Movements and migrations of yellowfin bream, Acanthopagrus australis (Günther), in Moreton Bay, Queensland as determined by tag recoveries

Abstract

Yellowfin bream were tagged and released in three non‐spawning areas and two spawning areas in Moreton Bay, a large estuarine system on the east coast of Australia. A total of 194 fish were recaptured. Juvenile fish made only small‐scale movements (less than 6 km) from the release site. Small‐scale movements were also recorded for adult fish, although large‐scale movements from 10 to 90 km were also recorded. The large‐scale movements appear to be associated with the migration of adult fish to or from surf bar spawning areas. Some adult fish remained in feeding areas during the spawning season (May‐August). There was no indication from tag recoveries of any movements of yellowfin bream outside Moreton Bay and the results indicate that adult yellowfin bream in Moreton Bay may be regarded as a unit stock for the purpose of fisheries management.