Sillaginodes punctatus (King George whiting) supports valuable recreational and commercial fisheries across southern Australia and is an important emerging fishery species in Tasmania. Increasing catches and an apparentexpansion in its distribution highlight the need for contemporary biological information to support proactive management. However, limited information is available on the age, growth and reproductive biology of S. punctatus in northeast Tasmania. This study addresses these knowledge gaps through a collaboration between the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies and the Melaythenner Teeackana Warrana (Heart of Country) Aboriginal Corporation (MTWAC) Tebrakunna Rangers.
S. punctatus were collected monthly from northeast Tasmanian coastal waters during 2026 using standardised small-mesh beach seine nets along with rod and line fishing. Each fish was measured for length and weight, sexed, and assessed for reproductive development. Ages were estimated from sectioned otoliths, and growth models were fitted to length-at-age data. Northeast length distributions, age composition, growth parametersand length-at-age relationships were compared with historical data from northwest Tasmania to assess evidence of spatial and temporal variation.
Preliminary northeast results will be presented and compared with historical northwest samples. These findings will provide the first contemporary age and growth baseline for S. punctatus in northeast Tasmania. Additionally, monthly reproductive sampling is continuing to identify spawning periods and estimate size and age at maturity.
The results will support evidence-based size limits that protect spawning fish, inform the potential timing of seasonal closures, and provide baseline data for long-term monitoring, stock assessment and harvest strategy development in northeast Tasmania.