The Australian salmon is plentiful in January when great schools of them are found along the coasts of NSW, Victoria and South Australia. The young fish are known as salmon trout. Normally they weigh about a kilo but often grow to 3 or 4 kilo size. The fish is a great fighter and gives plenty of sport to the beach fishermen. The PROBLEM is that they are poor eating and for the non-angler there is much confusion regarding the name, with genuine salmon, Salmo salar.
The fish was first sighted by Capt James Cook, in 1770, during his cruise along the Australian coast. He was impressed by the schools of leaping silvery fish and recorded them as salmon in his log. Since then the fish have been known as Australian salmon, although they are totally different from the Atlantic salmon found in the rivers and off the coast of Scotland. The name is now set in concrete as being official probably because of its long use and it being a commercial fish, i.e. much is caught for canning (mainly for cat food) and sold as fresh fish in markets. "Australian salmon" is a good marketing brand, although you probably wouldn't repeat your purchase. Once you could buy canned "Australian salmon" in the supermarket, but no longer, the product being displaced by cheap canned tuna which is superior eating.
At the central market in Adelaide they sell whole fish at $2.50/kilo and fillets at $5/kilo which are an unappetizing greyish color. I have listened to foreign visitors commenting: "Look, isn't that Australian salmon very cheap! Doesn't look too good to me. I'd sooner buy that orange salmon at $25/kilo!" The real salmon comes from fish farms established around the coast of Tasmania and is a good buy.
In New Zealand they don't have this confusion because the fish is known by its Maori name, the "Kahawai". They are common in the warmer coastal waters of the North Island. I have caught a few in the Wellington Harbour and once when spin fishing with a Devon minnow in the Ruamahunga River near Martinborough, amazingly over 25 kms from the sea. My angling friends in New Zealand always smoke their catch of kahawai. Tight Lines! Allano
I do love Salmon, I just like to suggest if you want to catch a salmon that are jumping along the river because of the rapids of the current in the river, I highly suggest to go and visit Nicaragua Fishing, see image to believe it!
ReplyDeleteHi Manuel, Nice website on Nicaragua hunting and fishing. I have been to Granada twice and taken a horse and buggy down to the lake and tried spin fishing from the shore without luck. Haven't got to the San Juan yet. Cheers, Allano
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