Silver Trevally
Silver trevally are a staple of southern Australian inshore fishing — common from southern Queensland around to Western Australia, including Tasmania.
Most anglers pick them up while chasing bream or flathead, but plenty deliberately target them for their dogged fight on light gear and their quality on the plate.
Abundant in estuaries, bays, and along rocky coastlines, they're one of the most accessible sportfish in the south.
Scientific Name: Pseudocaranx dentex
Also known as Skippy, skipjack trevally, silver bream, white trevally, trevs, blurter
- Bluish-silver back fading to yellow-silver sides and a bright silver belly; a small but distinct black blotch sits on the bony gill cover — the easiest field mark.
- Juveniles and sub-adults carry a yellow stripe along the mid-flank and faint yellow along the dorsal and anal fin bases; this fades as fish mature.
- Deeply forked tail, long scythe-like pectoral fins, and a very narrow tail base — built for sustained speed rather than bulk.
- Commonly caught at 35–60 cm and 0.4–2.5 kg; fish over 50 cm are a genuine prize, with the species capable of reaching 1.2 m and 18 kg.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to southern Australia — distributed from around Coffs Harbour in NSW, west through Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and across to the central WA coast near Geraldton.
- Juveniles favour estuaries, shallow bays, and nearshore reef edges; adults push into deeper inshore reefs, open sandy or gravel grounds, and large bays and inlets.
- A schooling species found anywhere from the surface down to about 230 m, though most recreational fishing happens in the top 25 m — estuaries, surf beaches, jetties, and headlands.
- Larger adults undertake offshore movements, sometimes schooling near the surface over the continental shelf, likely linked to spawning.
Key Locations
- NSW far south coast and north-east Gippsland (Victoria) — consistently productive estuary and inshore fisheries with year-round availability.
- Georges Bay and Anson's Bay, Tasmania — well-known trevally destinations in the state's north-east, with fish over 50 cm a realistic target.
- Portland, Victoria — schools of trevally regularly work the inshore waters and breakwaters here.
- NSW coast from Port Macquarie to the Victorian border — the heart of the commercial and recreational fishery, with beach, bay, and estuary fishing all productive.
- Solitary Islands, NSW — reef and sandy-bottom habitat supporting good numbers of fish in clear coastal water.
Specific Spots
- Weed edges and drop-offs in 2–4 m of water concentrate fish in estuaries — they sit just off the edge waiting for food to wash past.
- Bridges, jetties, breakwaters, and rockwalls create current breaks and attract baitfish; trevally hold in the shadow or downstream side of the structure.
- Windblown shorelines and surf breaks are worth working — turbulent water dislodges worms, crustaceans, and small baitfish from the bottom.
- Sandy channels and deep drop-offs near headlands hold bigger fish, especially where tidal flow is strongest.
Silver Trevally FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Silver Trevally?
Soft plastics, particularly 75–100 mm paddle-tails and wriggler-style grubs in natural or white/silver colours, are the go-to lure; work them slowly along the bottom near drop-offs and weed edges.
When is the best time to fish for Silver Trevally?
Available year-round across most of their southern Australian range, making them a reliable target when other species are off the bite. Spring (September–November) sees increased activity as water temperatures rise and fish begin pre-spawn feeding, often the most consistent period for numbers.
How do you catch Silver Trevally?
Most anglers fish silver trevally from shore, off jetties, breakwaters, surf beaches, and estuary banks, using light spinning gear with soft plastics or natural baits worked near the bottom. Boat anglers cover more ground over sandy flats and drop-offs, drifting soft plastics or soaking bait in tidal current.
What do Silver Trevally eat?
Polychaete worms, small crustaceans (including krill and prawns), and molluscs make up the bulk of the diet, which is why peeled prawns, nippers, and whitebait are reliable baits that directly imitate what they're already eating.
Where do Silver Trevally live?
Native to southern Australia, distributed from around Coffs Harbour in NSW, west through Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and across to the central WA coast near Geraldton.
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