Home › Actinopterygii › Percichthyidae › Australian Bass (Macquaria novemaculeata)
SPECIES PROFILE
Australian Bass (Macquaria novemaculeata)
Macquaria
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Actinopterygii
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Eastern Australia, Queensland to Victoria, coastal rivers
DIET
Carnivorous
HABITAT
Freshwater rivers/streams most of year; estuaries for spawning
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Actinopterygii
ORDER
Perciformes
FAMILY
Percichthyidae
GENUS
Macquaria
📋 Description
SIZE
Up to 60 cm, typically 30-40 cm; up to 3 kg
COLORATION
Dark bronze to greenish-brown, silver/white belly; darker in freshwater
ADAPTATIONS
Catadromous, strong swimmer, forked tail
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Freshwater rivers/streams most of year; estuaries for spawning
DIET
Carnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Eastern Australia, Queensland to Victoria, coastal rivers
REPRODUCTION
Spawns in estuaries winter (June-August), thousands of eggs; juveniles upstream
DIET DETAILS
Feeds on insects, crustaceans, small fish
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Dams blocking migration, overfishing, habitat degradation
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Estuary Spawners: Australian bass migrate 100 km to Hawkesbury River’s estuaries, spawning 1 million eggs, their 60 cm bodies ambushing 50 shrimp daily. Their millions-strong population faces dams, blocking 40% of spawning routes, with restocking aiding recovery.
2
Sportfish Stars: In Noosa River, their 3 kg bodies fight anglers with 10 kg of force, as seen in Snowy River’s pools, supporting tourism. Their catadromous life, adapting to salinity shifts, ensures survival, with females laying 5 million eggs over a lifetime.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Hawkesbury River in New South Wales has Wisemans Ferry upper reaches and estuaries ideal for Australian bass sightings
Noosa River on Queensland Sunshine Coast features Tewantin forested sections for Australian bass sightings
Snowy River in Victoria below Jindabyne Dam at Marlo offers lower freshwater zones for Australian bass sightings
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Hire local fishing guides to catch bass in estuarine waters near Wisemans Ferry, Tewantin, Marlo during early morning.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
June-August. Winter spawning in estuaries triggers migration from freshwater rivers increasing bass activity.
