Sweep
Sea Sweep, Sweep, Bullseye
Scorpis aequipinnis
Overview
Sweep are the silver flashes around South Australia's rocky headlands, jetties and offshore reefs. They school in loose groups near structure, take small baits and lures enthusiastically, and fight well for their size on light gear. Smaller sweep are a great family species, with bigger fish a solid catch for experienced anglers.
Quick Info
Identification
A deep-bodied, silvery-grey fish with a small mouth, forked tail and a soft dorsal fin high on the back. Often seen schooling near rocky structure and kelp edges.
Deep silvery body, small mouth, high dorsal fin and forked tail — easily recognised schooling close to rocky structure and kelp edges.
Sea Sweep are the common deep-bodied silver fish in SA waters; other sweep species (like the rare Tarwin) differ in size and fin placement. Sweep are easily told from trevally by the deep body and small mouth.
Where to Find Them
Typical depth: 1-30 m
Fishing environments: Shore, Jetty, Boat
When to Fish
How to Catch Them
Fish small baits or small lures near structure — sweep respond well to a lightly weighted bait drifted near a jetty pylon or rocky headland, and will chase small lures on a fast retrieve.
Small fresh baits of prawn or pipi on tiny hooks, presented just off structure; small soft plastics or metal slices cast near structure are taken eagerly.
Fast and steady for small metals or soft plastics cast into structure — sweep chase moving lures readily.
A quick firm tap and immediate weight — sweep bite fast and load light tackle quickly.
Lift smoothly into the weight — sweep hook themselves against light tackle.
Fish small baits near jetty pylons or rocky headlands with a light berley trail. Sweep are plentiful, fun on light gear, and perfect for a quick session — even better with kids on board.
Hooks and baits too large, fishing too far from structure, and striking too hard — sweep are quick and take small baits readily.
Best Baits
Rigs & Gear
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.
A versatile and highly effective rig for King George Whiting and many other species.
Current SA Fishing Rules
CURRENT SA FISHING RULES
Always check current regulations before fishing. Fishing rules and closures can change.
Keeping Your Catch
Support the body with wet hands; sweep are hardy and recover quickly when released.
If keeping, dispatch and bleed promptly before icing.
Ice slurry promptly; sweep flesh firms up and stays firm when chilled.
Cleaning & Filleting
Scale and gut. Sweep scale easily under running water.
Sweep fillet cleanly along the backbone; smaller fish are often cooked whole.
Skin crisps well when pan-fried or crumbed.
A few pin bones in the fillet — feel and remove with pliers, or cook smaller fish whole.
Cooking
White, slightly soft flesh — best crumbed and deep-fried or pan-fried. Sweep are decent eating, especially smaller fish.
Where to Catch Them in SA
Best here: Late Winter - Spring
Port Lincoln offers big-water fishing on Boston Bay and the surrounding islands — whiting, snapper, tuna and more from boat, jetty and shore.
Cape Jervis is a launching point for Kangaroo Island waters and a fishing spot in its own right - the jetty and rock ground produce King George Whiting, tommy ruff, salmon and squid.
Victor Harbor fishes Encounter Bay for mullet, garfish and Australian salmon from the beaches and breakwater, with rock fishing around The Bluff for sweep and bigger fish and productive whiting and squid grounds in sheltered water.
Marion Bay sits at the bottom of Yorke Peninsula - sheltered jetty fishing for tommy ruff and garfish, with wild surf beaches and rock ground nearby producing salmon, mulloway and sweep.
Elliston mixes sheltered bay fishing for whiting and garfish with wild ocean beaches and rock ledges around Anxious Bay that produce salmon, sweep and mulloway.
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