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Trumpeter Whiting occur along the eastern Australia coastline from northern Queensland to southern New South Wales. The species' biological-stock structure is unknown. Trumpeter Whiting is classified as a sustainable stock in New South Wales but is undefined in Queensland.

Photo: Sydney Fish Market

Trumpeter whiting occur along the east coast of Australia from Lizard Island, Queensland to Narooma, New South Wales [Kailola et al. 1993]. The species is most abundant in southern Queensland, and especially Moreton Bay [Maclean 1971; Weng 1983, 1986], but the biological-stock boundaries remain unknown. Separate assessments of Trumpeter Whiting have been done in Queensland and New South Wales [Burchmore et al. 1988; Coull et al. 1995; Melville and Connolly 2003; Kendall and Gray 2009; Krück et al. 2009].

Here, assessment of stock status is presented at the jurisdictional level—Queensland and New South Wales.

New South Wales

Trumpeter Whiting occur throughout New South Wales estuaries (with juveniles favouring seagrass areas and shallow habitats, while adults are common down to approximately 30 m), although commercial fishing effort is focused mostly between the Myall Lakes and Lake Illawarra [Gray and Kennelly 2003]. Up to 80% of the total commercial catch comes from hauling and seine nets, with the remainder bycaught by prawn trawlers in the Hawkesbury River [Gray et al. 1990]. Commercial catches peaked at 78 tonnes (t) in 1990–2000, and then declined to between 10 and 20 t in the past decade. The decline in commercial catches mirrors a contraction of fishing effort, including closures in previously exploited estuaries (such as Botany Bay and Port Jackson), and fewer operators in remaining estuaries. Consequently, commercial catch rates have remained low, but fairly consistent over the past few years. 

A bag limit of 20 whiting (all species combined) provides some control over recreational effort, but there is no legal size for Trumpeter Whiting which often manifests as low rates of release at approximately 20–37% of the total catch [West et al. 2015; Murphy et al. 2020; Murphy et al. 2022]. The most recent estimate of the recreational harvest of Trumpeter Whiting in New South Wales (assuming correct species identification by anglers) was approximately 22,890 fish during 2019–20 [Murphy et al. 2022]. This estimate was based on a survey of recreational fishing licence (RFL) households, which comprised at least one person with a long-term (one or three year) fishing licence, but also included other fishers within the household. Similar surveys of RFL households were done in 2013–14 and 2017–18, during which an estimated 123,580 and 31,562 Trumpeter Whiting were recreationally harvested. Using mean weights of fish from Henry and Lyle [2003], these numbers equate to approximately 7 and 27 t.

Few Australian studies have assessed population parameters for Trumpeter Whiting, and there are no current estimates of mortality, although fishing mortality in New South Wales would have decreased due to reducing commercial fishing effort. Further, prior to the major reductions in commercial effort, Kendall and Gray [2009] revealed no changes in the population structure of Trumpeter Whiting in two central New South Wales estuaries over an eight-year period (1997–2004). Historical length-frequency data show no declines in mean sizes [Kendall and Gray 2008].

Spawning occurs during spring and summer and appears to be somewhat protracted, possibly reflecting water temperatures and with concomitant differences between estuaries [Burchmore et al. 1988; Kendall and Gray 2009]. Like other whiting species, female Trumpeter Whiting have indeterminate fecundity and probably spawn multiple times over summer [Kendall and Gray 2009]. Size-at-age data derived from otoliths suggest Trumpeter Whiting grow quite quickly, with both sexes reaching mean sizes of maturity at approximately 15–19 cm FL, and at 1–3 years. Maximum sizes have been estimated at up to 25 cm FL and are slightly larger among females, which also live longer (12 vs 9 years). Kendall and Gray [2003] estimated catches in two central New South Wales estuaries at mostly 2–4 years old. The above evidence indicates that the biomass of the New South Wales stock is unlikely to be depleted, that recruitment is unlikely to be impaired, and that the current level of fishing mortality is unlikely to cause the stock to become recruitment impaired. 

On the basis of the evidence provided above, the New South Wales management unit is classified as a sustainable stock.

Trumpeter Whiting biology [Burchmore et al. 1988; Kendall and Gray 2009]

Distribution of reported commercial catch of Trumpeter Whiting

Queensland – Indigenous (Management Methods). For more information see: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/traditional-fishing

Queensland – Commercial (Catch). Queensland commercial and charter data have been sourced from the commercial fisheries logbook program. Further information available through the Queensland fisheries summary report: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/monitoring-research/data/queensland-fisheries-summary-report

Queensland – Recreational fishing (Catch). Data are based at the whole of Queensland level and derived from statewide recreational fishing surveys. Where possible, numbers have been converted to weights (t) using best known conversion multipliers. Conversion factors may display regional or temporal variability. In the absence of an adequate conversion factor, data are presented as abundances.

New South Wales – Recreational (Catch). Henry and Lyle [2003]; West et al. [2015]; Murphy et al. [2020]; Murphy et al. [2022].

New South Wales – Indigenous (Management Methods). (https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/aboriginal-fishing

Commercial catch of Trumpeter Whiting - note confidential catch not shown

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