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dpi note

Golden perch (yellowbelly)
Macquaria ambigua

Officers of DPI Fisheries

golden perch

This is a regulated fish. See Recreational fishing rules in Queensland - Freshwater for the current regulations.

Description

Golden perch are commonly caught at about 5kg, but can grow up to 9kg (76cm). Weights of up to 23kg have been recorded, but these are questionable. Golden perch are sexually mature at 4-5 years of age and can live for as long as 19 years. At maturity these fish are around 41-42cm in length. Their colouration is variable ranging from dull black to brilliant gold. Generally they have a dark brown to olive green back, shading to yellow or white towards the belly. Larger adult fish have a very distinctive form. They have a high-humped back and stumpy, barely functional tails. Their gill covers have razor-sharp serrated cutting edges. Golden perch feed on shrimps, crayfish, small mussels and occasionally fish.

Habitat/distribution

Golden perch are found only in freshwater. They occur in clear, fast-flowing rivers or streams, as well as slow-flowing, turbid rivers and backwaters. Golden perch prefer warm, turbid slow-flowing streams. They range throughout the Murray-Darling river system in central and southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. They can also be found in rivers draining into Lake Eyre. Golden perch undergo long migrations upstream in late spring to early summer. Queensland has three genetically distinct stocks of golden perch. One is native to the Lake Eyre drainage system (Macquiria sp.), another to the Murray-Darling system (Macquaria ambigua) and the last to the Dawson system (Macquaria ambigua oriens). Stock from the Murray-Darling system has been introduced to dams in south-east Queensland.

Suggested further reading

Grant, E.M. (2002). Grant's Guide To Fishes. E.M. Grant Pty Limited, Brisbane.

 

Note: Some information in this publication may change from time to time (especially size and in-possession limits). You should contact your nearest Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol or the DPI&F Business Information Centre (13 25 23) for latest fisheries regulations and information.

This DPI Note is also published on the DPI&F's PrimeNotes CD-ROM.

Information contained in this publication is provided as general advice only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought. The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Queensland has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the information in this publication is accurate at the time of publication. Readers should ensure that they make appropriate inquiries to determine whether new information is available on the particular subject matter.

File No: f00101
Last updated December 2003


 

© The State of Queensland, (Primary Industries and Fisheries within the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation) 1995-2009.
Copyright protects this material. Except as permitted by the Copyright Act, reproduction by any means (photocopying, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise), making available online, electronic transmission or other publication of this material is prohibited without the prior written permission of The Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Queensland. Inquiries should be addressed to copyright@dpi.qld.gov.au (Queensland residents phone 13 25 23; non-Queensland residents phone 61 7 3404 6999).