Open Year-Round

Barcheek Coral Trout

Plectropomus maculatus

Also known as: Barcheek trout

DPIRD Category Demersal
Peak Season Year-round
Difficulty Intermediate
Fight Rating ★★★★☆
Barcheek Coral Trout

Regulations & Limits

DEMERSAL

⚖️ Mixed Species Limit Applies

Barcheek Coral Trout count towards your total demersal scalefish bag limit. You can keep a maximum of 2 demersal scalefish total statewide.

Limits by Bioregion

West Coast N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
South Coast N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
Gascoyne N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
Pilbara N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
North Coast (Kimberley) N/A
Species not commonly found in this region

ℹ️ Regulations can change. Always verify current rules at rules.fish.wa.gov.au

Size & Weight

Typical Size35-50 cm
Max Size70 cm
Typical Weight1-3 kg
Max Weight7 kg

Habitat

Where: Coral reefs and rocky reef areas in tropical waters

Depth: 5-50m

ID Features: Red/brown body with blue spots, distinctive dark bars on cheek (behind eye)

Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak Available Poor

Peak: Year-round | Water Temp: 24-30°C

How to Catch Barcheek Coral Trout

1

Trolling

Setup

  • Line: PE 2-4
  • Leader: 40-60lb fluorocarbon

Top Lures

  • Bibbed minnows
  • Soft plastics
2

Bottom fishing

Setup

  • Line: PE 2-4
  • Leader: 40-60lb fluorocarbon

Best Baits

  • Live bait
  • Squid
  • Pilchards

Eating Quality

★★★★★ Excellent

Flesh: White, moist, sweet flesh

Best cooked: Steamed whole, pan-fried, grilled

The Fight

★★★★☆ 4/5

Powerful initial run straight for the reef. Same fighting characteristics as common coral trout.

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