Which Whiting for live bait ?

[mjc85]

Hey all,

Just wanted to clear this up. Can you use any whiting for live bait ?

[jeffo]

you can use all whiting for bait if they are of LEGAL size...for small whiting youll have to chase some diver whiting.

[mjc85]

Do you know where i can see a picture of a diver whiting ? I tried google with not many results and no pictures, do they have another name ?

The whiting i have been using are just the normal silver ones like 5cm long. So i can't use these ? Because i'm not keeping them, they do go back into the water

[Jay_S]

I think you should start having a bit of a read ???

Col

[zedjack33]

what the?

[zaneg]

I called the Fisheries Department in QLD about this as I am new to using live bait and have seen undersize whiting put on the hook on one of the TV fishing programs.

Their reply was that only those fish that are regulated (Size Limits and Bag Limits), must be legal size i.e Golden Lined and Sand Whiting. All others can be used regardless of size.

Hope that helps.

Zane

[jeffo]

diver whiting-also called winter whiting.
they have a shorter "stumpy-er" snout than a sand whiting, and also have some darker blotches along the length of their body above the lateral line. i havent done a search on these fish but im sure there is pics around this site.
not a cheap buy- but "grants guide to fishes" has photos and info on prety much every fish that swims in QLD and is one of (if not the best) fish ID books around.

[mjc85]

Thanks for the replies, i also recall seeing sand whiting being used as live bait in a section from i think Brownies from memory (few yrs ago) in the Pine River for Flathead. I have also seen on another show, guys using undersized tailor as live bait under a float for mackerel, sailfish and marlin also another show a guy was filleting undersized tailor and using the fillets for jewfish.

But i am sure there must be a loop-hole here because i am sure that the bag and size limits say somewhere that they are for keeping ? But i won't be keepng these whiting, just keeping them in my boat for a few minutes and on the hook for another few mins until they get chomped.

I might just call fisheries ???

[Leo_N.]

Grants is a good start, but has a lot of fish missing. Check the pics in this book to make sure you have the right fish, but I am 99% sure that all whiting in Qld that are protected by legal size limits have forked tails - those that have straight edged tails are OK to use.

[agnes_jack]

MJC 85
There is no loop-hole mate, you can not use regulated fish as live bait unless they are legal size.
Have a look at this link, you should be able to find a picture of different whiting types here. http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/

And this one for fisheries rules.
http://www.dpi.gov.au/fishweb

Regards, Tony

[Gorilla_in_Manila]

Tony,
I had a look through the museum site last night and there seems only to be pics of sand and trumpeter whiting. (couldn't see KG for some reason). Are trumpeter the same a winter/diver whiting?
It didn't list it as an alternative common name although the blotches looked similar.
Someone stuck up a good pic on a previous thread, but I couldn't find it on a search.
Cheers
Jeff

[devocean]

Just use any type and if you get pulled up say you must have jagged it on the way up and somehow your hook ended up in the shoulder of the whiting.

[Gorilla_in_Manila]

Ahh, found it here:
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb/2827.html
==================================
Winter or trumpeter whiting are more commonly caught in the cooler months, although they can be found all year round. Catches of 100-150 fish are not uncommon when the fish are on, and they are caught using worms or squid for bait. They are a smaller species than the summer whiting, with an average size around 20 cm. Both species are excellent table fish and are keenly sought by recreational fishers.
==================================
Cheers
Jeff

[agnes_jack]

Thats the ones!!
Thanks Jeff

Regards, Tony

[Boxhead]

Just use a friggin' mullet.....