Fish Identification

This species has an elongated body form with a large, slightly oblique mouth and an upper jaw extending behind the eye. The lower edge of the preoperculum is serrated with a strong spine at its angle; the operculum has a small spine and a serrated flap above the origin of the lateral line. Its scales are ctenoid. In cross section, the fish is compressed and the dorsal head profile clearly concave. The single dorsal and ventral fins have spines and soft rays; the paired pectoral and pelvic fins have soft rays only; and the caudal fin has soft rays and is truncate and rounded. Barramundi are salt and freshwater sportfish, targeted by many. They have large, silver scales, which may become darker or lighter, depending on their environments.

Australian bass have a moderately deep, elongated body that is laterally compressed. They have a forked caudal ("tail") fin and angular anal and soft dorsal fins. Their spiny dorsal fin is of medium height, strong and sharp. They have a medium sized mouth and relatively large eyes than can appear dark in low light or red in bright light. The opercula or gill covers on Australian bass carry extremely sharp flat spines that can cut fishermens' fingers deeply.

Australian bass vary in colour from gold in clear sandy streams to the more usual bronze or bronze-green colouration in streams with darker substrates and/or some tannin staining to the water.

A silvery-grey seabream, paler below, with dusky dorsal, caudal, anal, and pelvic fins. This popular angling species is one of the most abundant larger fishes in some northern Australian estuaries.

A popular angling fish with a silvery to olive-green body, yellowish fins, a black spot at the upper part of the pectoral-fin base, and a dusky margin on the tail. Individuals in coastal waters are silvery, while those in estuaries are usually darker.

Murray cod are a large grouper-like fish with deep, elongated bodies that are round in cross section. They have a broad, scooped head, and a large mouth lined with pads of very small needle-like teeth. The jaws of the Murray cod are equal, or the lower jaw protrudes slightly.

The spiny dorsal fin of Murray cod is moderate to low in height and is partially separated by a notch from the high, rounded soft dorsal fin. Soft dorsal, anal and caudal (tail) fins are all large and rounded, and are dusky grey or black with distinct white edges. The large, rounded pectoral fins are usually similar in colour to the flanks. The pelvic fins are large and angular and set forward of the pectoral fins. The leading white-coloured rays on the pelvic fins split into two trailing white filaments, while the pelvic fins themselves are usually a translucent white or cream, tending toward opacity in large fish.

Murray cod are white to cream on their ventral (belly) surface. Their back and flanks are usually yellowish-green to green, overlain with heavy darker green, but occasionally brown or black, mottling. The effect is a marbled appearance sometimes reminiscent of a leopard's markings. Colouration is related to water clarity; colouration is intense in fish from clear water habitats. Small to medium sized Murray cod from clear water habitats often have striking and very distinct colouration. Very large fish tend towards a speckled grey-green colouration.

The barcheek coral trout (Plectropomus maculatus - from the Latin macula meaning ‘mark’ or ‘spot’ – is similar in shape and colouring to its close relative the common coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus) and is sometimes mistaken for it.

The barcheek coral trout has several elongated brilliant blue marks with dark edges on its cheeks and side of the head. It has a solid opaque pectoral fin, whereas this fin is translucent in the common coral trout.

Common Coral Trout vary from red to greenish brown and are covered with a profusion of small blue dots over the body and all fins except the pectoral fins, which are transparent. Colour can vary with time of day, habitat and the activity of the fish. There is a distinctive blue ring around the eye. The soft dorsal fin is rounded and the lunate tail often has a fine white margin. They have a large mouth and sharp widely spaced canine teeth.

Common Coral Trout vary from red to greenish brown and are covered with a profusion of small blue dots over the body and all fins except the pectoral fins, which are transparent. Colour can vary with time of day, habitat and the activity of the fish. There is a distinctive blue ring around the eye. The soft dorsal fin is rounded and the lunate tail often has a fine white margin. They have a large mouth and sharp widely spaced canine teeth.

Mud crabs are large crabs with a smooth, broad carapace. They have 9 even sized teeth on each side of their eyes. Their two hind legs are flattened for swimming. In the most common form, the colour varies from very dark brown to mottled green. The other, generally smaller form has a deeper body and is reddish brown.

Mud crabs are large crabs with a smooth, broad carapace. They have 9 even sized teeth on each side of their eyes. Their two hind legs are flattened for swimming. In the most common form, the colour varies from very dark brown to mottled green. The other, generally smaller form has a deeper body and is reddish brown.

Grass emperors are browny-grey with darker brown blotches and streaks along their sides. They have olive cheeks covered with white speckles, their pectoral fins are tinged with blue, and all other fins are tinged with pink. They also have fine blue lines radiating from their eyes, with some crossing the snout.

Red Throat Emperor have a silver to pale greyish-brown body, with a reddish head and sometimes with 8-9 darker bars; pectoral-fin base bright red; fins pale to reddish, spinous dorsal- and anal-fin membranes often bright red; red streak often present from snout to upper gill cover; lips often reddish; centre of each scale usually dark.

