Golden Perch

Golden perch (Macquaria ambigua), commonly called "yellowbelly", "Murray perch", or "callop" are good eating, and are a popular sporting fish. They are readily available from commercial fish farms. The supply of golden perch fingerlings is seasonal, generally available during summer as very small fish. Supplies are limited and it is wise to order well in advance. They do well in mature farm dams in warm areas. They are predators and will not take artificial food. It is worthwhile considering light fertilisation of the dam prior to stocking the fish to improve the food supply. The recommended stocking rate for golden perch is 250 fish per hectare. Golden perch are unlikely to breed in farm dams. (See the section on silver perch for information on mixed stocking of these two species.)

Golden Perch Other Common Names

Yellowbelly, callop, Murray perch

Golden Perch Habitat

Variety of environments, but most frequently occurs in warm, turbid, sluggish inland waters and associated backwaters and billabongs. A tolerant fish able to withstand water temperatures of 4 to 37°C, and salinities up to 33,000 parts per million (almost that of sea-water).

Golden Perch Distribution

Entire Murray-Darling basin except in the headwaters. Widely bred commercially and stocked in substantial numbers in many Australian dams. A popular species for aquaculture and an excellent farm dam species.

Golden Perch Reproduction

Spawning is reported to occur at night from spring to summer when water temperatures are between 23 and 26°C. Spawning appears to be triggered by increased daylight and rising water levels. Will not spawn unless Yabbies are part of the diet. Adult fish will move very considerable distances (up to 1000 Km) upstream to spawn if possible. Migration not essential to spawning. Does not usually spawn in dams.

Widely bred commercially using hormone injection. A typical spawning from a mature female may produce as much as 500,000 eggs.

Golden Perch Diet

Carnivorous, eating mainly Yabbies and shrimps, insects, molluscs and small fish. Feeding behaviour varies, some individuals remain in shaded areas or amongst cover to take prey as it passes, whilst others move slowly over weed beds etc. to feed.

Golden Perch Angling

An excellent angling species. A vigorous taker of baits, especially shrimp, yabbies and scrub worms, not usually caught on bardi grubs. Also enthusiastically takes lures, cast or trolled. Bait and lure sizes smaller than those generally used for Murray cod, but many a golden perch has been caught on a large lure or bait intended for a cod.

Probably the single most effective bait is a bunch of three or four live freshwater shrimps followed by small to medium sized yabbies. A live Yabby with a ball sinker running right to the hook under the tail is very effective bobbed near prominent snags in the river.

Golden Perch can often be taken on the edge of weed beds or adjacent to submerged structure. Sometimes, simply continuing to cast lures into a likely looking place for quite a while can eventually provoke a strike from an unseen passive fish. This is apparently an aggression response and can produce sizable fish.

Golden perch have been known to take fly, but use heavy gear, an 8 or 10 weight outfit is not over done.

They can hit very hard at times and fights well. A very strong fish.

When handling golden perch, be very careful around the operculum (gill plate) as they have a couple of razor sharp plates along the edge which can easily cut your finger to the bone. Never put your fingers into the gills of a golden perch. Like most Australian freshwater angling species has spines in the front part of the dorsal fin, so look out for them too!

Golden Perch on the table

Excellent eating, especially when between 1 and 2 Kg. Larger fish carry a fair amount of fat, but this is quite visible in bands along the lateral line and the dorsal area and can be easily removed either prior to cooking or after.

Responds well to simple cooking methods, dipping a fillet in flour and then gently pan frying is a good method as is baking whole a smaller fish.