(Perca fluviatilis)
Commonly referred to as Redys!
Redfin perch, also known as English perch were introduced into Australia in the early 1860’s for recreational angling purposes. Unfortunately, as is the case with most introduced species the redfin have now spread through out Australia’s southern water ways and now pose a real threat to native fish and invertebrates. Redfin perch are able to stunt their growth and over populate a water way leaving it desolate of all other aquatic life and were listed as a class 1 noxious species in 2010. They are also known to carry a disease called epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus or (EHN) for short. This virus can devastate a native fish population to the point of no return and is one of the many reasons redfin perch are not to be returned to the water upon capture. Thankfully they are very good eating with many freshwater anglers preferring them to trout!
Distribution
Redy’s are a highly sought after table fish along the S/W coast of inland Western Australia and can be located in most streams, rivers and dams throughout the majestic south west. They are also encountered in VIC, S.A., TAS and N.S.W.
Growth
Redfin perch can grow to around 60cm in length and weigh as much as 10kg! Although most fish encountered throughout Australia average around 1 – 2kg in weight. Redfin spawn in late winter and early spring when they give birth to over 300,000 eggs which hatch in a one week period and are inedible to most other aquatic species leaving them free from predation. After hatching the redfin will school together to avoid attack before maturing at around 2 – 6 years of age.
Habitat
Redfin perch prefer fresh water rivers, dams and streams with cooler temperatures averaging 15 – 25 degrees.
Identification
Redfin perch can be easily identified by, as their name suggests their red coloured fins. They have a large mouth with no teeth present with five dark black stripes running vertically across the back and tapering towards the belly. There are two separate dorsal fins present with the first having 12 – 17 spines and a dark black blotch at the rear. The body colour can vary from olive green to silver depending on environment.
Taste rating
Sixty Taste Rating
60%
Redfin perch are exceptional eating for a fresh water species!
Sport rating
Forty Sport Rating
40%
Redfin perch are more regarded for their eating qualities than their sporting abilities.
Tackle requirements
Ultra light and light graphite spin rods 6’6” – 7’ in length that will cope with gel spun and braided lines rated from 1 – 4kg are ideally suited to targeting redfin perch and when coupled with quality spin reels in the 1000 – 2500 class make excellent outfits for throwing both baits and lures. Larger outfits spooled with heavier 10 – 12lb nylon line can also be used when targeting larger fish around heavy cover with baits but will struggle to cast small hard bodied and soft plastic lures. Fluoro carbon leaders with breaking strains of 2 – 10lb should also be joined to mainlines via an improved albrite knot and not only prevent the fish from seeing your brightly coloured main line but also help from being chaffed of on rough underwater structures.
Recommended baits, lures and rigs
Fresh or live earth worms, night crawlers and small insects are an ideal bait option for chasing big redfin perch and should be fished on a pattern and size of hook that’s suit’s the bait. Example – earth worm fished on bait holder pattern of hook similar in size to the bait. Hard bodied, sub surface and soft plastic lures from 50mm – 100mm in length will also temp big redfin into striking with this exciting new style of fishing really taking off amongst all anglers from beginners to the pro’s over the last few years. Many tournaments and clubs have now been set up to encourage and educate the new generation of freshwater fishing fanatics.
Handy hints and tips
Most fresh water and small salt water lures will tempt redfin perch into striking, especially if they have some red on them!
Preferred fishing times and tides
Low light periods such as dawn and dusk are preferred for most forms of fishing including freshwater and a rising barometer also helps.
Redfin perch can grow to around 60cm in length and weigh as much as 10kg!
Although Redfin is considered a pest species, the fish is also recognised for it’s fighting ability and good eating qualities. … Many fishermen will acknowledge that Redfin is one of the best (if not the best) freshwater table fish.
Redfin perch (Perca fluviatilis), also known as English perch, is a medium sized freshwater fish
native to northern Europe. First introduced to Tasmania in 1862 (two years before the first trout)
for angling, only eleven fish survived the arduous journey by sailing vessel and were released into
Tasmanian waters. All of the redfin found in Tasmania today are direct descendants of those 11
fish, just as all the redfin on the mainland can trace their origins to seven fish liberated near
Ballarat six years later, in 1868. Redfin perch are now widespread across the cooler parts of NSW,
ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, south-eastern South Australia and the south-western corner of Western
Australia.
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Redfin perch are a deep-bodied fish, with a slightly forked tail and two separate dorsal fins. They
have five or more distinctive thick, vertical black bands running along the length of their body, and
a black blotch at the rear of the first dorsal fin. Body colour varies from olive green to grey on the
back, fading to greenish or silvery on the sides and whitish on the belly. They are named for the
vibrant reddish to orange pelvic and anal fins.
While Redfin perch can reportedly grow to 60 cm in length and around 4.8 kg in weight,
specimens in NSW are mostly smaller, with 95% of fish less than 230 mm and 200 grams. When
the perch grow larger, a hump grows between its head and dorsal fin.
Redfin perch live in a wide variety of habitats, but prefer still or slow-flowing waters such as lakes,
dams, billabongs, swamps and slower moving streams and rivers. They prefer areas with good
shelter such as snags (submerged dead wood and trees), vegetation or rocks, but have also been
caught in open water.
Redfin perch are carnivorous and feed on a wide variety of foods ranging from small invertebrates
(such as crustaceans, worms, molluscs and insect larvae) to fish.
Although Redfin perch are a popular sport fish with some anglers because of their fighting
qualities and taste, they are also voracious predators of other fish and invertebrates, can destroy
recreational fisheries in enclosed waters by building up large numbers of stunted fish and
eliminating other species, and can potentially spread epizootic haematopoietic necrosis (EHN)
virus to native fish populations. Arguably one of the most voracious predators of native species –
readily consuming fish and crayfish up to half their body length. They are considered a class 1
noxious fish in NSW.
Don’t return Redfin perch to the water – large Redfin perch are good sport and eating fish and
there are no bag or size limits on them. Any caught Redfin perch should be humanely dispatched
immediately – it is illegal to be in possession of a live Redfin perch, and the catch can only be
stored dead, such as on ice in an esky.
Any fly that is given a bit of action to it will induce redfin to strike if they are feeding. Often, the
flies required are “streamers” or bait-fish imitations and use flash, colour and movement to entice
a take from the perch.