Little has been known about the fish species (fresh and salt water) to be found in Wolli Creek, however, baseline sampling carried out by the NSW DPI in November 2007, in advance of the installation of a fishway at Turrella weir has identified six native fish species in the freshwater section above the Henderson Street weir. These were: Empire Gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa), Flathead Gudgeon (Philypnodon grandiceps), Striped Gudgeon (Gobiomorphus australis), Firetail Gudgeon (Hypseleotris galii), Common Galaxia (Galaxis maculatus) and Long-Finned Eel (Anguilla reinhardtii).

In the brackish to salt water immediately below the weir, the following species were collected: Sea Mullett (Mugil cephalus), Yellow-fin Bream (Acanthopagris australia), Port Jackson Perchlet (Ambassis jacksoniensis) and Toadfish (Tetractenos sp.).

Read more about the Turrella Weir fishway project here: www2.canterbury.nsw.gov.au/riverworks/turellaweir.htm

An Eastern long-necked turtle was also caught during fish sampling – see www.wollicreek.org.au/reptiles.html#turtle for more information.

Empire Gudgeon

Port Jackson Perchlet

Sea mullet

Gudgeon

Fish netting – the catch!

Scott Nicholls, David Bell

Related links:

Freshwater Fish of the Sydney Region

http://users.bigpond.net.au/abellm/angfa/poster.htm

Australian Museum fish site

http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/