On Golden Ponds

Today, the geographic spread of golden perch across Australia is significantly more extensive than it was when James Cook mapped our eastern seaboard in 1770, even if actual numbers of these important fish have declined in some of their original strongholds, such as the lower Murray River.

The Australian freshwater fish known to science as Macquaria ambigua has quite a few common names. That fact alone points to its importance and popularity, as well as its extensive geographic distribution.

Some folks know this fish best as the golden perch or simply “golden”. To others, it’s a yellowbelly or “yella”. In South Australia, it’s far more likely to be referred to as a callop (based on a regional Indigenous word), while old-timers everywhere still occasionally call it a Murray perch or white perch.

The author with a genuine football. Heavy-shouldered fish like this 60 cm-plus specimen can easily top 6 kg in weight… This one was likely closer to 7 kg.

In this 111 page “tell-all”, Starlo explains exactly how, when and where to successfully target trophy golden perch or yellowbelly in our dams and lakes using baits, lures and flies. If you fish Australia’s inland impoundments, or would like to, this one is absolutely essential reading!