Inhabit continental shelf waters of southeastern Australia from Moreton Bay to Wilsons Promontory in central Victoria, and as far south as Storm Bay in Tasmania. Commercial fishery: The grey morwong fishery is limited to New South Wales waters from Ballina to Ulladulla. Most of the catch is taken by trap fishers although a small percentage is caught on handlines and bottom set longlines. Grey morwong form a minor bycatch of trawlers fishing in shallower waters of the continental shelf. The highest recorded annual catch for grey morwong was about 960 t in 1980-81 but this figure probably includes an unknown amount of jackass morwong. The 1990-91 catch was approximately 190 t.

Grey morwong are sold mainly on the domestic fresh fish market, either as whole fish or fillets.

Recreational fishery: Grey morwong are more commonly taken by anglers than are jackass morwong (Nemadactylus macropterus). Anglers use handlines, deck winches or rod-and-line methods to catch morwong and favoured baits are fish flesh, prawns and pieces of squid (Ref. 27128).

The Australian Anglers Association records list the largest grey morwong caught as weighing 5.9 kg from New South Wales.

Also Ref. 9563, 89422.