Last fact-verified Thu, 30 Apr 2026 against Victorian Fisheries Authority. If any bag limit, size limit, or licence requirement on this page differs from current VFA advice, VFA's current guidance takes precedence.
Quick facts
| Common name | Silver Trevally |
| Scientific name | Pseudocaranx georgianus |
| Also known as | silver trev, skippy |
| Bag limit | 20 per person per day, combined total for all silver trevally species |
| Minimum size limit | 20cm total length |
| Season | March to June (autumn schooling run) |
| Primary water | Port Phillip Bay (also Western Port) |
| Licence required | Yes. Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence required. |
Source for bag limit, size limit, and closed season: VFA species page. Last fact-verified Thu, 30 Apr 2026.
What silver trevally actually is
Pseudocaranx georgianus is a coastal pelagic schooling species. Silver-bronze body, dark forked tail, small mouth, typical Peninsula fish 25 to 40cm. Trev are not strictly resident; they school through the bays in autumn when water temperatures are dropping and baitfish concentrations are highest. Outside the autumn run, individual fish are caught year-round.
The species is hard-fighting on light tackle and is a favourite of anglers who appreciate the fight on a 2 to 4kg rod more than they value table quality. The eating is mid-tier: oily enough to grill, firm enough to fillet, but not in the league of snapper or whiting for the dinner-priority angler.
Season and tide
The autumn schooling run (March through June) is the productive window. Outside that, opportunistic only. Trev respond to moving water and baitfish concentration; on the piers, the run is most active during the rising tide; on boat sessions, drift over channel margins where bait fish are visible on the sounder.
Technique and gear
A 7 foot 2 to 4kg light spinning rod, 2500 size reel, 8lb braid, 6 to 10lb fluorocarbon leader. The rig is light: a paternoster with two size 4 long-shank hooks, or a running sinker on a small ball weight, baited with fresh squid strip, pipi, or bass yabby. Trev take on the drop more often than on the bottom; pay attention as the rig settles.
For boat anglers working a school, a small metal slice (10 to 30g) cast and retrieved fast through the school produces strikes. Trev compete; one fish on the line typically draws others.
Bag and size limits, licence
- Minimum size limit. 20cm total length.
- Bag limit. 20 per person per day, combined for all silver trevally species.
- Season. Open year-round.
- Licence. Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence required for anglers aged 18 and over.
Source: Victorian Fisheries Authority Recreational Fishing Guide. Last fact-verified Thu, 30 Apr 2026.
Opportunity ranking by location
- Mornington Pier, light paternoster, March to June. The Peninsula’s most reliable land-based trev location during the autumn run.
- Hastings Jetty, light paternoster, March to June. Western Port channel-margin trev on the running tide.
- Boat drift over channel margins, March to June. Working schools visible on the sounder produces fast sessions on light gear.
Where to catch silver trevally on the Peninsula
- Hastings Jetty · Western Port · October to March (snapper); November to March (whiting); year-round (flathead, bream)
- Mornington Pier · Port Phillip Bay · October to April for snapper; year-round for squid
Charter operators that target silver trevally
- I'm Hooked Fishing Charters · Licence covered
Operators are listed because they demonstrably target silver trevally, not as a default reference. Browse all Peninsula charters to compare across species and seasons.
Where to cook your catch
Frequently asked questions
What is the bag and size limit for silver trevally?
20 per person per day, combined total for all silver trevally species. Minimum size 20cm total length. Open year-round. Source: VFA. Confirm before fishing.
When are silver trevally schooling on the Peninsula?
March through June is the autumn schooling peak. Schools work the bay piers (Mornington in particular) and the Western Port channel margins. Outside the autumn run, individual fish are caught year-round but at lower density.
What is the best technique for silver trevally?
Light paternoster or running sinker rig on small fresh bait. A size 4 long-shank hook, 6 to 10lb fluorocarbon leader, fresh squid strip or pipi. Cast and let the bait sink to the bottom; trev usually take on the drop or shortly after the bait settles. Soft plastics work; small metal slices for boat anglers chasing schools at the surface.
How do silver trevally compare to snapper as table fish?
Trev are mid-tier. Firm white flesh, oily enough to grill but not so oily as salmon, eats well within the day of capture. Larger fish (over 35cm) are noticeably better than smaller pan-size fish. Worth keeping a few; not the species you target for a trophy table-fish session.
Verified stamp
Key facts last verified Thu, 30 Apr 2026 against the Victorian Fisheries Authority. If any bag limit, size limit, or licence requirement on this page differs from VFA's current guidance, VFA's current guidance takes precedence. Regulations change. Confirm before fishing.