CRUCIAL to the accurate assessment of the health and productivity of any fish stock is how fast the species grows and how big, and old, it gets. These important pieces of information are used in stock assessments all over the world and for mulloway in NSW, we now have much improved age estimates.
Prior to the commencement of the NSW Research Angler Program (RAP) in 2013, our data showed mulloway grew to reach an average maximum length in NSW of just 132 cm and maximum age of 24 years.
Fast forward 5 years, with more than 1500 mulloway frames donated by NSW’s passionate anglers and spearfishers, we have a new average maximum size estimated for mulloway in NSW of 143 cm and a new maximum age of 34 years!
The NSW RAP collects data via recreational fisher frame donations for monitoring the health of many NSW recreational fish stocks – mulloway, yellowtail kingfish, snapper, dusky flathead, tailor, spotted mackerel and Spanish mackerel. If you would like to contribute to the program, please click HERE or email: research.angler@dpi.nsw.gov.au.