Spangled Emperor have Blue bands orbars (not spots) on cheek radiating out from eyes, on a gold background. Blue spots on scales along the flanks.

Flathead are notable for their unusual body shape, upon which their hunting strategy is based. Flathead are dorsally compressed, meaning their body is wide but flattened and very low in height. Both eyes are on the top of the flattened head, giving excellent binocular vision to attack overhead prey. The effect is somewhat similar to flounder. In contrast to flounder however, flathead are much more elongated, the tail remains vertical, and the mouth is large, wide and symmetrical. Flathead use this body structure to hide in sand (their body colour changes to match their background), with only their eyes visible, and explode upwards and outwards to engulf small fish and prawns as they drift over the hidden flathead.

The dusky flathead can be distinguished from other flathead by a row of fine brown spots on the pectoral fins.

Barred Javelin have a golden-green back, silvery belly with traces of brown vertical bars. The juvenile has a brilliant silvery green back with golden silver sides and a silvery white belly, with 12 or more faint vertical bars that comprise small dark brown spots or irregular blotches.

Silver Javelin Fish grows to 60cm. It can be distinguished from the Barred Javelin Fish by spots that on the Silver are scattered in their distribution and not arranged in a bar type fashion like the Barred Javelin Fish. Also as the Barred Javelin Fish gets mature it develops a golden, green back whereas the Silver Javelin remains a darker silver.

The black jewfish is a large long-bodied fish. They are black to bronze colour on top with silvery sides and a yellow underbelly. They have dark pectoral, pelvic and anal fins. As a juvenile they have many black spots on the upper half of the body as well as the caudal fin. They derive the name black jewfish partly because are they are darker than their southern cousins the mulloway (Argyrosomus hololepidotus) but more so because they go a darker, blacker shade when they are dead.

Queensland School Mackerel, like all Mackerel, have an elongated body with pointed noses and mouth full of very sharp teeth. They have a silvery grey body, that is bluey green above the lateral line. They are often confused with the spotted Mackerel, however can be distinguished by the blotches on the School Mackerel are poorly defined and less than the spotted Mackerel, also the first dorsal fin which is jet black has a large contrasting white section between the sixth and seventh spine which the spotted Mackerel does not have.

Spanish mackerel have long, narrow bodies. They are dark blue along the top, becoming silvery towards the centre and underneath. They have a banded pattern, narrow dark blue or black bars running vertically along the body, narrower than the bars on their relative, the broad-barred Spanish mackerel (also called the grey mackerel).

Spotted Mackerel, like all Mackerel, have an elongated body with pointed noses and mouth full of very sharp teeth. They have a light silvery grey body, that is bluey green above the lateral line. They are often confused with the Queensland School Mackerel, however can be distinguished by the blotches on the School Mackerel are poorly defined and less than the spotted Mackerel, also the first dorsal fin of the School Mackerel is jet black with a large contrasting white section between the sixth and seventh spine which the spotted Mackerel does not have.

Mangrove Jack are a typical perch shape. They can range from almost pale pink to a dirty red brown. They have large eyes, strong jaws and powerful canine teeth. Each scale has a dark spot. They are often confused with the Red Bass, red bass have a much brighter red hue than the Mangrove Jack and Red Bass have a deep pit before their eye which the Jack doesn't.

Argyrosomus japonicus is a silvery to bronze-green colored fish, a member of the Sciaenidae family, which may grow up to 2 m in length. It is known as mulloway or jewfish in Australia and dusky kob in South Africa

Golden Perch as the name implies are normally a very golden colour on the sides moving to an olive-green on the top part of the body of the fish. They are a deep bodied fish and as they get larger a hump develops from the to the rest of the body. Yellowbelly have sharp gill rakers.

Queenfish are bluish black on the upper body and silvery white metallic sheen along the flanks and belly area. Some Larger fish may be yellowish shade underneath. Another distinguishing feature is a line of up to five or more elliptical marks on the flanks above the lateral line.

Queenfish are bluish black on the upper body and silvery white metallic sheen along the flanks and belly area. Some Larger fish may be yellowish shade underneath. Another distinguishing feature is a line of up to five or more elliptical marks on the flanks above the lateral line.

Blackspot Rockcod is a typical cod shaped fish of the tropics with the normal large mouth associated with tropical cod species. As the name suggests it is covered in black spots, it has white blotches. Spots extend to all fins as well.

Goldspotted Rockcod is a typical cod shaped fish of the tropics and temperate waters with the normal large mouth associated with tropical cod species. It is a greyish brown fading to a cream or dull white belly. It has orange spots. It is often confused with the Groper of the reefs however is only vaguely mottled in dark brown where as the Goldspot Rockcod has distinctive spots and 5 almost vertical bars running down its body.

