King George whiting
📖 Overview
Inhabit shallow inner continental shelf waters, including bays and inlets . 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 , sometimes to depths as great as 200 m. Spawn in offshore waters from late summer to winter . Juveniles feed on benthic amphipods and other crustaceans. As they grow larger, their diet expands to include polychaete worms, mollusks and peanut worms (Sipuncula) . Oviparous . This premium quality fish obtains a high price .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 12 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25 - 27; Anal spines: 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 .: elongated; Cross section: circular.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for King George whiting is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Are serial batch spawners, yet the number of spawnings in a season is unknown .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; demersal; non-migratory; depth range 2 - 200 m , usually 2 - 18 m . Temperate; 29°S - 41°S, 112°E - 152°E West Pacific: southern Australia.
🌿 Ecology
benthic amphipods and other crustaceans
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"King George whiting is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 20.1 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 264 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for King George whiting has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | King George whiting · spotted sillago · spotted whiting |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isosillago maculata | Macleay | 1878 | Synonym |
| Isosillago punctata | Cuvier | 1829 | Synonym |
| Sillago punctata | Cuvier | 1829 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 42 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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