lakes of eastern Victoria.
