Natural Range: The lower reaches of the Murray Darling River System. Not likely to have been found on the Central Tablelands before stocking.
Identification Issues: Only hard to identify from cod or other perch species in early juvenile stages of life.
Closed waters: Fishing prohibited in all rivers.
Stocking: Ben Chifley Dam, Burraga Dam, Burrendong Dam, Lake Canobolas, Carcoar Dam, Gosling Creek Reservoir, Dunns Swamp, Rylstone Dam, Windamere Dam, Wyangala Dam. Now found in the Macquarie, Lachlan and Abercrombie Rivers areas probably outside the natural range of this fish.
Bag & Size Limit: 5 in listed stocked dams, 25cm
Possession Limit: 10
Western dams where silver perch & catfish may be taken
| Dam / Weir | Species permitted |
|---|---|
| Ben Chifley | Silver perch, catfish |
| Blowering | Silver perch |
| Burrendong | Silver perch, catfish |
| Burrinjuck | Silver perch |
| Chaffey | Silver perch, catfish |
| Copeton | Silver perch, catfish |
| Googong | Silver perch |
| Jounama | Silver perch |
| Keepit | Silver perch, catfish |
| Lake Albert | Silver perch |
| Lake Wyangan | Silver perch |
| Pindari | Silver perch, catfish |
| Split Rock | Silver perch, catfish |
| Windamere | Silver perch, catfish |
| Wyangala | Silver perch, catfish |
| Yass | Silver perch |
Eastern dams where silver perch & catfish may be taken
| Dam / Weir | Species permitted |
|---|---|
| Glenbawn | Silver perch, catfish |
| Glennies Creek | Silver perch, catfish |
| All other eastern dams | *Catfish |
*Note: Catfish may also be taken from eastern flowing streams.
More information:
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/species-protection/conservation/what-current/vulnerable-species/silver-perch
http://australianmuseum.net.au/Silver-Perch-Bidyanus-bidyanus-Mitchell-1838
http://www.nativefish.asn.au/silver.html
http://fishnkids.dpi.nsw.gov.au/did/did-perchy