Australian Herring
Australian herring are the backbone of recreational fishing along the southern coast. Small by most standards — most fish run 20–28 cm — but they school in huge numbers, take bait and lures readily, and jump repeatedly when hooked.
From Shark Bay in WA across to the NSW border, they're often the first fish a beginner catches and the fish that saves a slow session for everyone else.
Scientific Name: Arripis georgianus
Also known as Tommy ruff, tommy rough, ruff, ruffies, bull herring, sea herring, rough, roughy, western herring
- Green-backed with a silvery belly and rows of golden spots along the upper sides; juveniles show darker golden bars on the flanks.
- Key ID feature: distinctly large eye and black-tipped tail lobes — both absent on juvenile Australian salmon, which are the main lookalike.
- Juvenile salmon also show a dark blotch at the base of the pectoral fin; herring do not.
- Most fish run 22–28 cm and 125–250 g; fish over 250 g are called bull herring, and the Australian record sits at 843 g and 41 cm.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to southern Australia — a single biological stock ranges from Shark Bay (WA) east to Forster (NSW), though fish are uncommon east of Bass Strait.
- Most abundant between Geraldton (WA) and Lakes Entrance (VIC); the adult spawning population is concentrated in south-west WA.
- Inshore and estuarine: temperate coastal bays, estuaries, nearshore reefs, and surf beaches in depths from the surface to the seabed.
- Juveniles mature across WA, SA, VIC and NSW before migrating back west to the spawning grounds in south-west WA.
Key Locations
- Perth metropolitan beaches and bays (WA) — bull herring schools appear most years around autumn, drawing shore and boat anglers.
- Wilson Inlet, Denmark (WA) — known for producing some of the largest herring on the south coast, with fish fat enough to be mistaken for small salmon.
- Albany and the South Coast Bioregion (WA) — historically the heart of both commercial and recreational herring fishing, with inshore reefs holding fish year-round.
- Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent (SA) — key juvenile habitat where tommy ruff are a staple of shore-based fishing.
- Lakes Entrance (VIC) — eastern edge of reliable herring range; fish present but less abundant than further west.
Specific Spots
- Inshore reef structures are the prime holding area — schools sit near the surface over shallow reef, but will feed anywhere in the water column when active.
- Estuarine channels and protected bays concentrate fish, particularly in WA's south coast inlets where larger bull herring gather.
- Current edges and berley trails pull scattered schools together; anchoring up-current of a reef and running a berley slick is a proven way to hold fish under the boat.
- Surf gutters and rocky headlands along the southern coast hold fish accessible to shore anglers, especially during summer and autumn feeding pushes.
Australian Herring FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Australian Herring?
Small metal slices (5–15 g) cast and retrieved at pace are the most reliable lure, they imitate fleeing baitfish and the flash draws strikes from schooling fish.
What flies work for Australian Herring?
Small Clouser Minnows (which imitate baitfish) in white, chartreuse or silver, size 4–8, are the workhorse pattern, cast into the berley trail or along reef edges and strip back with short, sharp pulls.
When is the best time to fish for Australian Herring?
Summer and autumn (December–April) see the most consistent shore-based action along the WA south-west coast as fish feed actively in warmer inshore water. Autumn (March–May) brings larger bull herring into Perth metropolitan waters most years, a reliable annual event for WA anglers.
How do you catch Australian Herring?
Shore fishing with light spin gear and berley is the most common approach, particularly along WA's south-west coast and SA's gulfs. Boat anglers anchor up-current of inshore reef, run a berley trail to concentrate the school, then work small metals or bait under a float.
What do Australian Herring eat?
Small baitfish, prawns, and invertebrates make up the bulk of the diet, small metal slices and minnow-style hard-bodies that imitate baitfish are the go-to lure choices.
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