Local fishers could reel in huge whiting hauls in the near future, according to the latest Fisheries Victoria numbers.
The authority found juvenile King George whiting numbers six times higher in Port Phillip Bay than in 2014 and 2015.
Geelong fishing expert Chris Pitman said the numbers were excellent news for local fishers.
“It can only help fishing out over the years although it’s going to take time.”
Fisheries Victoria executive director Travis Dowling said whiting would grow to catchable size from spring 2018 onwards.
“The annual surveys have been undertaken around the bay since 1998 and are a reliable predictor of future catches.
“The bumper whiting catches enjoyed by anglers in recent times are the result of exceptional juvenile whiting numbers detected in the 2013 survey.”
Mr Dowling said the tiny whiting larvae drifted eastward for about three months before entering Port Phillip Bay in spring.
The authority’s scientists conducted surveys in seagrass beds which are fish’s favoured habitat.
“Westerly winds help drive the currents that bring the whiting larvae into the bay, where they take about two years to reach the legal minimum size of 27cm,” Mr Dowling said.
“The high numbers recorded in the most recent survey were once again consistent with a 2016 winter-spring climate characterised by frequent and strong westerly winds.”
Mr Dowling reminded anglers of the daily bag limit of 20 King George whiting per person.
He urged anglers who catch tagged whiting to report its tag number, location, and size to whitingtag@gmail.com or phone 5258 3686.
The whiting are part of a new research project, funded by recreational fishing licence fees, tracking their movement leaving the bay and spawning locations.
