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(Click for large pic. 83Kb)
This is one of the most common of our small freshwater fishes; it occurs in abundance in the freshwater reaches of all our coastal streams, through billabongs and rivers of the Western watershed to the Tablelands of North Queensland.
Shoals of them congregate below the spillways of weirs when streams are running; the fish swim up current with such bursts of energy that they might ascend 1.2 - 1.5 m in a 25-mm water layer running down the near-vertical weir face before dropping back exhausted. The Spangled Perch is usually bluish-grey in colour, each scale with a darker border and a central golden or rusty-brown spot. It feeds mainly upon freshwater shrimps and insects, and bites readily on worm or shrimp baits. It is a prolific breeder and is one of the few native freshwater species proven to grow and spawn in comparatively small dams. Spawning occurs from November into late summer; the developing eggs sink to the bottom.
They are about 0.75 mm in diameter and hatch in only 2 or 3 days. If impounded for pond-culture these Perch must be fished heavily by line or net; otherwise, a dense population of small fish develops. Spangled Perch provide very acceptable sport on light gear, float-fishing. A small shoal of five to ten Perch may attack the bait successively with such vigour that the float bobs constantly. Despite its comparatively small size, the Spangled Perch is an excellent pan-fish. Large examples attain 600 g , but it is more commonly seen at 200 g (6 oz.) or less.
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