Image credit – Department of Fisheries – Find the recreational fishing rules that apply to Kingfish in WA waters
On Friday, 6th September, Recfishwest released more juvenile Yellowtail Kingfish into the Club marina.
7 facts about the Kingfish
The fish species Seriola lalandi, commonly known as the Yellowtail Kingfish, is more frequently recognised among anglers and divers as “kingfish” or “kingies.” It belongs to the Carangidae family, which includes trevally and jacks.
Kingfish are found in temperate waters worldwide, with their presence in Australia extending from southern Queensland to Coral Bay in Western Australia.
Typically found in schools, kingfish are often sighted around deepwater wrecks, jetty pylons, and floating objects in the ocean. However, large individuals can be solitary, patrolling reefs and wrecks.
Known for their aggressive predatory behaviour, kingfish are known to attack bait schools like mackerels and scads. They exhibit curiosity, and making a loud noise underwater can attract them for a closer inspection.
Distinguished by a yellow tail and a bronze-yellow stripe along the lateral line, the Yellowtail Kingfish typically displays a blue or blue-green colour on its back and a white-silver hue below. They have elongated, compressed bodies with small, smooth scales.
Often confused with similar trevally species like samsonfish (Seriola hippos) and amberjack (Seriola dumerili), smaller kingfish are colloquially referred to as “Rats” by fishermen.
The Yellowtail Kingfish can reach a maximum size of approximately 2 metres and weigh up to 70 kilograms, earning it the moniker “Royal Jack.”
