NSW DPI Fisheries and Fishcare volunteers yesterday released 400 juvenile tagged mulloway into Sydney’s Georges River.
Each “advanced size” juvenile mulloway weighed about 1kg and measured around 50cm long. Data from these tagged fish provides valuable insight into the movements and habits of these popular sportfish.
A visible external dart tag on the shoulder of the fish will allow them to be identified as stocked mulloway. The fish will be closely monitored by scientists at DPI’s Port Stephens Fisheries Institute marine hatchery to assess the effects of the stocking, monitor their growth, movements and residency, as well measure their contribution to the local recreational fishery.
The fish released in this stocking event are expected to grow rapidly and reach the legal size limit of 70cm by the summer of 2024/25.
DPI says it’s expected the fish will gradually move away from the release locations and spread throughout the river.
Keep an eye out for a small yellow dart tag on any mulloway you catch in the Georges River over coming months and years.
For more information on or to report the recapture of a tagged mulloway in the Georges River under the marine stocking program, please contact fisheries.enhancement@dpi.nsw.gov.au.
DPI says this recent stocking of advanced size fish will be followed up by the mass release of mulloway fingerlings, which are currently in production at our Port Stephens hatchery.
