Golden Perch

Interesting Info

• The Golden Perch, often called “Yellowbelly”, is one of Australia’s most popular and recognisable native freshwater fish.
• They are widespread across the Murray–Darling Basin, with other populations in Lake Eyre Basin and parts of Cooper Creek. Their adaptability allows them to survive in rivers, lakes, billabongs, and weirs.
• They are named for their golden-yellow body, which can range from olive to deep bronze depending on the habitat, with a darker back and lighter belly.
• They are omnivores, but mainly eat fish, yabbies, shrimp, and aquatic insects. Juveniles focus more on insect larvae before shifting to larger prey.
• Golden Perch are highly adaptable and can tolerate hot, turbid, and low-oxygen waters, giving them an edge in Australia’s harsh inland rivers.
• Breeding occurs in spring and summer when rising river flows and water temperatures (about 20–23°C) trigger spawning. Eggs drift downstream in the current before hatching.
• They were historically a key food fish for Indigenous Australians and early European settlers. Today, they are a prized sportfish across southeastern Australia.
• They are also stocked in many dams and reservoirs (such as Lake Eildon and Lake Hume) to support recreational fisheries, making them one of the most accessible native fish to catch.
• Lifespan is typically 15–20 years, though some individuals have been recorded living over 25 years in large rivers.