Southern Garfish

Garfish, Sea Gar, Green Bone

Hyporhamphus melanochir

BEST BAITS

Squid Strip, Prawn

METHODS

Jetty, Shore, Boat

EATING QUALITY

Good

Overview

Southern Garfish school in sheltered bays and around jetty structure and are a fun, family-friendly catch on small suspended baits. They bite in fast flurries, fight well for their size on ultra-light gear, and are a genuine South Australian delicacy — especially fresh and lightly crumbed.

Quick Info

DIFFICULTY

Beginner

TYPICAL SIZE

20–30 cm

MAXIMUM SIZE

Up to 40 cm

HABITAT

Seagrass, Jetty structure, Sheltered bays

BEST MONTHS

Winter – Spring

ENVIRONMENTS

Jetty, Shore, Boat

Identification

A small, slender, silvery-green fish with an unmistakable beak-like snout — the lower jaw extends into a long, thin bill. The skeleton contains green-coloured bones, which is where the old nickname 'green bone' comes from.

Long needle-like lower jaw, a single short dorsal fin set well back, bright silver flanks with a green-blue back, and the famous green bones visible in a fresh fillet.

SIMILAR SPECIES

River Garfish and Eastern Sea Garfish — in SA inshore waters the Southern Garfish is the dominant species, and all garfish share the beak-like snout and green bones.

Where to Find Them

SeagrassJetty structureSheltered bays

Typical depth: 1–8 m

Fishing environments: Jetty, Shore, Boat

When to Fish

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

Best monthsWinter – Spring

TideLow-light periods on any tide — schools move with the current

Time of dayDawn and dusk

ConditionsCalm, sheltered bays and clear water around jetty structure

Seasonal movementGarfish fishing peaks through the cooler months from winter into spring, when big schools hold in sheltered bays and around jetties. Catches slow through the height of summer.

How to Catch Them

Float fish tiny baits suspended mid-water over seagrass and near jetty pylons, with light berley to hold the school. Set the float so the bait sits just above the seagrass, keep the bait tiny, and get the bait back down quickly when bites come in flurries.

A small piece of squid, whitebait or maggot on a tiny hook set under a pencil float — the bait hangs mid-water rather than sitting on the bottom. Adjust float depth until the bites start.

Not required: garfish are taken on small baits suspended under a float just off the bottom.

BITE BEHAVIOUR

A delicate, darting nibble — the float dips and trembles repeatedly as the garfish picks at the bait before finally taking it under.

HOOK SETTING

Lift gently — garfish mouths are small and paper-thin. A slow, smooth lift hooks them cleanly without tearing the jaw free.

BEGINNER TIPS

Use the smallest hook you own and the smallest piece of bait. Garfish bite in flurries — when one comes over the side, get the bait straight back down because the school is usually still there.

COMMON MISTAKES

Hooks and baits that are too large, fishing on the bottom instead of mid-water, striking too hard and pulling the hook free, and not berleying to hold the school.

Best Baits

Squid Strip

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

Prawn

A great all-rounder for whiting, garfish and bream.

Rigs & Gear

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 size23 cm

Daily bag limit30 per person

Daily boat limit90

Gulf St Vincent & Kangaroo Island

CLOSED

Do not target, take or possess this species in Gulf St Vincent & Kangaroo Island.

Spencer Gulf

OPEN

Minimum size23 cm

Daily bag limit30 per person

Daily boat limit90

Southern Garfish closure — Gulf St Vincent & Kangaroo Island

1 May 2026 – Ongoing — Gulf St Vincent & Kangaroo Island

HOW TO MEASURE

Method: Total length

Measured at: Measured from the tip of the upper jaw 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

Gently — garfish are small and fragile. Wet your hands or use a landing net rather than lifting them by the hook.

BLEEDING

If keeping garfish, dispatch quickly and chill immediately — they are best eaten very fresh and well iced.

ICING

Slush ice straight away; garfish are best eaten within a day or two of capture.

Cleaning & Filleting

CLEANING

Scale lightly, gut and rinse. Many anglers simply butterfly small garfish, keeping the skeleton intact.

FILLETING

Fillets carry the signature green bones — remove them with pliers or fillet carefully around them; the flesh itself is white and sweet.

SKIN

Skin is thin and scales easily — most cooks give them a quick scrape under running water or leave the tiny scales in place.

BONES

The famous green bones are a harmless natural pigment — they cook out with heat or are simply picked from the fillet.

Cooking

Pan-fry wholedeep-frypickling

Dust in seasoned flour and pan-fry whole until crisp, or crumb and deep-fry. The green bones disappear with heat, and lightly pickled garfish is a South Australian classic.