Silver Perch
Silver perch are a native Murray-Darling Basin fish that once ranked among Australia's most important freshwater species.
Wild river populations have collapsed and are now fully protected, but stocked impoundments — particularly in NSW and Queensland — give anglers a genuine shot at them. Bank fishing with bait in dams is the main game today.
Scientific Name: Bidyanus bidyanus
Also known as Grunter, Murray bream, Murray perch, black bream, silver bream, bidyan, Tcheri
- Deep, laterally compressed oval body that gets noticeably deeper with age; grey to grey-brown above, lighter on the belly.
- Small head and small mouth — a key ID feature that separates them from golden perch and Murray cod, and dictates small bait and lure sizes.
- Scales are finer than golden or Macquarie perch; dark scale edges can create a faint checkered pattern on the flanks.
- Common dam fish run 30–40 cm and around 1 kg; fish to 60 cm and close to 8 kg are possible but rare.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native only to the Murray-Darling Basin in south-eastern Australia; historically found from lowland rivers up to around 700 m elevation in NSW catchments like the upper Murrumbidgee and upper Macquarie.
- Wild river populations have declined severely; the species is now most reliably encountered in stocked impoundments across NSW and Queensland.
- In rivers, gravitates toward faster water — riffles, runs, and areas below weirs — especially in warmer months; historically also used lagoons and flooded backwaters.
- Introduced into farm dams and various impoundments outside the Murray-Darling through stocking programs.
Key Locations
- Several listed NSW impoundments — check NSW DPI's current freshwater fishing guide for which dams hold legal stocked populations.
- Queensland dams stocked through state programs; silvers have a reputation for being hard to find after a few years as fish grow and shift diet.
- Murray-Darling Basin rivers — wild fish are present but fully protected and must be released immediately if caught.
- Farm dams across NSW and Queensland where private stocking has occurred; these can hold surprisingly good numbers of fish.
Specific Spots
- Below weirs and rapids in summer — silver perch school up in these oxygenated zones when water temperatures climb.
- Flooded margins and inundated timber in impoundments after rain; the extra cover and food draw fish into the shallows.
- Riffles and current breaks in rivers where food washes through and fish can hold without burning energy.
- Open water mid-column in dams, particularly where schools are visible near the surface — worth working a bait or small lure through the school rather than anchoring on the bottom.
Silver Perch FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Silver Perch?
Small live or fresh shrimps and worms are the most consistent baits; small live yabbies also work well when available. Compact bladed spinners and small trout-style soft plastics (2–3 inch paddle tails or grubs) cover the lure bases, keep sizes small to match the mouth.
What flies work for Silver Perch?
Small nymphs, Pheasant Tail and Hare's Ear patterns (sizes 12–16) imitate the aquatic insects and shrimp that make up much of the diet; dead-drifted (allowed to drift naturally with the current without added movement) through likely water they draw consistent takes.
When is the best time to fish for Silver Perch?
Spring (September–November) is the prime window, warming water triggers feeding activity and pre-spawn movement, and flooded margins fish well after rain events. Early summer (December–January) remains productive while water temperatures are rising; fish are active and schools are easier to locate near the surface.
How do you catch Silver Perch?
Most silver perch fishing in Australia happens from the bank in stocked impoundments, using light bait rigs with shrimps, worms, or yabbies. Spring and early summer are the most productive windows, particularly after rain when flooded margins come alive.
What do Silver Perch eat?
Shrimps, small yabbies (freshwater crayfish), worms, maggots, and aquatic insects make up the core diet, match these with small bait presentations or size 8–12 hook rigs kept close to the bottom or mid-water.
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