common toadfish

Rodney’s “catch of the day” at Hat Head

The common toadfish (Tetractenos hamiltoni), also known as the toadie, toadfish or toado is found in shallow coastal waters and estuaries along Australia’s eastern coast, from northern Queensland to Flinders Island. Read More »

Blue threadfin Eleutheronema tetradactylum

Australia has two species of threadfin salmon, the blue threadfin (Eleutheronema tetradactylum) and king threadfin (Polydactylus macrochir), also known as blue salmon and king salmon, respectively. They are fast-growing predatory fishes that feed on small fishes, prawns and other crustaceans and are found in waters ranging from Brisbane on the east coast, north all along the coastline and extending down the West Australian coast. Read More »

lots of tailor

Pomatomus saltatrix

Tailor are pelagic fish found around the world in temperate and subtropical waters, except for the northern Pacific Ocean. Tailor are known as bluefish in the USA, and shad in South Africa. Seasonally abundant, often found in large schools in estuaries and inshore waters. Read More »

Don Dixon with a Tarpon caught at Hinchinbrook, QLD

Commonly referred to as Tarpon, or ox eyed herring, Megalops cyprinoides is a feisty northern sport fish species famous for their aerobatic displays when hooked. They are commonly encountered as a by-catch whilst targeting other more popular northern freshwater species, such as the barramundi but are extremely popular amongst fly anglers. Read More »

Estuary stingray

The estuary stingray (Hemitrygon fluviorum), also called the estuary stingray or brown stingray, is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae.

Endemic to eastern Australia, it typically inhabits shallow, mangrove -lined tidal rivers, estuaries, and bays in southern Queensland and New South Wales. Read More »

Ken Holley with his Mangrove Jack

Scientific name: Lutjanus argentimaculatus

Mangrove Jack inhabit coastal waters and rivers from Shark Bay in Western Australia through Torres Straight and Queensland, south to Lake Illawarra in NSW. They are occasionally found in more southern estuaries of NSW. In NSW they tend to be seasonal captures and can really be reliably targeted only in the summer months when water temperatures approach or exceed around 22°C. Read More »

eastern sea garfish

At least 18 species of garfishes are known from Australian waters. They can be difficult to accurately identify so I won’t even try. Most have very elongate silvery bodies with a long lower jaw and short triangular upper jaw. The particular species of garfish that is common our area is the Eastern Sea Garfish (Hyporhamphus australis) which is found in sheltered bays, coastal waters, and occasionally in the lower reaches of estuaries from Moreton Bay in Queensland to Eden in New South Wales, including Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands. Read More »

Large tooth flounder

Often misidentified as sole, the two flounder we are most likely to encounter in our area are the Small-toothed Flounder (Pseudorhombus jenynsii) and the Large-toothed Flounder (Pseudorhombus arsius).

Flounder prefer areas of mixed sand, weed and rock with good numbers of small bait fish present and access to deeper water nearby. Read More »