Australian bass

A compact, perch-like fish with a big eye, a forked tail and a deep body; olive-bronze to gold-brown above and paler below. Very similar to the estuary perch, which has a more concave forehead.

10–16 in and 1–3 lb.

About 2 ft and 8 lb.

Insects, shrimp, small fish, frogs and cicadas falling from trees.

Lives in freshwater reaches of coastal rivers and moves down to the brackish estuary in winter to spawn. Famous for hitting surface lures at night and diving into the snags.

Found from South-East Australia & Tasmania and Queensland & the Great Barrier Reef. Coastal rivers and creeks from south-east Queensland to eastern Victoria, and stocked lakes such as Lake Somerset, Glenbawn and St Clair.

Coastal rivers and creeks from south-east Queensland to eastern Victoria, and stocked lakes such as Lake Somerset, Glenbawn and St Clair.

2–30 ft.

2–15 ft around snags and weed edges.

Spring to autumn in rivers. NSW rivers and estuaries are catch-and-release only from May to August, and Queensland closes tidal waters from June 1 to August 31 while bass spawn.

Dawn, dusk and summer nights for surface lures.

No tide in fresh water; rising or steady water levels after rain are usually best.

Warm, humid summer evenings and stable river levels.

Live shrimp, crickets, cicadas and worms.

Surface walkers and poppers, cicada imitations, spinnerbaits, small crankbaits and soft plastics.

6–7 ft light baitcasting or spinning rod.

Size 2–1/0 hooks.

8–15 lb braid.

12–20 lb fluorocarbon.

Paddle a kayak down a river at dusk and cast surface lures tight to overhanging trees and snags; bass hit and run for cover.

In summer, cicada lures fished at night along tree-lined banks catch the biggest bass.

Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Good eating when fresh.

Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.

Good, mild white meat, but most anglers release bass.

Sharp dorsal spines and gill covers — hold the fish firmly with a wet hand or towel and use pliers to remove hooks.

Low bag limits apply (NSW allows two bass or estuary perch combined, with only one over 35 cm), plus the winter closures above. Check current rules. A freshwater licence or permit is needed in NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania, and a Stocked Impoundment Permit for Queensland's stocked lakes; the Northern Territory needs none. Each state sets its own bag limits, size limits and closed seasons.

Keep only what you'll eat and release the big breeders; wet your hands, support the fish's belly and get it back in the water fast.