Reason for good whiting season

[fishpod]

18 March 2014

Fisheries Victoria research points to greater numbers of catchable King George whiting in Port Phillip Bay in two to three years following one of the best larval collection seasons on record.

Fisheries Victoria Director Ross McGowan said surveys by Fisheries Victoria found the third highest number of King George whiting post-larvae – fish smaller than 20 millimetres – in Port Phillip Bay since surveys began in 1998.

"This equates to better fishing opportunities for recreational anglers in two to three years," Mr McGowan said.

"Fisheries Victoria surveys the same eight sites around the bay in October and November each year, using a fine mesh net to capture and measure the small whiting.

"Data collected indicates the relative abundance of King George whiting post-larvae in the bay year-to-year.

"Results from last season's research surveys indicate the next peak season for King George whiting catches will begin in 2015/16 – a great result for recreational anglers."

Fisheries Victoria scientists have found the number of young King George whiting entering Port Phillip Bay has been relatively low over the last four years compared to an above average period during the mid-2000s.

"Such a downturn in King George whiting catches was the result of natural recruitment cycles and was to be expected," Mr McGowan said.

King George whiting spawn in ocean waters, possibly along the far western Victorian and South Australian coast, during winter. The tiny larvae then drift on ocean waters for three months before eventually making their way into Port Phillip bay in spring.

Mr McGowan said strong westerly winds had resulted in a higher than normal number of whiting larvae entering the bay last year compared with 2012.

"Westerly winds and the currents they drive bring the whiting larvae into the bay where they will stay for up to four years. At this point, they leave the bay forever, returning to oceanic waters to spawn.

"The success of whiting entering the bay each year is highly variable and is monitored by Fisheries Victoria to forecast the strength of the fishery."

Whiting will generally reach the minimum catch length of 27cm in two to three years.

Fisheries Victoria, in conjunction with the University of Melbourne, Deakin University and the South Australian Research and Development Institute, is in the second year of a three-year research project to determine where Victorian whiting are spawned, their movement patterns and the replenishment of populations in south-eastern Australia.

This project is part-funded by a contribution of $186,000 from the sale of Victorian recreational fishing licences.

"It is possible that Victoria's whiting fishery depends on spawning grounds in South Australian waters. This new research will inform the design of spatial management systems which could improve our whiting fishery in the future," Mr McGowan said.

"This is another great example of fishing licence fees at work."

[4liters]

That is interesting, thanks for posting it.

[Scraglor]

Wow, should be a cracker season next year too!

[hornet]

"Whiting will generally reach the minimum catch length of 27cm in two to three years."

"currents they drive bring the whiting larvae into the bay where they will stay for up to four years"

"At this point, they leave the bay forever, returning to oceanic waters to spawn."

The above is interesting, things I did not know...

[poodoo]

The other thing they are looking into is whether tassie is a breeding ground for the ting in Vic.

[Lightningx]

Very interesting read thanks for sharing it!