| Sillaginidae (Smelt-whitings) |
| 72 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 4,800.0 g; max. reported age: 15 years |
|
demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 2 - 200 m, non-migratory |
| Indo-West Pacific: southern Australia. |
|
Dorsal spines (total): 12-14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25-27; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 21-24. The swim bladder is very elongate with a single slender tapering posterior extension and two anterolateral extensions. No duct-like urogenital aperture is present. Body color is pale brown, gray brown, or dark olive green above, and whitish pale brown or silvery below with reflections of mauve, blue green when fresh. The back and upper sides with oblique rows of small round dark brown to rusty brown spots; the lower sides with open-spaced rather scattered round dark spots. The belly is white and without spots. The dorsal fins are uniformly dark greenish brown to light brown sometimes spotted with dark brown; the anal, pectoral and pelvic fins are pale brown to hyaline; the caudal fin is greenish to brownish and finely dusted with brown (Ref. 6205). |
| Inhabit shallow inner continental shelf waters, including bays and inlets (Ref. 6390). For their first few years, they live mainly where seagrasses (Zostera species, Posidonia creeks. Small juveniles favor water depths from 2 m to 20 m. Adults inhabit more exposed waters along coastal beaches and reef areas (Ref. 27008, 27667), sometimes to depths as great as 200 m. Spawn in offshore waters from late summer to winter (Ref. 6390). Juveniles feed on benthic amphipods and other crustaceans. As they grow larger, their diet expands to include polychaete worms, mollusks and peanut worms (Sipuncula) (Ref. 27008, 27667). Oviparous (Ref. 205). This premium quality fish obtains a high price (Ref. 6205). |
|
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
|
Known from Port Jackson (Sydney) in New South Wales (33°51'S), along the southern coasts as far south as northern Tasmania, and westwards to Jurien Bay in Western Australia (30°18'S) (Ref. 7300, 75154).
Stock structure: In South Australia, there appears to be only 1 spawning stock in the main commercial fishery. However, the distribution of host-specific parasitic trematode flatworms (Microcotyle species) suggests that at least 2 populations exist across the species' range (Ref. 27670) - 1 in the east, the other in the west. Enzyme analysis on a limited sample of King George whiting from Victoria and South Australia also gave indications of sub-structuring within the King George whiting population (Ref. 27573).
Commercial fishery: The fishery for King George whiting began at about the time of white settlement in South Australia and probably at about the same time in Victoria and Western Australia. The main commercial fishery is now located in South Australia, from Gulf St Vincent to Ceduna. Smaller fisheries are located in central Victoria and south-western Western Australia around Albany and Bunbury. The fisheries operate in spring and early summer (September to November) and to a lesser extent in autumn (April to June).
Fish are caught either with seine net, power hauling and gillnets from small vessels in shallow (3-10 m) water, or by handline in deeper water. Most fishing effort is directed at 2-year-old to 7-year-old fish. Fish caught in nets average 32 cm in TL and those handlined average 34 cm. King George whiting are targeted and there is little bycatch taken in these fishing operations. However, some King George whiting are caught as bycatch of the southern sea garfish (Hyporhamphus melanochir) fishery (Ref. 27008).
King George whiting are sold either fresh or frozen, usually fillets and sometimes whole. Most are consumed locally but excess fish are occasionally sent to Melbourne from South Australia.
Recreational fishery: King George whiting are popular recreational fish throughout their range. Fishers use rod-and-line or handlines, mainly from boats but also from shore and jetties. Nets may be used but are prohibited in some areas. Shore anglers target immature fish.
Significant quantities of King George whiting are caught by recreational fishers. For example, in South Australia, the recreational fishery accounted for nearly 38% of the total annual catch (61% in the Gulf St Vincent region) between 1979 and 1982 (Ref. 27008). The Australian Anglers Association records the largest King George whiting caught as 2.3 kg (from South Australia).
Resource status: King George whiting are probably fully exploited throughout most of their shallower coastal range. In South Australia, there may be heavier fishing pressure than necessary for maximising catch per unit effort, yield per recruit and recreational fishing quality. This view is supported by the apparent reduction in size at first maturiry of King George whiting in the South Australian fishery since the mid 1960s (Ref. 27008).
Also Ref. 4537, 9563, 9002. |
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