Kingfish surge a threat to other Spencer Gulf species, but good news for fishers

It is a headache for authorities but a dream come true for fishers as kingfish swarm up and down the Spencer Gulf.

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Mystery surrounds a surge in the number of kingfish in the Spencer Gulf, which the fishing community has put down to thousands of animals escaping from an aquaculture pen.

While fishers are making the most of the increase in yellowtail kingfish, Primary Industries and Regions South Australia has played down reports of a mass escape.

However, it is investigating the surge and considering ways to control the stocks of kingfish, which prey on the endangered giant cuttlefish off Whyalla.

There are also fears for juvenile snapper – a species which had to be protected by a three-year fishing ban, including in the Spencer Gulf.

Yellowtail kingfish can grow up to 2.5m and can only be caught and eaten if they are 60cm or longer.

The current personal daily bag limit is one fish, while the boat limit when three or more people are on-board is three.

Amateur fisherman Jamie Coote, 49, of Port Lincoln, said he and his family had caught 25 of the fish over the past three weeks, but only six had been over the minimum-size limit.

“What is unusual is that most of the fish – like aquaculture fish – are a very similar size, between 52 and 59cm,” he said. “Everyone is talking about an escape, and a number of people have said there are pellets in the guts or not much food, which indicates farmed fish.’’

Amateur fisherman Jamie Coote with a kingfish at Tumby Bay.

The Advertiser’s fishing expert Shane Mensforth said it was clear the fish were escapees. “There is no doubt these animals are fed in aquaculture pens by people, from the way they are behaving and when they turn up everywhere all at once,’’ he said.

“It is very concerning because they will eat anything that can get hold of.’’

A PIRSA spokeswoman said the agency was looking into the problem and had made inquires with aquaculture operators.

“While there have been some reported escapes of yellowtail kingfish, they do not appear to be consistent with the large numbers being reportedly sighted by fishers,” she said

“PIRSA is currently assessing whether there has been an increase in the wild yellowtail kingfish fish stock and if any additional management arrangements are required.”

Wildcatch Fisheries SA president Dennis Holder said the influx of kingfish was concerning.

“This is cause for a ‘look-and-monitor’ strategy,” he said.

“There is one way to find out if there has been a large escape, which is catch them and study them.

“There is no doubt that there are far more kingfish in the gulf than there ever were before farming.’’

Archie Coote, 13 with a kingfish at Port Lincoln.

Amateur fishing social media posts also claim feed pellets have been found in the stomachs of the fish, supporting the rumours of an aquaculture breakout.

Any escape from aquaculture farms must be reported to authorities. PIRSA official escape data shows only 950 have broken out in the past year, with 600 recaptured.

Whyalla Fishing Page organisers took to Facebook to alert amateur fishers of the “escape”, saying they had reported concerns to PIRSA.

“It does appear there has been a very large kingfish farm escape in Spencer Gulf,” the post said.

“The schooling fish are displaying the characteristics of farm fish, in as much if you throw a handful of stones at them they go ballistic, where as a natural fish will swim away. Stomach contents appear to be pellets.

“If it is a large escape this is very worrying as it has happened during the snapper breeding season.”

The Advertiser’s fishing expert Shane Mensforth explains how to catch a yellowtail kingfish:

At the moment, look for the fish in marinas because they love going into marinas.

Right now there are a lot in the Tumby Bay marina, where people are catching them every day. You can also find them off jetties in Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf, at Port Turton, Port Victoria, Tumby Bay, Port Lincoln and Wallaroo.

These “escapees” will be in big schools around the jetties and they will just about eat anything that is thrown in the water, because that is how they are fed in the pens with feed pellets and pilchards.

You can bait with half a pilchard or a squid head or small squid. If they have been harassed a bit and are a bit touchy, or if the school has broken up a bit, a small live bait is the way to go. Again, pilchard or squid. You need a 4/0 hook, which is a medium to larger size that you would use for a snapper.