Silver Trevally

silver trevally
© Tasmanian Government. Image Peter Gouldthorpe
Season: Open all year

bag limit10

 

possession limit20

 

boat limit-

Guide to symbols

bagBag Limit
housePossession Limit
boatBoat Limit

Minimum size

20cm
Measuring

Most scalefish are measured from the nose to the end of the tail. Get your scalefish measuring ruler or sticker at any Service Tasmania outlet.

Other names

trevally, skippy, silver bream, white trevally


Scientific name

Pseudocaranx dentex

Grows to


Up to

76cm and 6kg

Identifying features


​Silver trevally are deep-bodied fish with silvery white to green-bronze or pale blue colouring across the back and silver undersides. A black spot is also found on the gill cover. Sometimes a yellowish colour may be seen on the sides towards the tail area. Pale bands are occasionally seen on freshly caught individuals. Silver trevally have sharp scales, called scutes, positioned near the tail fin.

​Habitat

An inshore schooling species, juvenile trevally are found in shallow sandy areas with larger individuals more common in offshore waters.

Fishing information

Caught using light tackle and a variety of lures and baits including soft plastics, flies and baits such as raw chicken meat or prawns. Often caught from wharves and jetties or from the shore around the east and north coasts of Tasmania. Occasionally taken in gillnets. Sometimes caught whilst line fishing for blue warehou as the two species tend to favour the same inshore habitats. They are known to grind their gill rakers with bony plates in the mouth to produce a grunting sound.

Cooking

Eating quality is good when fresh but does not keep well unless frozen. Silver trevally have a high oil content and dark firm flesh which lightens during cooking. Suitable to bake, barbeque, shallow or deep fry, grill, foil bake or smoke. A parasitic louse is sometimes found on the gill arches of this species but its presence does not affect the eating qualities of the fish.

Hotline

Fishwatch Report illegal fishing

0427 655 557

What to report? arrow button

Contact us

Recreational Fishing

Level 3, 134 Macquarie St

Hobart TAS 7000

Phone: (03) 6165 3233, 1300 720 647

Email: fishing.enquiries@nre.tas.gov.au

Commercial Fisheries

Level 3, 134 Macquarie St

GPO Box 44

Phone: (03) 6165 3000, 1300 368 550

Email: commercial.fisheries@nre.tas.gov.au

Commercial Fisheries Licensing

Level 1, 134 Macquarie St

GPO Box 44

Phone: (03) 6165 3000, 1300 368 550

Email: fishing.licensing@nre.tas.gov.au