The sooty grunter is found in the upper fresh water reaches of our tropical rivers and are usually very active feeders in the clearing waters following heavy rain fall.

It will take small lures, poppers and flies with a three kilo spinning outfit ideal. It is also partial to a bit of red meat hooked and drifted into the river snags by the current, using as little weight as possible.

This fish has been successfully stocked in Lake Tinaroo on the Atherton Tableland, with spectacular growth rates achieved as a results of the enormous amount of natural food occurring in the lake.

Fish of over nine pounds have destroyed many an unsuspecting anglers pride, crash diving on any small lure cast around the drowned tree tops and burying the angler in a split second.

World record fish have come from this impoundment. Most river caught fish however are in the two to three pound range.

The "sooty" is quite edible and makes a great camping meal.