Open Year-Round
Bass Groper
Polyprion americanus
Also known as: Wreckfish, Stone Bass, Atlantic Wreckfish
DPIRD Category
Demersal
Peak Season
Year round
Difficulty
Advanced
Fight Rating
★★★★★
Regulations & Limits
DEMERSAL
⚖️ Mixed Species Limit Applies
Bass Groper 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
OPEN
Min Size
—
Individual Limit
3 fish
Mixed Limit
Within 5 demersal total
✓ Open year-round.
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
Good to Know
- Deep water species 100-600m
- Part of demersal mixed limit
- Closely related to Hapuku
- Grows to 2m, 100kg
- Lives up to 80 years - extremely long-lived
ℹ️ Regulations can change. Always verify current rules at rules.fish.wa.gov.au
Size & Weight
| Typical Size | 60-120 cm |
| Max Size | 2 metres |
| Typical Weight | 20-50 kg |
| Max Weight | 100 kg |
Habitat
Where: Deep continental shelf and slope, around structure and caves
Depth: 100-600m (occasionally shallower)
Season
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak
Available
Poor
Peak: Year round
How to Catch Bass Groper
1
Extremely Long-Lived Species
Setup
- Line: PE8-10 / 80-100lb braid
- Leader: 100-150lb mono
Best Baits
- Whole squid
- Blue mackerel
- Large fish strips
- Fresh skipjack tuna chunks
2
Finding Them
Eating Quality
Flesh: White, firm, moist with excellent flavour
Best cooked: Pan-fried, grilled, baked
The Fight
Bass Groper are immensely powerful. They use their bulk and the structure they live around to their advantage. Once hooked, they'll try to bury into caves and ledges. Keep pressure on and don't give line.