Depending where they live pilchards might spawn twice in a year. One pilchard can release between 5 000 and 25 000 eggs each time it spawns. The eggs can be moved by the force of the ocean. The Leeuwin current flows along the Western Australian coast, sweeping pilchard eggs south and east. This species can live up to nine years and reach 200 mm in length.

In 1995, a massive amount of adult pilchards died many of these were washed up especially on our southern coastal shores. This event occurred from Carnavon (WA), around the southern coast and up the eastern coast to Noosa Heads (Qld). This is the total range in which pilchards live. About 10 per cent of the pilchards were affected at that time no long term problems were expected however in 1999 the pilchard deaths happened again.

Pilchards feed on very small crustaceans, mollusc larvae, plankton and worms. Tuna, salmon, sea-birds, sharks and dolphins all like to eat pilchards.

Scientific and other names
Pilchard (Sardinops sagax) are also commonly named blue pilchard, sardine, bluebait or mulies when used as bait.

What they look like
Pilchards are steel blue on the top of their body and silvery yellow below, this colouring helps them avoid their predators. When predators in the water look up they see light from the sun, the light coloured underside of the pilchard camouflages with the light background. Birds look for a feed will be looking down at the water. This looks dark and the steel blue colour on the upperbody blends in well. Pilchards are slender and elongate (lengthened) with a serrated (saw-toothed) belly. This shape helps them swim quickly through the water.

Where they live
In Australia, pilchards are distributed from Hervey Bay in southern Queensland and around southern Australia to Kalbarri in Western Australia. They are also found along the coast to Hobart in Bass Strait, and around the north and south islands of New Zealand.

Pilchards are schooling fish and are usually found in bays, inlets, and inshore waters to the boundary of the continental shelf. They prefer clear waters to depths of up to 200 m.