Ahead of the NSW state election on 25 March 2023, the NSW Government caretaker period has commenced. Limited updates will be made to this website during this period.
Trichiurus lepturus
Has a silver, ribbon-like body that ends in a thin whip-like tail. Hairtail have large, slashing teeth that should be avoided. They lack both caudal and ventral fins. Hairtail can be caught all year round though they are more commonly taken during winter months.
Hairtail grow to a maximum length of 2.5 m and approximately 5 kg in weight.
Large schools are infrequently found in coastal bays and estuaries on Australia's east and west coast. Recreational fishers in NSW have traditionally caught this fish in Cowan Creek in the Hawkesbury River system just north of Sydney, with catches also recorded in Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay.
They are related to the Southern Frostfish, which have a distinct caudal fin. Anglers are unlikely to catch Frostfish as it is a deepwater, offshore species.