Open Year-Round
Blue Tuskfish
Choerodon cyanodus
Also known as: Bluebone, Blue Groper, Grey Tuskfish, White Spot Tuskfish
DPIRD Category
Demersal
Peak Season
Year-Round
Difficulty
Moderate
Fight Rating
★★★★☆
Regulations & Limits
DEMERSAL
⚖️ Mixed Species Limit Applies
Blue Tuskfish 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
OPEN
Min Size
400
Individual Limit
3 fish
Mixed Limit
Part of tuskfish group
✓ Open year-round.
Pilbara
N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
North Coast (Kimberley)
OPEN
Min Size
400
Individual Limit
3 fish
Mixed Limit
Part of tuskfish group
✓ Open year-round.
Good to Know
- Part of tuskfish group - 2 individual species limit within demersal total
- Highly prone to barotrauma - avoid targeting for catch and release
- In Shark Bay, fish rarely reach legal size of 400mm
- Protogynous hermaphrodite - females change to males
ℹ️ Regulations can change. Always verify current rules at rules.fish.wa.gov.au
Size & Weight
| Typical Size | 40 cm |
| Max Size | 70 cm |
| Typical Weight | 3 kg |
| Max Weight | 8 kg |
Habitat
Where: Sand and rubble areas of reef flats, inner gulfs, rocky shorelines
Depth: 10-30m typically
ID Features: Greenish-grey to rusty brown body, large pale patch below rear dorsal fin, blue fin margins, blue-tipped caudal fin
Season
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak
Available
Poor
Peak: Year-Round | Water Temp: 24 – 29°C
How to Catch Blue Tuskfish
1
Bottom Fishing
Setup
- Line: PE3-5 / 30-40lb braid
- Leader: 50-60lb fluorocarbon
Best Baits
- Molluscs (top choice)
- Prawns
- Crab
- Sea urchin
2
Tips
Eating Quality
Flesh: White, firm
Best cooked: Pan fried, steamed, battered
The Fight
Solid fighter, will head for structure. Not as powerful as Blackspot Tuskfish but still requires decent tackle.