Overview
Golden trevally feed by rooting through sand and rubble with a protrusible mouth, often in water shallow enough to expose their tails.
On tropical flats they are a genuine sight-fishing target and are far more willing to eat a slowly worked plastic than most trevally species.
They pull like a trevally twice their size and often make three or four long runs before coming to the boat.
Where to find them
- ▸Sand and rubble flats on a rising tide.
- ▸Around jetty pylons and beacons in tropical harbours.
- ▸Reef edges and channel drop-offs.
- ▸Following rays and dugongs across the flats.
Tackle
- ▸Rod: 7' spin rated 8–15 kg.
- ▸Line: 30 lb braid with 40–50 lb fluorocarbon.
- ▸Lures: 4–5" prawn or paddle-tail plastics on 1/4–1/2 oz heads; small poppers.
Tips from the water
- ▸Lead the fish and let the plastic sink — golden trevally eat off the bottom.
- ▸Do not strip-strike; wind until the rod loads.
- ▸Great eating when small; larger fish are usually released.
Regulations
Size, bag and possession limits differ between states and can change each season. Check the current rules with your state fisheries authority before keeping a fish.