Australian Salmon

Salmon, Bay Trout (juvenile), Salmon Trout

Arripis truttacea / Arripis trutta

BEST BAITS

Pilchard, Pipi, Squid Strip

METHODS

Shore, Boat, Jetty

EATING QUALITY

Fair

Overview

Australian Salmon are one of South Australia's most accessible sportfish, crashing through surf gutters, beaches and gulf channels in big schools. They hit lures and baits hard, pull hard on light gear, and are caught from the beach, rocks and boat — with the smaller 'bay trout' juveniles great fun for kids.

Quick Info

DIFFICULTY

Beginner - Intermediate

TYPICAL SIZE

35-60 cm

MAXIMUM SIZE

Up to 90 cm+

HABITAT

Surf gutters, Beach structure, Rocky coastline, Sheltered bays

BEST MONTHS

Autumn - Spring

ENVIRONMENTS

Shore, Boat, Jetty

Identification

A powerful, deep-bodied silver fish with a blue-green back and yellow-tinged pectoral fins. Western Australian Salmon grow much larger than the smaller 'bay trout' juveniles.

Deep, slab-sided body, silvery flanks, faint dark spots along the upper back, yellowish fins, and a strong tail wrist — bigger salmon are unmistakably powerful in the surf.

SIMILAR SPECIES

Juvenile salmon ('bay trout') can be confused with Tommy Ruff — salmon juveniles are deeper-bodied with a larger eye, while Tommy Ruff carry the spotted flanks. Adult salmon are unmistakable.

Where to Find Them

Surf guttersBeach structureRocky coastlineSheltered bays

Typical depth: 0-15 m

Fishing environments: Shore, Boat, Jetty

When to Fish

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

Best monthsAutumn - Spring

TideRun-in tide and dawn sessions on a moving gutter

Time of dayDawn and dusk, especially with a rising tide and onshore breeze

ConditionsWhite water, gutters and baitfish activity — salmon love a bit of wash

Seasonal movementBig schools move along SA beaches and gulf waters through the cooler months from autumn into spring; summer produces mainly smaller bay trout around jetties and bays.

How to Catch Them

From the beach, cast a small paternoster or running sinker rig with a pipi or fish strip into a gutter and hold on. On lures, cast small metals into working birds and retrieve fast through the bust-up. Berley brings juvenile bay trout in close at jetties and rock walls.

A fresh strip of fish or whole whitebait on a small hook for bay trout; whole pilchards or large fish strips on ganged hooks for the big western salmon in the surf.

Fast and steady for metals through surface-feeding schools — salmon love a lure skipping away at speed; slow down only if fish are following.

BITE BEHAVIOUR

A solid thump and instant weight — salmon hit hard and run hard, especially bigger fish in the surf.

HOOK SETTING

Simply lift into the weight — salmon hook themselves on bait; on lures keep winding through the strike with a firm sweep.

BEGINNER TIPS

Look for diving birds and white water, cast into the wash, and use fresh bait. Bay trout under a jetty berley trail are the perfect first fish for kids.

COMMON MISTAKES

Tackle too light for big salmon in the surf, casting past the fish when they are busting up close in, and not berleying when fishing for juveniles from jetties.

Best Baits

Pilchard

The classic saltwater baitfish - a staple for salmon, mulloway, snapper and gummy sharks, fished whole or in strips.

Pipi / Goolwa Cockle

The number one King George Whiting bait in South Australia.

Squid Strip

A tough, reliable whiting bait that stays on the hook.

Rigs & Gear

Metal Lure / Casting Setup

A simple but devastating setup — a small metal slice lure cast hard and retrieved fast through busting fish. This is how salmon, snook, trevally and tommy ruff get caught from beaches, jetties and boats all over South Australia.

Gang Hook Pilchard Rig

A whole pilchard threaded onto a string of ganged hooks — the classic rig for presenting a natural, fish-shaped bait that hooks salmon, mulloway and sharks wherever they strike the bait along its length.

Surf Paternoster Rig

A heavy-duty paternoster built for the surf — a star or grapnel sinker holds the bottom in the wash while one or two baits sit up off the sand in the gutter. The standard rig for salmon, mulloway and gummy sharks off South Australian beaches.

Paternoster / Dropper Rig

A versatile and highly effective rig for King George Whiting and many other species.

Current SA Fishing Rules

CURRENT SA FISHING RULES

All other SA waters

OPEN

Minimum size21 cm

Daily bag limit20 fish between 21–35 cm; 10 fish over 35 cm (per person) per person

Daily boat limit60 fish between 21–35 cm; 30 fish over 35 cm (when 3 or more people on board)

Special conditionsDifferent bag and boat limits apply depending on fish size: 21–35 cm, and over 35 cm. Juvenile Australian Salmon look similar to Tommy Ruff — know the difference so undersized Salmon can be returned to the water.

HOW TO MEASURE

Method: Total length

Measured at: Measured from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail.

LAST CHECKED: 30 September 2026SOURCE: PIRSA

Always check current regulations before fishing. Fishing rules and closures can change.

CHECK CURRENT PIRSA RULES

Keeping Your Catch

HANDLING

Wet hands and support the body — salmon are hardy and make great fun catches on light gear, but handle keepers for the table quickly.

BLEEDING

If keeping salmon, dispatch and bleed them promptly — the flesh is firm and best treated like a strong-flavoured table fish.

ICING

Ice slurry immediately; salmon flesh improves markedly once well chilled.

Cleaning & Filleting

CLEANING

Gut, scale and rinse. Larger fish can be bled and then filleted into chunky boneless cuts.

FILLETING

Salmon fillet like a large tailor — follow the backbone, then cut the fillets into thicker sections; pin bones are minimal.

SKIN

Skin is tough and scales well; leave on for crumbing or grilling.

BONES

Few pin bones in the fillet; the rib cage and collar carry most of the bone.

Cooking

Deep-frysmokingpatties and curries

Strong-flavoured flesh suits bold cooking — crumb and deep-fry, smoke it, or make salmon patties and fish curries. Freshly bled and well-iced fish are far better on the plate.