Yellowfin Whiting

Sillago schomburgkii

The yellowfin whiting (Sillago schomburgkii) is a species of inshore fish in the family Sillaginidae, native to southern Australia. Adults reach up to 41 cm with a slender, elongated body displaying silvery-grey coloration with distinctive yellow-tinged pectoral and caudal fins. This species inhabits sandy and silty bottoms in shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and bays at depths of 0-20 meters from southern Queensland to the central coast of Western Australia. They are often found in schools over sandy flats, seagrass meadows, and near reef edges. Yellowfin whiting feed on small crustaceans, worms, and mollusks by probing the substrate with their sensitive snout. They are highly valued by recreational anglers throughout southern Australia and are an important component of the inshore ecosystem.