Eastern School Whiting

Interesting Info

• The Eastern School Whiting is found along the eastern and southern coasts of Australia, ranging from southern Queensland down to Tasmania and across to South Australia. They are particularly abundant in areas such as Moreton Bay, Sydney Harbour, and Port Phillip Bay.
• They have a slender, elongated body shape, with a streamlined head, small mouth and large eyes. They have a silvery coloration with a distinctive dark spot near the base of the pectoral fin.
• Eastern School Whiting are opportunistic feeders, consuming a variety of small crustaceans, molluscs, and other invertebrates found in their habitat.
• They exhibit schooling behaviour, often forming large groups of individuals of similar size and age. This behaviour provides them with protection against predators and enhances their foraging efficiency.
• The species is known to undertake seasonal migrations, moving between estuaries and coastal waters to take advantage of different food sources and environmental conditions.
• Breeding for Eastern School Whiting typically occurs during the spring and summer months, with peak spawning occurring from November to January. They are known to spawn in shallow coastal waters and estuaries.
• During the breeding season, male Eastern School Whiting develop brighter colours and have more pronounced dark markings on their bodies.
• Their estimated average lifespan is between 6 – 7 years.