Where do I start if I want to identify a fish I have caught?

Head to the species profiles and identification section. Each guide works through the features that matter in the hand — fin colour and ray counts, mouth and tooth structure, lateral line, scale pattern and body shape — then covers habitat, diet and seasonal movements. Confusing look-alikes get their own comparison articles, such as yellowfin bream versus black bream versus tarwhine, and the three common flathead species anglers mix up most often.

Do you list bag limits, size limits and closed seasons?

We explain how the rules work — why minimum and maximum legal lengths exist, how possession and boat limits are counted, how closures protect spawning aggregations, and where licences and permits apply — but fisheries rules differ by state and territory and change over time. Always confirm current bag limits, size limits, closures and licence requirements with the relevant state or territory fisheries authority before you fish.

How do tides, moon and weather change the bite?

Most species feed in predictable windows. Our fish behaviour section explains how run-out tides concentrate bait at estuary mouths, why the last of the flood suits bream over oyster racks, how new and full moon spring tides lift mulloway and barramundi activity, and how swell, water temperature, barometric pressure and dirty water after rain shift fish location. Combine it with the marine safety and trip planning guides to read forecasts before you commit to a session.

About Australian Fish Species

What this site is

Australian Fish Species is a practical encyclopedia of Australian fish and recreational fishing, written for anglers who want clear, usable information rather than tall tales. We are based in Sydney, where estuary flats, ocean rocks, deep reef and offshore game grounds all sit within a short drive of each other, and that mix shapes how we write: one species, one habitat and one technique at a time.

Every guide is written in Australian English, uses metric units, treats seasons in the Southern Hemisphere sense, and uses the species names anglers actually use on the water.

What we cover

Species guides — identification, biology and behaviour for bream, flathead, snapper, mulloway, barramundi, Murray cod, tuna, marlin, trout and whiting, plus kingfish, mangrove jack, golden perch, Australian bass, Spanish mackerel, coral trout, tailor and Australian salmon.
Habitat and timing — where fish hold through the year and how tide, moon phase, water temperature and weather open and close feeding windows.
Technique and tackle — rigs, baits, lures, line classes and presentation for estuary, beach, rock, freshwater, reef and offshore game fishing.
Destinations — organised by state and region across NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, WA, TAS, NT and the Murray-Darling Basin.

How we handle fisheries rules

Bag limits, size limits, gear restrictions and seasonal closures differ between states and territories, and they change over time. For that reason our regulatory articles explain how the rules work — why minimum lengths exist, how possession limits are counted, what a closure is protecting — rather than presenting numbers as permanent fact. Always confirm the current limits for your location with the relevant state or territory fisheries authority before you fish.

Safety and conservation come first

We treat safety as core content, not an afterthought: rock fishing risk and swell awareness, bar crossings, reading marine forecasts, lifejackets and trip planning. Conservation is treated the same way, with practical guidance on catch and release handling, managing barotrauma in reef and deepwater species, respecting closures and protecting seagrass, snags and other habitat that keeps fisheries productive.

Get in touch

Corrections, local observations and species questions are welcome. You can reach us by email at [email protected] or by phone at +61295585271 during Mon–Fri: 09:00 – 17:00 (AEST). Reader feedback from different regions is one of the main ways our guides stay accurate and genuinely useful.

FAQ

Head to the species profiles and identification section. Each guide works through the features that matter in the hand — fin colour and ray counts, mouth and tooth structure, lateral line, scale pattern and body shape — then covers habitat, diet and seasonal movements. Confusing look-alikes get their own comparison articles, such as yellowfin bream versus black bream versus tarwhine, and the three common flathead species anglers mix up most often.
We explain how the rules work — why minimum and maximum legal lengths exist, how possession and boat limits are counted, how closures protect spawning aggregations, and where licences and permits apply — but fisheries rules differ by state and territory and change over time. Always confirm current bag limits, size limits, closures and licence requirements with the relevant state or territory fisheries authority before you fish.
Most species feed in predictable windows. Our fish behaviour section explains how run-out tides concentrate bait at estuary mouths, why the last of the flood suits bream over oyster racks, how new and full moon spring tides lift mulloway and barramundi activity, and how swell, water temperature, barometric pressure and dirty water after rain shift fish location. Combine it with the marine safety and trip planning guides to read forecasts before you commit to a session.