[I:0:G]Australias premier table fish, "King George Whiting" was first officially scientifically named "Sillago Punctata" based on an individual taken from King George Sound in Western Australia. The species have a few commonly used names including "Spotted Whiting" in reference to its bars of brown spots. Other names are used in markets, mostly outside of Australia.
With an elongated, slightly compressed body, tapering head and a bottom feeding style mouth. The King George Whiting is recognised by a first dorsal fin with 12 or 13 sipnes and a second dorsal fin with one single spine. Within its species, it is best distinguished by the shape of its swim bladder.
Native to Southern Australia, ranging from lower Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and sometimes even as far north as southern New South Wales. King George whiting are most commonly found in tidal bays, estaries and creeks along the southern coast of the mainland and numerous islands in this area.
In southern estuaries they tend to be around the size of the legal limit, but farther north, around Perth, the range is likely to be from 700g up to 1.5 kilos.
By far the biggest specimens come from deep water and are often caught as a bycatch when drifting for dhuies. A whiting that can swallow a 7/0 hook loaded up with bait is a prize indeed!
This magnificent whiting can live for up to 15 years and achieve a length of 72cm. It's worth nothing that maturity size is between 32cm and 36cm - well above the 28cm legal limit. So this means that few female fish caught between the minimum length and minimum maturity size of 32cm have had a chance to breed.
Tackle Link: 2 - 4kg main line. Hook: No.6 - 1/0 Longshank. Rig: Light gear with light running sinker rig.
EATING: A superb table fish, the King George whiting is easily filleted to avoid small bones. Possibly Australias best tasting fish. - 14915
With an elongated, slightly compressed body, tapering head and a bottom feeding style mouth. The King George Whiting is recognised by a first dorsal fin with 12 or 13 sipnes and a second dorsal fin with one single spine. Within its species, it is best distinguished by the shape of its swim bladder.
Native to Southern Australia, ranging from lower Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and sometimes even as far north as southern New South Wales. King George whiting are most commonly found in tidal bays, estaries and creeks along the southern coast of the mainland and numerous islands in this area.
In southern estuaries they tend to be around the size of the legal limit, but farther north, around Perth, the range is likely to be from 700g up to 1.5 kilos.
By far the biggest specimens come from deep water and are often caught as a bycatch when drifting for dhuies. A whiting that can swallow a 7/0 hook loaded up with bait is a prize indeed!
This magnificent whiting can live for up to 15 years and achieve a length of 72cm. It's worth nothing that maturity size is between 32cm and 36cm - well above the 28cm legal limit. So this means that few female fish caught between the minimum length and minimum maturity size of 32cm have had a chance to breed.
Tackle Link: 2 - 4kg main line. Hook: No.6 - 1/0 Longshank. Rig: Light gear with light running sinker rig.
EATING: A superb table fish, the King George whiting is easily filleted to avoid small bones. Possibly Australias best tasting fish. - 14915
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