Saratoga are an ancient looking fish with an up looking forward large mouth and protruding lower jaw. They have large scales and small barbells or whiskers. The Southern and Northern fish easily distinguished by where it is found in the wild.

The Crimson Snapper (Small Mouth Nannygai) has a deep oval elongate body, something similar to the Red Emperor which it is often confused with. The colouration is a beautiful bright scarlet. The large Mouth Nannygai lacks the darker shades of the Red Emperor, also the Large Mouth Nannygai develops a black saddle over its tail base, the Red Emperor never does. The Small Mouth Nannygai is similar but a distinguishable by its much smaller mouth.

Golden Snapper (Fingermark) have a typical sea perch shape with the strong jaws of its relative the Mangrove Jack. The Golden Snapper as its name suggests is quite often a deep golden colour, with spotted scales and a large dusky to reddish block (or fingermark) on the back upper half of its body. Juveniles are often confused with the Moses Perch which has a finger type mark on its back as well however a different species.

The Saddletail Snapper (Large Mouth Nannygai) has a deep oval elongate body, something similar to the Red Emperor which it is often confused with. The colouration is a beautiful bright scarlet. The large Mouth Nannygai lacks the darker shades of the Red Emperor, also the Large Mouth Nannygai develops a black saddle over its tail base, the Red Emperor never does. The Small Mouth Nannygai is similar but a distinguishable by its much smaller mouth.

Snapper are a medium to large, deep bodied fish with powerful jaws and peg like teeth (Similar to a bream - only bigger). Large mature fish develop a hump on their head as they get older. They are a beautiful pink to deep red in colour (especially when first caught) with a scattering of beautiful blue spots.

Snapper are a medium to large, deep bodied fish with powerful jaws and peg like teeth (Similar to a bream - only bigger). Large mature fish develop a hump on their head as they get older. They are a beautiful pink to deep red in colour (especially when first caught) with a scattering of beautiful blue spots.

Tailor has an elongated body shape with relatively large mouth, full of small very sharp teeth. Tailor can be a dark blue green on the back, silver on the flanks through to a silver-white belly

Blue Threadfin on their head and along their back often have a blue to dark coloration, flowing down to a silver side and silvery white belly. As with all threadfins, they have long thread like filaments extending from in front of their low pectoral fins. Blue Salmon have only 3-4 shorter filaments compared to the King Threadfin that have 5 long filaments.

The King Threadfin usually have five long filaments below the pectoral (side) fin. Their body is without spots and stripes, and the second spine of dorsal fin is more robust. Lower tip of 7th proximal pterygiophore of 1st dorsal fin is directed backward.

The native Mozambique tilapia is laterally compressed, and has a deep body with long dorsal fins, the front part of which have spines. Native coloration is a dull greenish or yellowish, and there may be weak banding.

The native Mozambique tilapia is laterally compressed, and has a deep body with long dorsal fins, the front part of which have spines. Native coloration is a dull greenish or yellowish, and there may be weak banding.

The native Mozambique tilapia is laterally compressed, and has a deep body with long dorsal fins, the front part of which have spines. Native coloration is a dull greenish or yellowish, and there may be weak banding.

The giant trevally is similar in shape to a number of other large jacks and trevallies, having an ovate, moderately compressed body with the dorsal profile more convex than the ventral profile, particularly anteriorly. The dorsal fin is in two parts, the first consisting of eight spines and the second of one spine followed by 18 to 21 soft rays. The anal fin consists of two anteriorly detached spines followed by one spine and 15 to 17 soft rays. The pelvic fins contain 1 spine and 19 to 21 soft rays. The caudal fin is strongly forked, and the pectoral fins are falcate, being longer than the length of the head. The lateral line has a pronounced and moderately long anterior arch, with the curved section intersecting the straight section below the lobe of the second dorsal fin. The species has 20 to 24 gill rakers in total and 24 vertebrae are present. The eye is covered by a moderately well-developed adipose eyelid, and the posterior extremity of the jaw is vertically under or just past the posterior margin of the pupil.

It is similar to most other trevallies and jacks in having a compressed, oblong body, with the dorsal profile slightly more convex than the ventral profile, particularly anteriorly. The species' mouth is one of its defining features; the mouth is highly protractile and fleshy, with specimens greater than 90 mm having no teeth on the jaws, vomer or tongue. Smaller individuals have a series of small villi form teeth in both jaws. The dorsal fin is in two parts, the first with 7 spines, the second with 1 spine and 18 to 20 soft rays. The anal fin has 2 detached spines followed by 1 spine and 15 to 17 soft rays, while the pelvic fin consists of 1 spine and 19 to 20 soft rays. The curved part of the lateral line is moderately arched; containing 62 to 73 scales, and approximately equal in length to the straight section containing 15 to 27 scales and 18 to 25 scutes. The breast is completely scaled. There are 27 to 30 gill rakers and 24 vertebrae in total.