Ruqayyah Snyder
Australian bass is a native fish species in eastern Australia, with more abundant populations in Queensland and New South Wales than in Victoria. It is a popular sport fish known for its aggressive nature and strong fight, making it a favourite among anglers. Australian bass exhibits slow growth, with varying growth rates depending on available food sources. They are typically small to medium-sized, averaging 20-30 cm in length and 0.4-1 kg in weight. The maximum recorded size in rivers is around 2.5 kg and 55 cm in southern waters, while northern waters may yield larger bass of up to 3.0 kg and 65 cm. The maximum weight recorded in impoundments, where they cannot breed, exceeds these river sizes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common name | Australian bass |
| Scientific name | Percalates novemaculeata |
| Size | Up to 60 cm in length and 3.8-4 kg in weight |
| Average size | 35 cm in length and 1 kg in weight |
| Colour | Dark olive-green to greyish on the back and sides with darker scale margins, and a silvery or whitish belly |
| Habitat | Coastal rivers and streams in eastern Australia, particularly Queensland and New South Wales |
| Diet | Carnivorous, feeding on shrimps, insects, worms, crustaceans, tadpoles, and small fish |
| Longevity | Very long-lived, with a maximum recorded age of 47 years in the wild |
| Growth rate | Slow-growing, with a variable growth rate depending on available food |
| Reproduction | Migrate downstream to estuaries for spawning between May and August |
| Minimum volume requirement | Fingerlings can be raised in an unheated aquarium, while full-grown individuals require a large outdoor pond or dam |
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What You'll Learn
Australian bass growth rates
Australian bass is a native species of eastern Australia, with more abundant populations in Queensland and New South Wales than Victoria. They are slow-growing and long-lived, with a maximum recorded age of 47 years in the wild. The growth rate of bass varies depending on factors such as habitat, available food, and protein-rich diets.
In the first year, Australian bass fingerlings can grow between 5 and 20 cm. Within their first six months of life, they should reach a length of 5 cm. By the end of the second year, they will typically reach an adult length of 25 to 30 cm. The average wild river fish weighs between 0.4 and 0.5 kg and measures 20 to 30 cm in length. A river fish weighing 1 kg or more is considered a good specimen, with females regularly exceeding this weight.
The maximum size of Australian bass in rivers appears to be around 2.5 kg and 55 cm in southern waters, while in northern waters, they can reach weights of up to 3.0 kg and lengths of 60 to 65 cm. The largest individuals on record measured up to 60 cm in length and weighed 3.5 to 3.8 kg.
Australian bass stocked in man-made impoundments, where they cannot breed, tend to grow to greater average and maximum weights than those in rivers. This is likely due to the controlled environment and the absence of natural predators in these enclosed habitats.
The slow growth rate of Australian bass makes them vulnerable to overfishing, which has contributed to the decline in their populations over the years. Additionally, habitat degradation due to poor land management practices has further exacerbated the issue, rendering some rivers uninhabitable for Australian bass.
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Bass habitat degradation
Australian bass are a smallish-sized species, with wild river fish averaging around 0.4–0.5 kg and 20–30 cm in length. They are extremely slow-growing and are very long-lived. The maximum size in rivers appears to be around 2.5 kg and 55 cm in southern waters, and around 3.0 kg and 60–65 cm in northern waters.
Australian bass are native to coastal rivers and streams along the Eastern seaboard, from Tin Can Bay in Queensland to eastern Victoria. They are found far upstream in freshwater, often in cover such as instream debris, fallen timber, or rocky outcrops. They may be found in all types of water, from still pools to fast-running streams.
Unfortunately, Australian bass populations have declined significantly over the years due to habitat degradation and obstruction of their migratory pathways. The construction of dams and weirs has prevented the breeding-related upstream and downstream migration of bass, resulting in land-locked populations that are unable to spawn. This has led to much smaller populations below the obstructions due to limited habitat.
Poor land management practices, such as the complete clearing of riparian (river bank) vegetation, stock trampling of river banks, and massive siltation, have severely degraded and silted coastal rivers to the point of becoming uninhabitable for Australian bass. The Bega River in southern New South Wales is a notable example of a river that has been rendered largely uninhabitable by Australian bass due to poor land management practices.
