Dark flatheads can live more than ten years, but they are most often harvested at the age of three (Figure 2). Fish seven years of age or older are less common in the fishery because of the protection afforded by the maximum size limit, i.e. some seven-year-old fish have lengths greater than the maximum size limit of 75 cm. Typical age distribution of dark flathead harvest (all sectors) for one year. 1.5 m max or interdorsal length 60 cm max (rays with a round body shape should only respect the maximum size limit of 1.5 m) Coral reef fish caps apply. In addition to the individual property limits for each listed coral reef finfish species, a combined ownership limit of a total of 20 of all coral reef finfish applies. 23 cm The current legal minimum size for sand whiting in Queensland (23 cm total length [TL]) allows a proportion of adult fish to spawn at least once. In Queensland, the dark flatbed is an important target species, with the recreational fishing sector consuming approximately 150 tonnes per year (McGilvray et al. 2014). That`s about three times the reported commercial harvest.

Fisheries Queensland collects information on the length, sex and age of harvest of the two areas in order to assess the state of the Queensland component of the Australian East Coast population. Dusky Flathead in Queensland is currently classified as sustainably fished. The most recent fisheries assessment for Gippsland Lakes, Victoria, which included Dusky Flathead, was completed in 2011 (J Kemp, Pers. Comm., August 2012). The Dusky Flathead assessment uses a weight-of-evidence approach that assesses commercial and recreational catch rates, as well as length and frequency distributions. Commercial and recreational catch rates vary widely. After a peak in commercial net catch rates in 2005/06, there has been a decline in recent years. Similarly, catch rates of dusky Flathead by recreational fishers have declined over the past four years. Despite this decline, catch quotas for commercial nets over the past four years have been higher than those from 1986-87 to 2004-05. There is no convincing evidence that the decline in commercial catch rates since 2005-2006 is due to overfishing of the species in Victoria.

Instead, fluctuations in indicators are likely to be the result of environmental conditions affecting spawning success and/or recruitment to the fishery. This evidence suggests that Dusky Flathead biomass in Victoria is unlikely to be overexploited. Dusky Flathead`s catches in 2010 were below the average catch for the period 2002-09. The current level of fishing mortality is unlikely to result in dusky Flathead in Victoria becoming an overfishing catch. 36 cm There is a legal minimum length of 36 cm • Total length (TL) and a leisure bag of 10 dark flat heads (with a single fish over 70 cm TL). The annual recreational harvest of Dusky Flathead in New South Wales is expected to be between 570 and 830 tonnes. This evidence suggests that Dusky Flathead biomass in Queensland is unlikely to be overexploited. Commercial and recreational fisheries harvest mainly female fish due to legal minimum and maximum sizes. Commercial catches in New South Wales declined in the early 2000s, after which total landings were relatively stable and in historical records (since the 1960s).

The decline in commercial catches after 2000 was associated with the acquisition of commercial licences during the establishment of marinas and marine parks. Catch rates of Dusky Flathead in commercial gillnets in New South Wales have remained relatively stable over the past 10 years. In Queensland, commercial catches and catch quotas decreased slightly in 2010; However, these are at the historical level that dates back to the early 1990s. Fluctuations in catches in Victoria in recent years are likely related to environmental conditions that affect stock dynamics. There has been a decrease in the large dark flathead (≥50 cm in total length) caught by recreational fishers at Mallacoota Inlet and Tyers Lake, Victoria; This situation is currently being monitored8. The annual catch limit for the East Coast has been reached. Black Jewish fish is a prohibited species on the East Coast for all fishermen for the remainder of the 2022 calendar year. The current monitoring program began in 2007 and focuses on the southern part of the state, between Baffle Creek (north of Bundaberg) and the border between QLD and NSW. Research and monitoring projects are also being carried out on dark flatheads in New South Wales and east Victoria. Recent research has shown that, unlike barramundi and yellowfin sea bream, dark flatheads do not change from male to female (hermaphroditism protandrous) as they grow (Pollock 2015). The sex of an individual is determined in the juvenile stage and maintained throughout the life of the fish. The predominance of female fish in larger size classes and older age groups is the result of slower growth rates of male fish compared to female fish, and female fish live longer.

From October 2022, new rules will apply to the fishing of Spanish mackerel on the east coast. The age of many species of fish can be determined by studying their otoliths (ear bones). The change in fi in years is estimated by identifying and counting opaque bands such as growth rings in a tree. Every year, whole otoliths of about 300 dark flatheads are examined to determine their age. Age is analyzed with the length of fish in the same year to determine the percentage of fish in each age group within the dark flathead crop (also known as the age structure of the crop). The results show that the recreational and commercial fishing sectors have very similar age structures. Fishing bag limits Queensland species Legal size (cm) Catch and possession limit Sea beche – Black catfish – No sea bream, pikey and yellowfin tuna 23 min. (25cm from 1 March 2010) Combined limit of 30 Pikey a Blacklip Pearl Oyster 9 min No Limit Cobia (Kingfish black) 75 min 2 Commercial and recreational fisheries fish mainly females due to legal minimum and maximum sizes. The current legal minimum size (40 cm) protects most male fish from fishing, while the maximum legal size (75 cm) protects large female fish.

What is the legal size of barramundi in Queensland? The dark flat head can be harvested between 40 cm and 75 cm in total length (slit limit). Most fish of this size are females. Employees of the monitoring program measure about 1000 dark flatheads captured in their spare time each year and about 2000 dark flatheads captured commercially. Dark flat heads are most often harvested in the size range of 40 to 60 cm (Figure 1). Dark flatheads are a main target for many estuary fishermen. In New South Wales, the pocket limit is 10 per day and the size limit is 36 cm, of which only one is over 70 cm. In addition to the individual catch and possession limits for each species mentioned above, all coral reef finfish species have a combined catch and possession limit of 20. Fisheries Queensland collects information on the length, sex and age of harvest of the two areas in order to assess the state of the Queensland component of the Australian East Coast population. The data contribute to the assessment of stocks and the assessment of current fisheries management. Dusky Flathead in Queensland is currently classified as sustainably fished. 50 “The property line of Pees in Queensland is 50 per person, so the two fishermen had 3491 more Pipis in their possession than is legally permitted.” Available for download in pdf format www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/xbcr/dpi/fishingsizebaglimits.pdf Commercial and Recreational Fishing harvests mainly female fish due to legal minimum and maximum sizes.