Australian Herring
Arripis Georgianus
© 2026 MarineWise
Quick Facts
Distribution
- The Australian Herring is a sleek, silvery fish found only along the southern coasts of Australia. It can grow to about 41 cm long and weigh up to 800 g.
- Despite the name, the Australian Herring is not a true herring at all. It belongs to its own distinctly Australian fish family, the Arripidae, which also includes the Australian Salmon.
- Its range stretches from Shark Bay in Western Australia, across the Great Australian Bight and around Tasmania. It continues up the eastern coast as far as Forster in New South Wales.
- Australian Herring are schooling fish that favour temperate coastal waters. They are often found over seagrass beds, around kelp and seaweed, on rocky reefs and along ocean beaches.
- Juveniles spend their first couple of years in sheltered bays and inlets, gradually moving into more open coastal waters as they grow.
- They feed on small fish and prawns. Like other members of their family, they are active hunters rather than passive filter feeders.
- Australian Herring spawn on the west coast of Western Australia between April and June. The eggs and larvae are swept eastward by the Leeuwin Current, a warm ocean current that flows south along the WA coast.
- Young fish spend about two years in southern bays and coastal waters. They then begin their journey back westward as adults, typically migrating in February and March.
- The spawning strategy of this species is unusual. Both small, undeveloped eggs and ripe eggs are present in the ovary at the same time, suggesting the fish may spawn in several batches rather than all at once.
- Juveniles have a striking pattern: bold golden bars across the upper sides that break into spots as the fish grows. Adults are a darker olive-grey above and silvery white below, with the black tips on the tail fin remaining a standout feature at any size.
- Australian Herring are thought to live for up to about 7 years, which is a reasonably long life for a fish of this size.
- This species goes by a long list of local names around the coast, including Tommy Ruff, Roughy and Bull Herring. These names reflect just how well known it is to anglers across southern Australia.
Species Interaction
Australian Herring: Shore-Based Staple of the Southern Coast
- Recreational Fishing
- Commercial Harvest
- Seafood
- Ecosystem Role
Australian Herring are a popular recreational target across southern Australia, particularly in Western Australia and South Australia. In WA, they are one of the most commonly caught shore-based fish, with anglers regularly targeting schools from beaches, rock walls and jetties. They also support commercial fisheries in Western Australia and South Australia, where they are taken using a range of netting methods, with smaller commercial catches occurring in Victoria. Beyond their importance to fishers, Australian Herring are an abundant coastal schooling fish and provide food for predators including seabirds, dolphins, sharks and larger fish.
Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Teleostei
- Order: Scombriformes
- Family: Arripidae
- Genus: Arripis
- Species: Arripis georgiana
Conservation Status
The Australian Herring has not been assessed by the IUCN Red List and carries no listing under Australia’s EPBC Act. The Status of Australian Fish Stocks report (2023) classifies the single southern Australian biological stock as sustainable, with the species ranging from Shark Bay in Western Australia to Forster in New South Wales.
Interaction Highlights
Fishing
Consistently the most-caught shore-based species in Perth metropolitan waters.
Commercial
Trap net fishery closed in 2015; commercial catch now averages roughly 75 tonnes yearly.
Ecosystem
Large schooling aggregations make them a significant prey source in southern coastal systems.
How to catch
Australian Herring
Catch Difficulty: Easy
Tackle: Running sinker rig, Paternoster rig, Float rig, Bait jig / sabiki rig
Bait: Prawns, Squid, Worms, Fresh cut fish bait, Pilchards, Soft plastics, Metal lures
Technique: Fish bait on the bottom, Fish bait near reef or structure, Drift bait naturally through the water, Cast near schooling fish, Berley to attract fish
Popularity: Commonly targeted
Recreational Viewing
- Snorkeling & Scuba
Finding: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful
Location: Inner Reef, Sandflats, Open Ocean
Danger: None
