Open Year-Round

Dart

Trachinotus spp.

Also known as: Swallowtail dart, permit

DPIRD Category Nearshore / Estuarine
Peak Season October - April
Difficulty Beginner
Fight Rating ★★★☆☆
Dart

Regulations & Limits

NEARSHORE / ESTUARINE

Limits by Bioregion

West Coast N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
South Coast N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
Gascoyne N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
Pilbara N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
North Coast (Kimberley) N/A
Species not commonly found in this region

ℹ️ Regulations can change. Always verify current rules at rules.fish.wa.gov.au

Size & Weight

Typical Size25-40 cm
Max Size70 cm
Typical Weight0.5-2 kg
Max Weight5 kg

Habitat

Where: Surf gutters, beaches, sandy shorelines and river mouths

Depth: 0-10m

ID Features: Silvery, compressed body with forked tail, blunt head profile

Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak Available Poor

Peak: October - April | Water Temp: 22-28°C

How to Catch Dart

1

Beach fishing

Setup

  • Line: PE 1-2
  • Leader: 20-30lb fluorocarbon

Top Lures

  • Metal slugs
  • Small poppers

Best Baits

  • Beach worms
  • Prawns
  • Mullet strips

Eating Quality

★★★☆☆ Good

Flesh: White flesh, good eating when fresh

Best cooked: Pan-fried, grilled

The Fight

★★★☆☆ 3/5

Fast and energetic fighters that make good use of the surf. Excellent sport on light tackle from the beach.

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