Leslie Massey
Australian herring, also known as the ruff, tommy ruff, or Australian ruff, is a species of fish found in the temperate seas of southern Australia. With a streamlined body, small head, and large eyes, the Australian herring is a schooling fish and a food source for predators such as yellowtail kingfish, mackerel, and mulloway. While it is a popular recreational fish, it is also commercially important, known for its soft, slightly oily flesh. But what do these fish eat?
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What You'll Learn
Australian herring diet
Australian herring, or Arripis georgianus, are a schooling fish species that form large groups in sea-grass meadows, off beaches, over reefs, in coastal bays, and estuaries. They are a food source for many predators, including yellowtail kingfish, mackerel, mulloway, Australian salmon, seals, sea lions, and seabirds. They are also commercially important for fisheries and are often caught using lines, gill nets, seine nets, and 'G' trap nets (the latter of which has been banned since 2015 due to concerns about the health of the stock).
Australian herring have a streamlined, moderately deep, and slightly elongated body with a relatively small head and large eyes. Their distinctive features include a narrow band of small, pointed teeth on each jaw, and a deeply forked caudal fin. They are silver in colour with rough-textured scales, black-tipped tails, and golden spots along the upper body. Juveniles can be distinguished by dark golden bars on their flanks.
In terms of diet, Australian herring are known to feed on a variety of small aquatic organisms, including fish larvae, crustaceans, and plankton. They are opportunistic feeders, taking advantage of a range of prey items available in their environment. Their diet may also include small fish and invertebrates, which they capture with their moderately large oblique mouths and narrow bands of small, pointed teeth.
The feeding habits of Australian herring can vary depending on their life stage and the availability of prey in their habitat. For example, juvenile Australian herring may feed more heavily on plankton and small crustaceans, while adults may target larger prey items such as small fish and invertebrates. Additionally, their diet may be influenced by the seasonal availability of prey species, with certain types of prey being more abundant during different times of the year.
The diet of Australian herring plays an important role in their overall health and the health of their ecosystem. As they are a prey species for many larger predators, maintaining a healthy population of Australian herring relies on an adequate and sustainable food source. Additionally, their feeding habits can have an impact on the balance of their aquatic environment, as they play a role in controlling the populations of the organisms they feed on.
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Where they live
Australian herring, also known as the ruff, tommy ruff, or Australian ruff, are commonly found in the temperate seas of southern Australia. They are endemic to the waters off the southern and south-eastern coasts of Australia, ranging from the Swan River in Western Australia to Forster on the east coast of New South Wales. They are also found in the waters surrounding Tasmania.
These fish tend to live in large schools and are typically found in seagrass meadows, off beaches, over reefs, in coastal bays, and in estuaries. They are often seen near the surface, rarely venturing deeper than a few metres. Geographe Bay is a significant source of recruitment for the west coast population of Australian herring. After spawning, adult fish remain off the west coast of Western Australia and do not return to the south coast. They disperse along the coast and move into estuaries, reaching as far north as Shark Bay.
In terms of their preferred habitats, Australian herring favour cooler waters and are often found in protected inshore waters along the southern coastline. They are known to frequent the downstream parts of river systems and coastal areas, making them accessible to fishers of all ages and skill levels. Their accessibility and abundance make them a desirable catch for recreational fishers and anglers in Western Australia, South Australia, and Victoria.
The presence of Australian herring in specific locations can vary, with some years being more abundant than others. Around Easter, larger schools of bull herring, a type of Australian herring, often appear in the waters of Perth, attracting anglers. These fish are known to be strong swimmers with a penchant for jumping, making them a challenging and exciting catch for fishers.
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Commercial fishing
The species is an important food fish, known for its soft, slightly oily flesh, and is highly sought after by anglers due to its fighting ability. They are a mainstay for junior anglers and are known to take baits and lures readily. The Australian herring is not biologically related to the herring family Clupeidae, but it is similar to the Australian salmon, with a few distinguishing features. They have a streamlined, moderately deep and slightly elongated body, with a small head and large eyes. Their dorsal fin has 9 spines and 16 soft rays, and their anal fin has 3 spines and 10 soft rays.
In terms of their diet, Australian herring are predatory fish, feeding on small fish and crustaceans. They are known to be opportunistic feeders, taking advantage of available food sources in their environment.
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Recreational fishing
Australian herring are a popular catch for recreational anglers. They are found in the cooler waters of the southern coast of Australia, from Western Australia's Swan River, along the south coast, and up the east coast as far as Forster, New South Wales. They are also found around Tasmania.
These fish are often mistaken for juvenile Australian salmon, which are of the same genus, but can be distinguished by their larger yellow and black eyes and rounder heads. Australian herring are silver with rough-textured scales, black-tipped tails, and golden spots along their upper bodies. They are a schooling fish, often forming large schools in seagrass meadows, off beaches, over reefs, in coastal bays, and estuaries.
If you're interested in recreational fishing for Australian herring, there are a few techniques you can try. They are often caught using lines, gill nets, or seine nets. However, it's important to stay up to date with local regulations, as certain methods of fishing have been banned due to concerns over the health of the stock. For example, 'G' trap nets were banned in Western Australia in 2015.
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Herring as food
Herring is a staple food in many cultures and is prepared in different ways. Herring has been salted in Europe for at least 1000 years to preserve the fish without refrigeration and to make it easy to transport. Salting also extends the shelf life of the fish. Herring is mostly processed for smoking, curing, or canning, but fresh herring is also excellent fried, grilled, or boiled. In Sweden, strong-smelling fermented herring (surströmming) is eaten with flatbread and toppings like mashed potato and diced onions. In the Netherlands, raw herring with raw onion is a spring delicacy. In the Philippines, herring is eaten dried and often served with garlic, rice, and eggs for breakfast.
Australian herring, also known as ruff, tommy ruff, or Australian ruff, is one of four Australasian fish species within the genus Arripis. They are a commercially important species for fisheries in Western Australia and are sold as fresh fish in seafood markets, as bait to rock lobster fishermen, and as pet food. Australian herring has soft, slightly oily flesh and is considered a high-quality food fish.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian herring (Arripis georgianus) is a species of fish native to the southern coast of Australia. It is not related to the herring family Clupeidae but is similar to Australian salmon.
Australian herring has a streamlined, moderately deep, and slightly elongated body with a small head and large eyes. It is silver in colour with black-tipped tails and gold spots along the upper body.
Australian herring is found in the temperate seas of southern Australia, from Western Australia along the south and east coasts, up to New South Wales, and around Tasmania. They are often found in large schools in seagrass meadows, beaches, reefs, coastal bays, and estuaries.
Australian herring is a predator with a varied diet. They are known to eat smaller fish and crustaceans.
Yes, Australian herring is considered a desirable recreational and commercial fish. It is often sold fresh in seafood markets and is known for its soft, slightly oily flesh.
