Other names: Salmon, Blue Threadfin, Sheridan's Threadfin, Blue Salmon, Burnett Salmon, King Salmon

Habitat

Threadfin Salmon are predominantly a northern Australian estuarine fish found along the north coast from the Kimberley in the west to Fraser Island in the east. They are also found in South-East Asia and the Indo- Pacific. They tend to keep close to the coast line along beaches and in bays and estuaries with an attraction to mud flats, muddy rivers and creeks with sunken timber. Threadfin can be found in large or small schools.

Size

Smaller than the Golden Threadfin the Blue Threadfin is known to grow up to 15kg in extreme. Fly fisherman should expect to catch them under 3kg.

Feeding

Both Blue Threadfin Salmon and its cousin the King Salmon have specialised filaments at the base of each pectoral fin, which are used to locate food such as prawns, crabs and worms along the floor of mangroves, muddy bays and river mouths.

Seasons

There are no restricted seasons for Salmon and they are most likely caught in warmer waters between September and March.

Description

Blue Threadfin Salmon are silvery-blue along the back changing slowly to silvery-white on the belly. The pectoral fins are yellow with three to four thread-like filaments located below. The forked tail is dusky grey and the dorsal fins and tail are trimmed with blue-black.

How to catch them

Blue Salmon can be very fussy at times alternately ignoring all offerings or attacking everything. When feeding, they will respond to most offerings, including larger streamers and poppers. Hooked blue salmon are fast, strong and erratic and will often jump. Their jaws are abrasive and capable of badly chafing light tippets. The repeated presentation of small streamers and shrimp or crab patterns to briskly moving, non-feeding schools may eventually elicit a response.

Hot Spots

Coastal waters of Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland in the winter months.

Equipment

Salmon can be caught on fly, lure and by trolling. Fly fishing gear should include the following;

• 8/9 weight saltwater rod
• Appropriate reel with at least 200m of 15-20kg backing. Braid is best.
• Flyline- intermediate and/or floating weight forward.
• Class leader 1-1.5m of 6-10kg
• Shock tippet of .5 m of 20kg mono

Popular Flies

• Lefty’s Deceivers (white, green, yellow)
• Clouser Minnow –white/chartreuse, white/orange, white/pink
• Pink Things
• Polar Fiber Minnow
• Gold Bomber
• Crazy Charlie

If tying your own flies use saltwater hooks usually 1/0 to 4/0 size, colours should include red/white, green/white, pink/white, and blue/white with generous flashing and some flies should be weighted.