Trevally

Introduction

Silver Trevally, per pound, would have to be one of the toughest fighting fish available in South Australia. It frequents off shore reefs but the smaller variety do enter bays and estuaries. They are known to grow in excess of 8 kg, where as the average fish measures about 50 cm and weighs around 800 grams.

When hooked, they will run for the nearest cover, albeit jetty piles, reefs or rocks. After the initial power run once caught, a trevally will usually turn side on to create as much resistance as possible while reeling it in. The fish should be cleaned immediately after capture and it freezes very well but tends to soften somewhat upon thawing.

Trevally can be caught throughout the day, but the best times are during the first and last hours of daylight. They tend to become lethargic and sluggish in feeding with the sun directly overhead. The larger variety are more prevalent from September thru to November, while the smaller specimens are around during the summer, in bays, harbours and estuaries.

Legal Minimum Length

Current Limit:

24 cm

[Previous:

No Restrictions]

Bag Limit

Current Bag Limit:	20 per person	[Previous:	No Restrictions]
Current Boat Limit:	60 per boat	[Previous:	No Restrictions]

Type of Tackle

Use between 6 to 10kg main line, with a 20kg trace for the larger variety. A 6kg line with a 1/0 hook is right for a 700 gram fish caught closer inshore on jetties, where as a 9kg line with a 4/0 hook is required for fish of 1 - 3kg.

A rod around 1.8m is ideal for both jetty, rock and boat fishing.

Hook Selection

No.1 - 6 Beak-Nickel "Holdfast" nylon snelled hooks that come pre packed are ideal for the smaller variety. You may need 3/0 - 4/0 for the lager fish. The hooks themselves should be 3X strong quality.

Baits Used

Cockles, Prawns, White Bait, and especially Pilchards.

Berley Mix

A mix of soaked stale bread, bran and pollard and some tuna oil is perfect, mixed in with some berley pellets. This can be distributed either by hand (sparingly), berley bucket, or better yet a spring sinker.

Rigs Used

Rig No. 1
This rig is ideal for deep water fishing, with emphasis placed on the sinker's weight, which is dependant on underwater currents. Where there is minimal tidal runs, a split shot(s) can be attached to the trace to provide enough weight to get the bait down to the desired depth. Naturally, your trace from the 2-way swivel should be fairly heavy ie around the 15-20kg mark.

Rig No. 2
This traditional paternoster style rig works well for trevally around the jetty and wharves. A spring type berley sinker is a must to initially attract the fish to your bait.

Rig No. 3
This rig is best suited if fishing off a rock ledge, or a boat. When fishing off a rock ledge, look at the tide and motion of waves to determine the best place to cast. Otherwise you rig may float towards the rocks and snag.