Additionally, overfishing has been a driver of decline in Australian bass stocks in past decades. As a slow-growing fish, Australian bass are vulnerable to overfishing.
To address these issues, bass have been successfully bred commercially, and re-stocking of land-locked populations and inland dams and reservoirs for recreational fishing has been undertaken.
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Bass weight and length
Australian bass are considered a smallish-sized species. Wild river fish typically weigh around 0.4–0.5 kg and measure 20–30 cm in length. A river fish weighing 1 kg or more is considered a good specimen. The maximum size in rivers appears to be around 2.5 kg and 55 cm in southern waters, and around 3.0 kg and 60–65 cm in northern waters. Australian bass stocked in man-made impoundments, where they cannot breed, tend to grow to greater average and maximum weights. The largest individuals can reach up to 60 cm in length and 3.5 kg in weight, although some sources state that they can weigh up to 3.8 kg.
The weight and length of Australian bass vary based on their habitat and gender. Male bass typically mature at a smaller size, with an absolute maximum size of 1.0 kg or less. Females, on the other hand, regularly exceed 1.0 kg and sometimes reach the maximum size of 2.5–3.0 kg. Bass found in southern waters tend to be smaller than those in northern waters.
The growth rate of Australian bass is highly variable and depends on factors such as available food and environmental conditions. In their first year, bass typically grow between 5 and 20 cm in length. By the end of their second year, they reach an adult length of 25–30 cm. Providing a protein-rich diet can help increase their growth rate.
Australian bass are slow-growing fish, and this trait makes them vulnerable to overfishing. Their longevity is a survival strategy to ensure that most adults participate in at least one exceptional spawning and recruitment event, which may only occur once every one or two decades. The maximum age recorded in wild Australian bass was previously believed to be 22 years. However, a recent study discovered a wild bass in the Genoa River system aged 47 years.
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Bass colouring
The colouring of Australian bass can vary depending on their habitat. They can appear metallic gold in clear sandy streams, or bronze or bronze-green in streams with darker substrates and/or some tannin staining to the water. Their eyes are moderately large and can appear dark in low light or red in bright light.
The upper body and back of the Australian bass are generally dark olive-green to grey, with the lower half being golden yellow. The belly is usually silver or whitish, and the sides are lighter in colour. The fins are typically greyish to colourless and translucent, with white tips on the anal and pelvic fins. The rear part of the pelvic fin has a white margin. The upper and lower rear fins often have white edges.
The Australian bass has a distinct lateral line that follows the upper body profile. Its snout is tapered and straight to slightly concave, and the lower jaw protrudes beyond the upper jaw.
Young Australian bass are marked with distinct black blotches when they are very small (6-7 cm), which may be the reason behind the ambiguous specific name novemaculeata given by Steindachner.
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Bass diet
Australian bass are native predatory fish and are extremely popular among anglers. They are found in coastal rivers and streams along the east coast of Australia. They are strong swimmers and can easily traverse rapids and fast-flowing water. They are not picky eaters and will adapt to their habitat. They are fierce and will eat anything that comes within range. Young Australian bass have a preference for plankton and insects. In the wild, they eat aquatic insects, shrimps, and other freshwater crustaceans, tadpoles, and small fish.
In captivity, Australian bass can be fed live feeder fish, but their diet should be supplemented with live food such as insects like beetles and moths, earthworms, and freshwater shrimp. They can also be fed pellets formulated for large predators.
In the wild, the diet of Australian bass changes with the season and the relative abundance of minnows and other common baitfish, insects, and worms. They are known to eat small creatures like mice, lizards, and frogs.
Australian bass generally sit in cover during the day and hunt at night near the water's surface. They are flexible with their type of cover and will use it in water as shallow as 1 meter in depth.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian bass are considered a small-sized species of fish. They can grow to a maximum size of 60 centimetres in length and 3.8 kilograms in weight, although they are most commonly found around 35 centimetres and 1 kilogram.
The size of an Australian bass can vary depending on its habitat and available food sources. For example, bass found in southern waters tend to be smaller than those in northern waters. Additionally, male bass typically mature at a smaller size than female bass.
Australian bass are slow-growing fish, and their exact growth rate can depend on various factors such as their environment and diet. On average, bass should grow between 5 and 20 centimetres in the first year and reach an adult length of 25 to 30 centimetres within two years.
