Post by Sicklids on Sept 2, 2012 4:17:07 GMT -5
Yellowfin bream, Acanthopagrus australis, (also known as silver bream, eastern black bream, surf bream, sea bream and bream) is a species of marine and freshwater fish of the porgy family, Sparidae.
Introduction
It is a deep-bodied fish, occasionally confused with Acanthopagrus butcheri (black bream), but is generally distinguished by its yellowish ventral and anal fins.
It is a popular target for recreation fisherman due to its capacity to fight well above its weight coupled with its table quality.
Yellowfin bream are found along the NSW coast, as well as in Queensland and Victoria.
Bream inhabit estuaries up to the brackish water limit (the change from salt to freshwater) and inshore rocky reef habitats near ocean beaches and rocky headlands.
Identification
The Yellowfin Bream is a member of the family Sparidae. Sparid fishes have moderate-sized scales and strong spines in the first dorsal, anal and pelvic fins.
They have canine teeth at the front of the jaws followed by conical or flattened molar-like teeth at the back of the jaw.
Coastal fish are silver, but those living in estuaries are darker.
Size range
The Yellowfin Bream grows to 65 cm in length and about 4 kg in weight, however catches are generally in the low to mid 40cm and 2kg in weight.
Similar Species
The southern limit of its distributional range overlaps with the northern range of the Black Bream, Acanthopagrus butcheri. The two species look similar but can be distinguished by their colouration. The ventral and anal fins of the Yellowfin Bream are yellow, but those of the Black Bream are brown to dusky. The body colour of the Black Bream tends to be darker.
Distribution
The species occurs throughout the Indo-West Pacific. In Australia it is found along the east coast from northern Queensland to eastern Victoria. There are some old museum records of this species being caught in Western Australian waters, but its occurrence on the west coast is yet to be confirmed.
Habitat
The species occurs in coastal and estuarine waters.
Other behaviours and adaptations
The Yellowfin Bream is a schooling species.
Economic/social impacts
The Yellowfin Bream is a very important commercial and recreational angling species. Other sparids that are also favoured by anglers include the Snapper and the Tarwhine.
Classification
- Species:australis
- Genus:Acanthopagrus
- Family:Sparidae
- Order:Perciformes
- Class:Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:Vertebrata
- Phylum:Chordata
- Kingdom:Animalia
Fishing Techniques
The most productive techniques for taking bream in estuaries, bays and harbours are based around the use of light, sensitive tackle and live or fresh baits of marine worms, shellfish, yabbies (nippers), crabs, prawns or small bait fish species.
However it is now becoming more and more popular to use the CPR method of fishing, whereby the fish is Caught Photographed & Released in as good a condition as is possible.
This style is very popular with the fishos who enjoy finese fishing with ultra light gear.
The anglers use a range of Soft Plastics Lures, Hard Bodied Lures and Fly Gear.
All of these require practice to perfect, but when achieved these methods will out fish baits everytime and you will be rewarded with the thrill of doing battle with a hard fighting species.
Some popular Soft Plastics include:
- Damiki Grubs
- Damiki Clawdads
- Damiki Vaults
- Squigies
- Kokoda
Popular Hard Bodies include:
- K9 Pup
- Surface Poppers
- Shallow Divers
- Pontoon21 lures
Bait:
Bream also succumb to an array of less conventional offerings such as bullock's heart, tripe, steak, chicken intestines and various 'pudding' mixtures of flour, water, cheese, tinned sardines and the like.
Estuary and river-dwelling bream of all three species are also taken with reasonable consistency on small lures and flies, often by anglers targeting other species such as flathead or tailor.
In New South Wales and southern Queensland, surf, rock and inshore boat anglers target eastern black bream using the same range of baits as estuary anglers, as well as whole and cut pilchards, fish fillets, strips and cubes.
All three species also respond well to the use of berley.
Eating Qualities
Bream are a much prized and highly rated food fish, although some people would argue they are somewhat over-rated in this department.
Bream from lower estuaries, harbours and the open ocean have moist, while flesh with a clean, sweet flavour.
