NSW DPI’s popular Research Angler Program (RAP) has revealed some interesting age differences between various big mulloway.
A number of keen fishos recently donated mulloway frames ranging in size from 105 cm to a massive 142 cm. DPI analysed the otoliths (ear bones) from these fish and ascertained their age. For more detail on this interesting scientific process click HERE.
Not surprisingly, the otolith analysis revealed the 142 cm fish – caught by Chris Graham at South West Rocks – was the oldest at 18 years of age.
Things got more interesting when other fish were analysed. For example, a 105 cm jewie caught by David Birt in Newcastle was aged at eight years old. Sounds reasonable, right?
However, a couple of much larger fish proved to be younger in age. A 125 cm mulloway caught by John St Vincent Welch (pictured) in the Clarence River was only seven years old. And a 116 cm fish caught in Newcastle by Matthew Birt was just five years of age.
Interesting stuff, isn’t it? You’d think bigger fish would be older but that’s obviously not always the case.
The RAP is a great example of anglers and DPI working together for the benefit of our fish and the fisheries they support.
If you’d like to get involved, click HERE.
