- 20,000 yellowtail kingfish fingerlings to be released into Cockburn Sound this week
- Recfishers are enjoying catches of sized kingfish stocked since late 2020
- Pink snapper stocking continuing to boost stocks of this popular demersal species
The Cook Government is supporting the release of another 20,000 yellowtail kingfish (YTK) this week, and celebrating a new stocking milestone for the popular pelagic species.
This latest release of hatchery reared YTK fingerlings by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) brings the total to 123,000 released over the past three years to enhance recreational fishing opportunities.
Research staff from DPIRD’s Marine Finfish Hatchery in Fremantle are busy stocking the 20,000 YTK with an average weight between 10-15 grams each into Cockburn Sound.
The fingerlings will take around 18 months to reach the 600 mm minimum size limit.
The good news is that some of the earliest YTKs released through DPIRD’s stocking program are now ready to catch.
Fishers who love a challenge can hook one up from the nearshore reefs around Rottnest and Three Mile Reef, which run along Perth’s north western coastline.
Yellowtail kingfish are a hardy, fast-growing and tasty table fish categorised as a large pelagic finfish with a mixed State-wide bag limit of three. It’s a popular sport fish which is also found inshore and off beaches or land-based fishing platforms.
DPIRD has worked with Recfishwest on this project, and capitalised on extensive knowledge and experience with YTK to support this stock enhancement project.
As stated by Fisheries Minister Don Punch:
“It’s great to see more yellowtail kingfish in our metro waters, as part of the State Government’s $2.25 million commitment over three years for several Western Australian fish stocking projects.
“The stocking work in Perth waters has also involved releases of over 230,000 pink snapper under various programs, as well as yellowtail kingfish.
“Our Fremantle hatchery has almost 20 years of experience growing YTK and managing their health and nutrition, as they do with several species now.”
