Redfin Fishing Guide
Redfin perch are introduced freshwater fish found in cooler Australian lakes, lagoons, swamps and slow-flowing streams, including NSW, ACT, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and WA. The source presents them as widespread, aggressive and accessible, with both sporting and environmental relevance. They can be a useful target for beginners, but they are also an introduced species, so local rules on release or movement must be understood.
They feed hard on small fish, yabbies, shrimp, insects and almost anything that fits in their mouth. Redfin use aquatic weed, dead trees, rocks and open water, especially in larger lakes and dams. They can move shallow in winter in some reservoirs and may hold tight to bottom in deeper or slower water. Lakes, dams, lagoons and creek systems can all produce fish when cover and food line up.
Tactics include bait and lure fishing. Worms are strongly supported, with live minnows, shrimp, small yabbies, maggots and insects also relevant. Keep bait moving slowly where possible. Soft plastics, small hard bodies, vibes, blades, chatterbaits and topwater can all work when matched to depth and cover. In deeper water, keep lures near the bottom with pauses; around creeks or snags, weedless-rigged plastics reduce losses.
Redfin often school by size, so a run of very small fish may mean it is worth moving along the same bank, changing depth or using a larger profile to search for better fish.
Gear can be light. A light spinning outfit around 1000-2500 reel size is supported, with 6-10lb braid and 4-10lb leader for lure fishing, or 6-10lb mono for bait. A small running sinker and size 4 baitholder hook is enough for many bait situations. In Victoria and other states, check whether redfin may be returned, used as bait or moved, because pest fish rules vary.
When fishing dams, count down lures to repeat the productive depth. In creeks, make several casts beside the same snag before changing to the next piece of cover.
Check your local state fishing authority website for current redfin rules, bag settings and pest-fish requirements.