Appearance & Identification
A deep-bodied, aggressive-looking fish with a slightly forked tail and a distinct hump between the head and dorsal fin on larger specimens. They feature an olive-green back fading to silver sides, marked by five or more dark vertical bands across their flanks. They are named for their striking, bright red-to-orange pelvic and anal fins. Their first dorsal fin is tall and spiny, with a signature black blotch at the rear. They typically range from 15cm to 35cm, with trophy specimens pushing past 45cm and 1.5kg.
Habitat & Movements
Widespread across the cooler rivers, lakes, dams, and reservoirs of Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, and southwest Western Australia. They prefer still or slow-flowing waters with ample cover, aggregating in large schools around sunken logs, drowned timber, weed beds, and reservoir wall structures.
Tackle Loadout
- Rods Utilize a lightweight, fast-action spinning rod of 1.8m to 2.1m, rated for line classes between 1kg and 3kg. A sensitive, graphite tip is essential to register the fast, tapping bites of schooling fish.
- Reels Pair your rod with a small, lightweight 1000 to 2000 size spinning reel. Ensure it features a smooth retrieve and a highly responsive front drag to handle larger 'humpback' specimens on light lines.
- Line & Leader Spool up with 2kg to 3kg braided line to maximize casting distance with small lures. Splice in a 1.5m to 2m leader of 2kg to 4kg fluorocarbon to prevent visually keen fish from spotting the line in clear water.
Best Lures & Baits
- Artificials Extremely responsive to small inline spinners (size 1 to 2), soft plastic grubs (2-inch to 3-inch) rigged on 1/16oz to 1/8oz jig heads, micro-jigs, and small deep-diving hardbodies. Bright fluorescent colors, particularly red, orange, and chartreuse, trigger aggressive responses.
- Live & Cut Baits Live garden worms, freshwater scrubworms, or small live yabbies. Present these on a running sinker rig or a drop-shot rig, using a fine-wire size 4 to 2 bait-holder hook to keep the bait active.
Field Tactics
- Trolling Trolling is an exceptional way to locate schools in large reservoirs. Slow-troll small deep-diving minnow lures or spinnerbaits at 1.5 to 2.5 knots along deep clay banks, reservoir walls, and drowning timber lines, adjusting your depth to match school signals on your sounder.
- Drifting & Jigging Drifting over deep flats or along submerged river channels while bouncing bait or soft plastics directly beneath the boat. Once a fish is hooked, immediately drop an anchor or mark the spot, as redfin school tightly and multiple hook-ups are common.
- Fly Fishing Use a light 4 to 5 weight fly rod with a sinking line. Retrieve bright red, green, or gold wet flies (such as Woolly Buggers or small zonkers) with fast, jerky strips near underwater structures and drop-offs.
State Legal Limits
VIC: No bag limit, no size limit. Must not be returned to the water alive.
NSW: No bag limit, no size limit. Listed as a notifiable pest; illegal to return to water or possess alive.
SA: No bag limit, no size limit. Do not release.
WA: No bag limit, no size limit. Do not return to the water alive.
TAS: No bag limit, no size limit. Do not return to the water alive.
QLD/NT: Not present / no regulations.
Final Logistics & Table Quality
- Field Notes As a declared biosecurity pest in most states, it is illegal to return live redfin to the water or possess/transport them alive. Always dispatch your catch humanely immediately upon landing. Target them in warm summer and autumn months when schooling activity peaking.
- Eating Qualities Highly regarded as one of the best eating freshwater species, frequently compared to King George whiting. Features sweet, white, firm, and flaky fillets. Best prepared skinless, rolled in flour or breadcrumbs, and shallow fried. Do not freeze whole.
