Dispatch Method:

The various species of whiting found in estuaries and inshore waters have similar brain locations.  To maximise their eating qualities, they should be killed humanely by iki jime or a firm knock to the head, or by cervical dislocation (breaking the neck). Smaller specimens (less than 20-25 cm) taken from warm water can also be killed quickly and humanely in an ice slurry.

Fish Description:

• These fish are silvery white in colour, with yellowish highlights along the sides. The Pelvic and anal fins are yellow and dark blotches are present at the base of the pectoral fins.
  
• Sand whiting can be found in very shallow waters (10 cm), and have been known to completely bury themselves in the sand to evade predators.
  
• Maturity is reached on average between 19 to 26 cm long after 2-3 years. A 32-35 cm sand whiting is probably around 6 years old. Maximum age may be up to 22 years old.

Fish Distribution:

• This species inhabits inshore waters of the western Pacific ocean, including Papua New Guinea, and eastern Australia (including Lord Howe Island and Tasmania). Similar species of whiting with yellow fins are found in other Australian states.
  
• All of these species are found along coastal beaches, bays, coastal lakes, estuaries and rivers as far upstream as the tidal limits.
  
• They typically form large schools across sand banks near river mouths and in the surf zone. Sand whiting generally favour sandy or muddy sand substrates in shallow water to about 6 metres depth.

Fish Size Common Length:

20-35 cm, maximum size around 51 cm and 1.2 kg.