After a currently unknown amount of time in the estuary, the juvenile fish begin to migrate up into the fresh water. Juvenile bass between 25 and 50 mm in length have been found in freshwater at the end of November. Diet Australian bass have a varied diet including insects from the water's surface, and other organisms from the entire water column and the bottom including aquatic insects, shrimps and other freshwater crustacea, tadpoles and small fish. In salt water they feed on various crustaceans including prawns and small crabs, worms and fish. Angling One of Australia's most truly outstanding freshwater sports fish, bass respond to all methods of angling.
Australian bass are the native fisherman's answer to trout.
This species is now becoming extremely popular amongst the angling community especially in inland dams where it is stocked by fishery departments and local angling groups. Native Fish Australia stongly encourages the use of only catch and release fishing when targeting bass in its native streams. In stocked dams, however, bass fishing for the table within the legal bag and size limits is supported and encouraged. Most bass specialist use small to medium sized cast floating lures, although trolling is effective at times. Surface lures are especially effective on bass, although a degree of finesse is usually required.