Upper estuary or freshwater dwelling fish often exhibit slightly softer flesh, and can have a slightly weedy or muddy taint at times.
Introduction
It is a deep-bodied fish, occasionally confused with Acanthopagrus butcheri (black bream), but is generally distinguished by its yellowish ventral and anal fins.
It is a popular target for recreation fisherman due to its capacity to fight well above its weight coupled with its table quality.
Yellowfin bream are found along the NSW coast, as well as in Queensland and Victoria.
Bream inhabit estuaries up to the brackish water limit (the change from salt to freshwater) and inshore rocky reef habitats near ocean beaches and rocky headlands.
Identification
The Yellowfin Bream is a member of the family Sparidae. Sparid fishes have moderate-sized scales and strong spines in the first dorsal, anal and pelvic fins.
They have canine teeth at the front of the jaws followed by conical or flattened molar-like teeth at the back of the jaw.
Coastal fish are silver, but those living in estuaries are darker.
Size range
The Yellowfin Bream grows to 65 cm in length and about 4 kg in weight, however catches are generally in the low to mid 40cm and 2kg in weight.
Similar Species
The southern limit of its distributional range overlaps with the northern range of the Black Bream, Acanthopagrus butcheri. The two species look similar but can be distinguished by their colouration. The ventral and anal fins of the Yellowfin Bream are yellow, but those of the Black Bream are brown to dusky. The body colour of the Black Bream tends to be darker.
Distribution
The species occurs throughout the Indo-West Pacific. In Australia it is found along the east coast from northern Queensland to eastern Victoria. There are some old museum records of this species being caught in Western Australian waters, but its occurrence on the west coast is yet to be confirmed.
Habitat
The species occurs in coastal and estuarine waters.
Other behaviours and adaptations
The Yellowfin Bream is a schooling species.
Economic/social impacts
The Yellowfin Bream is a very important commercial and recreational angling species. Other sparids that are also favoured by anglers include the Snapper and the Tarwhine.
Classification
- Species:australis
- Genus:Acanthopagrus
- Family:Sparidae
- Order:Perciformes
- Class:Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:Vertebrata
- Phylum:Chordata
- Kingdom:Animalia
Fishing Techniques
The most productive techniques for taking bream in estuaries, bays and harbours are based around the use of light, sensitive tackle and live or fresh baits of marine worms, shellfish, yabbies (nippers), crabs, prawns or small bait fish species.
However it is now becoming more and more popular to use the CPR method of fishing, whereby the fish is Caught Photographed & Released in as good a condition as is possible.
This style is very popular with the fishos who enjoy finese fishing with ultra light gear.
The anglers use a range of Soft Plastics Lures, Hard Bodied Lures and Fly Gear.
All of these require practice to perfect, but when achieved these methods will out fish baits everytime and you will be rewarded with the thrill of doing battle with a hard fighting species.
Some popular Soft Plastics include:
- Damiki Grubs
- Damiki Clawdads
- Damiki Vaults
- Squigies
- Kokoda
Popular Hard Bodies include:
- K9 Pup
- Surface Poppers
- Shallow Divers
- Pontoon21 lures
Bait:
Bream also succumb to an array of less conventional offerings such as bullock's heart, tripe, steak, chicken intestines and various 'pudding' mixtures of flour, water, cheese, tinned sardines and the like.
Estuary and river-dwelling bream of all three species are also taken with reasonable consistency on small lures and flies, often by anglers targeting other species such as flathead or tailor.
In New South Wales and southern Queensland, surf, rock and inshore boat anglers target eastern black bream using the same range of baits as estuary anglers, as well as whole and cut pilchards, fish fillets, strips and cubes.
All three species also respond well to the use of berley.
Eating Qualities
Bream are a much prized and highly rated food fish, although some people would argue they are somewhat over-rated in this department.
Bream from lower estuaries, harbours and the open ocean have moist, while flesh with a clean, sweet flavour.
Upper estuary or freshwater dwelling fish often exhibit slightly softer flesh, and can have a slightly weedy or muddy taint at times.