King George Whiting Legal Size

In New South Wales, the estuarine seine fishery can result in large amounts of bycatch of undersized organisms and undesirable species, but the use of appropriately sized mesh sizes can reduce mortality of these species.15-18 Studies in New South Wales suggest that gillnets used in estuaries can cause significant bycatch, including catches of undersized individuals of important species19-21. “While catches are expected to increase, anglers need to be aware that they will be catching rather undersized whiting over the next few years, and they should ensure they are released quickly and without damage.” George King Whiting, particularly juvenile fish, is known as common prey for a number of coastal fish and larger wading birds. The most well-known coastal predators are Australian salmon, members of the flat whale family, barrakuta (a snake mackerel), snook, as well as various species of sharks and rays. [12] Various species of diving birds, especially the cormorant, are also common enemies of the species,[13] as well as marine mammals such as bottlenose dolphins and common dolphins. [14] While the 2011 and 2012 surveys revealed an average number of juvenile whiting, scientists measured the third highest number since surveys began in 1998 in 2013. This means that young whiting discovered in 2011 will be available to fishermen from this year and those from the 2013 survey in 2017. King George Wittling reaches sexual maturity at the age of three to four years, males reaching 30 cm in length and females 34 cm long. These lengths are used as guidelines when establishing minimum legal lengths for the species, so that an individual has sufficient time to reproduce before removal. [15] Spawning occurs in a number of regions, depending on the geographic location of the individual; Some spawn in deeper waters up to 9 m deep, others in estuaries. [16] May and June are the most frequent spawning seasons, with some spawning events recorded as early as February and July. [3] Juveniles are recruited in areas by ocean currents, with studies showing that the species is too weak a swimmer to undertake long-distance voyages. [17] The spawning site also has an impact on the location of juveniles, as in some muzzle breeds.

The likelihood of increased catches is welcomed by fishermen who have experienced below-average catches of whiting in the bay in recent years. Unless prepared or eaten for immediate consumption, cod, Malabar cod and barramundi (all of which have a maximum size limit) must be swallowed at sea (although they can be eviscerated and swallowed), in estuaries and rivers, and landed whole. Studies on intestinal contents have shown that the staple foods of King George whiting are amphipods, copepods and polychetic worms. [11] Unlike its relatives, King George whiting does not appear to feed on molluscs, which is unusual because in many parts of South Australia, the main bait used by recreational fishermen to catch whiting is cockle; a mollusk, but then it was peeled. An excellent bait to catch King George Whiting is raw royal shrimp, like banana shrimp. It is best to buy them in the shell and peel them just before use, as this helps keep the bait fresh. Echinoderms, which are common prey for other types of sillago, are also rare in the diet. This could be a function of niche division, as the habitat of George Royal Whiting overlaps with other species of the genus Sillago in many areas.

[9] Other smaller components of the diet are crustaceans such as carids, leptostracans, stomatopods, crabs, tanaids, cumaceae and woodlice, as well as other benthic fish and algae. In South Australia, King George whiting is often the only destination for fishermen looking for it for its high food quality. [1] A number of coastal towns rely heavily on the species as a tourist attraction for fishermen looking for a range of fish and shellfish, but King George whiting is often the most coveted catch. [19] It is a relatively easy species to catch and does not require bait, oil rigs or special techniques, and is often caught by jetties, beaches and rocks; This means that a boat is not necessary. Simple platforms such as racing ball divers or paternoster platforms are commonly used, with a fixed lead used in the high tide movement zone. [20] As mentioned earlier, mollusks, especially the Goolwa cockle, are common baits, with varieties of worms, masters, squid, fish pieces, and especially raw king shrimp that often succeed. The largest fish that inhabit deep reefs are often caught on whole pilchards when fishing for snapper and morwong. [20] Gray, C, Larsen, R & Kennelly, pp. 2000, Use of transparent netting to improve size selectivity and reduce bycatch in fish wadennetzs, Fisheries Research, 45: 155-166.