Perch Confusion

[Schultzy]

There has been a little confusion regarding the identity of some perch species on the forums recently. Perhaps a little info may help clarify things.

River Perch (Johniops vogleri); aka Brisbane River Perch. This is a small cousin of the mulloway growing only to about 35cm. This is a marine species that doesn't venture into pure freshwater, tolerating salinity down to about 8ppt. I've caught them as far upstream as Seventeen Mile Rocks. Used to be very common in the city reaches before a combination of over fishing and pollution thinned them out.

[img size=400]http://www.australianfishing.com.au/media/kunena/attachments/legacy/images/Johniops_vogleri.jpg River Perch.

Estuary Perch(Macquaria colonorum. This prestigious fish is a close relative of the Australian bass. They grow to about 54cm and 2kg.

It is not found in Queensland with the northern limit of its range accepted as being the Richmond River in Northern NSW. It does venture into pure freshwater but doesn't seem to push as far upstream as bass. Many estuary perch are happy to spend their entire lives in brackish water.

Estuary perch look very similar to bass in photos but in the flesh are unmistakeable. The head and eyes are much larger than those of bass and the mouth and teeth are much larger.

Here's a shot of an estuary perch. (caught last weekend in the Richmond River)

[img size=500]http://www.australianfishing.com.au/media/kunena/attachments/legacy/images/Est_perch.jpg

Post edited by: webmaster, at: 2007/08/11 16:10

[Feral]

Gee Schulzy,

That looks like momma was a Bass and Poppa was a Barra!

[shaggy]

Nice EP schulzy, How big did she go. Looks over 2kg.

[Brian D]

Schultzy wrote:

There has been a little confusion regarding the identity of some perch species on the forums recently. Perhaps a little info may help clarify things.

River Perch (Johniops vogleri); aka Brisbane River Perch. This is a small cousin of the mulloway growing only to about 35cm. This is a marine species that doesn't venture into pure freshwater, tolerating salinity down to about 8ppt. I've caught them as far upstream as Seventeen Mile Rocks. Used to be very common in the city reaches before a combination of over fishing and pollution thinned them out.

[img size=400]http://www.australianfishing.com.au/media/kunena/attachments/legacy/images/Johniops_vogleri.jpg River Perch.

Estuary Perch(Macquaria colonorum. This prestigious fish is a close relative of the Australian bass. They grow to about 54cm and 2kg.

It is not found in Queensland with the northern limit of its range accepted as being the Richmond River in Northern NSW. It does venture into pure freshwater but doesn't seem to push as far upstream as bass. Many estuary perch are happy to spend their entire lives in brackish water.

Estuary perch look very similar to bass in photos but in the flesh are unmistakeable. The head and eyes are much larger than those of bass and the mouth and teeth are much larger.

Post edited by: Schultzy, at: 2007/08/09 01:24<br><br>Post edited by: Schultzy, at: 2007/08/09 01:29

No No No It's a Logan River Perch - and by the looks of the photo it got a hard time in the landing net.

[Dan23]

Heh,

This is about the third thread on these things now....

Schultzy, I think the pic you have of the River Perch still looks different to the ones in the river. That said I came to the same conclusion that it is indeed a River Perch a while ago.

/>http://www.australianfishing.com.au/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=237&func=view&id=29411&catid=55#29411

There's a photo of one I caught further down in this thread. At the time I thought it may have been a grunter and there were suggestions of a putty nosed perch.

/>http://www.australianfishing.com.au/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=237&func=view&id=25726&catid=10

[Angus]

Nice one Shultzy thanks for that.

Dan23: I am pretty sure putty nosed perch is just another name for the Brissy river perch...

Another name i have heard is grunter perch...

I am happy to call them Brisbane River perch though

Angus

[Dan23]

Hmm,

reading back over my last post I came off sounding a bit sanctimonious. Didn't mean to, was just adding to the discussion. I find it amusing how often this fish is talked about.

[werewolf]

what abouts your Brisbane River barra gus:)

[Schultzy]

Hey Brett, Yes she was a very nice EP, especially for the Richmond.

I'd guess it at about 1.5kg, didn't weigh her though, just snapped half a dozen quick pics and put her back into the river in as good a condition as possible.

[jeff f]

has anyone else noticed a distinct colour difference to these little buggers depending wich river they come out of?

[Feral]

A lot of fish are like that Jeff, different colours if the water quality is different.

[MichaelJ]

not naming any names whp got confused

ME!!!