Samson Fish
Samsonfish are the bruisers of Australia's temperate offshore reefs — thick-shouldered, fast, and built to punish tackle. Western Australia is the heartland, where they're caught from boats and even rocky ledges and beaches.
South Australia sees solid numbers seasonally, and fish turn up patchily from Moreton Bay south through NSW. They smash jigs and live baits with conviction, then drive straight back to structure.
Scientific Name: Seriola hippos
Also known as Sambo, Kingy, Abrolhos Kingfish, Sea Kingfish, Kingfish
- Silvery body with a greyish-green to bronze-brown back; sometimes a faint yellow stripe along the flank — can look darker and barred once out of the water.
- Juveniles are greenish-yellow with five broad vertical bars and a noticeably blunt, rounded head — easy to confuse with young yellowtail kingfish.
- Adults are more uniformly coloured than yellowtail kingfish (which has a vivid yellow tail and a bold yellow midlateral stripe) and stockier than amberjack.
- Typical catches run 5–20 kg; fish over 30 kg are taken regularly in WA, and the species reaches 150 cm and over 53 kg.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to temperate southern Australian waters — the main range runs from Moreton Bay in southern Queensland, down the NSW coast, across to SA's Yorke Peninsula, and up the WA coast to around Shark Bay.
- Western Australia holds the densest populations; SA sees seasonal concentrations; NSW fish are patchier and localised to certain offshore reefs.
- A pelagic, schooling species that gravitates to coastal and inshore waters — deep reefs, pinnacles, wrecks, and steep drop-offs from roughly 20 m to well over 100 m.
- Adults occasionally move into estuaries and are found around jetties and pylons, but the bulk of serious fishing happens offshore over hard structure.
Key Locations
- Western Australia — the Abrolhos Islands, Rottnest Island, and the reefs off the central WA coast hold the country's strongest populations and biggest fish.
- South Australia — offshore reefs and pinnacles in Spencer Gulf and the waters off the Yorke Peninsula produce fish seasonally.
- Southern Queensland to northern NSW — Moreton Bay and select offshore reefs produce fish, though numbers are patchy and good marks are closely guarded.
- Jervis Bay, NSW — the southern limit of reliable east-coast fishing; a handful of offshore reefs here hold fish at certain times of year.
Specific Spots
- Pinnacles and submerged rocky outcrops are the prime marks — samsonfish stack up on these to intercept baitfish pushed by current, so work the upcurrent face first.
- Wrecks and reef edges in 30–80 m concentrate fish mid-water when bait is schooled up; watch the sounder for bait clouds and position the jig just above them.
- Steep drop-offs and ledges give samsonfish a quick escape route — they'll hit a jig or livie near the top of the drop, then immediately try to bury you in the structure below.
- In WA, certain exposed rocky headlands and beaches allow land-based anglers to reach fish; look for deep water close to shore with current pushing past the point.
Samson Fish FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Samson Fish?
Knife jigs in 100–300 g are the go-to, match the weight to the depth and current, work them with fast vertical lifts or a slow-pitch action close to the reef when fish are less active.
When is the best time to fish for Samson Fish?
Western Australia: fish are present year-round, with peak activity typically through the warmer months from late spring into autumn (October–April). South Australia: numbers build through summer and autumn as water temperatures rise into the preferred range; fish can be harder to locate in winter.
How do you catch Samson Fish?
Most samsonfish are taken from boats over offshore reefs, pinnacles, and wrecks using vertical jigging or live baiting. In WA, land-based fishing from rocky headlands and beaches is a legitimate and growing approach where deep water runs close to shore.
What do Samson Fish eat?
Baitfish are the main target, pilchards, slimy mackerel, and small reef fish, which is why knife jigs and large soft plastics that mimic a fleeing baitfish draw such committed strikes.
Where do Samson Fish live?
Native to temperate southern Australian waters, the main range runs from Moreton Bay in southern Queensland, down the NSW coast, across to SA's Yorke Peninsula, and up the WA coast to around Shark Bay.
See it in the app
Most maps show you water.
onWater shows you Samson Fish.
- 01 · Species map filter
Map every Samson Fish water
Pick Samson Fish and the map zeroes in on the waters they call home. No more guessing which lake holds them.
- 02 · Waterbody species
Tap any water. See what lives there.
Species, behavior and seasonal patterns for every lake, river and pond, before you leave the driveway.
- 03 · Angler Intelligence
Ask how to catch Samson Fish
Tactics, gear and timing from onWater's AI fishing guide, tuned to the species and the water you're on.
Stop guessing where Samson Fish are.
Open the map, filter by Samson Fish, and head to water that holds them. Download onWater and plan your next trip in minutes.
- Species map filter
- Angler Intelligence
- Fishing journal
Explore other species
Trout, bass, salmon, panfish and everything in between. Each guide unpacks the behavior, seasons, and tactics that put fish in the net.
No species information available.
Smarter Fishing Starts in the App.
onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.