Open Year-Round

Northwest Black Bream

Acanthopagrus palmaris

Also known as: NW bream, Pilbara bream

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

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 Size25-35 cm
Max Size50 cm
Typical Weight0.5-1.5 kg
Max Weight3 kg

Habitat

Where: Tidal creeks, estuaries and mangrove systems in the Pilbara and Kimberley

Depth: 0-10m

ID Features: Dark olive to grey body, similar to black bream but found only in northern WA

Season

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

Peak: April - October | Water Temp: 24-32°C

How to Catch Northwest Black Bream

1

Light bait fishing

Setup

  • Line: PE 0.6-1
  • Leader: 8-15lb fluorocarbon

Top Lures

  • Small soft plastics

Best Baits

  • Prawns
  • Worms
  • Mullet strips

Eating Quality

★★★★☆ Very Good

Flesh: White, sweet flesh

Best cooked: Pan-fried, grilled whole

The Fight

★★☆☆☆ 2/5

Similar to black bream. Good fun on light tackle in tidal creeks.

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