Australian Salmon
Not a true salmon at all, the Australian salmon (or kahawai) is one of the coast's great light-tackle brawlers. They school in big numbers through the surf and harbour, and once hooked they run long and jump hard, pure fun on spin gear.
About the Australian salmon
Sleek and silver with a scatter of spots along the back and a powerful forked tail, the Australian salmon, also known as kahawai, is built to chase down bait at speed. They are not related to true salmon at all, but a member of the Arripis family, and they hunt in fast-moving schools that push bait up against the beaches, rock ledges and harbour walls.
Salmon are found right along the NSW coast, in the surf, off the rocks and through the harbour, and they run best in the cooler months. With no minimum size and a generous bag limit, plus schools that are easy to find, they are a brilliant fish for newcomers and kids, and a proper workout for anyone on light line.
Australian Salmon at a glance
| Name | Australian Salmon |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Kahawai |
| Scientific name | Arripis trutta |
| Best season in NSW | Mar–Sep |
| Habitat | Surf/Harbour |
| Where found in NSW | NSW coast |
| Size and bag limits | No min, bag 20 |
| Average size | 30–70cm |
| Max size | 90cm |
| Fishing method | Spinning |
| Best bait / lure | Lures |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Eating quality | Average |
| Taste | Strong |
| Recipe ideas | Smoked |
Spinning the schools
Salmon are willing biters when you find the schools, and a fast lure is all it takes to get connected.
The proven methods
Salmon love a fast-moving lure. Cast metal slugs and spin them back at pace through the schools, or work surface lures and soft plastics when the fish are feeding up top. They hunt in packs, so where there is one there are usually plenty, and the action can be non-stop once you are on them. All the spin gear is on board.
How Wahoo puts you on them
Finding the schools is everything, and they move with the bait and the season. George Aslanian knows the beaches, rock ledges and harbour stretches the salmon work through the cooler months, and we will set you up to cast into the melee and hang on for the ride. A brilliant fish for first-timers and a proper light-line workout. Ready to go? Book a Sydney sport fishing charter.
Other Sport & pelagic fish
Bonito
Australian bonito (Sarda australis): a fast, hard-hitting coastal speedster around Sydney Harbour entrances. Season, size, methods and eating quality, plus how to catch them.
Silver Trevally
Silver trevally (Pseudocaranx georgianus): hard-pulling schooling fish on Sydney Harbour and coastal reefs, year-round. Season, size and bag limits, methods and eating quality.
Tailor
Tailor (Pomatomus saltatrix): a fast, slashing surf and harbour predator off Sydney. Season, size and bag limits, methods and eating quality, plus how to catch them.
Yellowtail Kingfish
Sydney's premier sportfish. Brutal, fast and famous for busting anglers off in the reef, the yellowtail kingfish holds right around Sydney Harbour and along the coast, and going toe to toe with a big model is a genuine rite of passage.
Keen to chase some salmon?
Tell us your dates and crew and we will get you into Sydney's hard-running salmon, all gear supplied, every level welcome. Browse the full species guide, or mix it up on our sport and jigging charters.