Open Year-Round

Chinaman Rockcod

Epinephelus rivulatus

Also known as: Charlie Court

DPIRD Category Nearshore / Estuarine
Peak Season Year-round
Difficulty Beginner
Fight Rating ★★☆☆☆
Chinaman Rockcod

Regulations & Limits

NEARSHORE / ESTUARINE

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 Size20-30 cm
Max Size45 cm
Typical Weight0.3-1 kg
Max Weight3 kg

Habitat

Where: Rocky reefs, limestone ledges and jetties in coastal waters

Depth: 1-30m

ID Features: Mottled brown/red body with darker bands, typical rockcod shape with large mouth

Season

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

Peak: Year-round | Water Temp: 18-26°C

How to Catch Chinaman Rockcod

1

Bait fishing

Setup

  • Line: PE 1-2
  • Leader: 20-30lb fluorocarbon

Top Lures

  • Small soft plastics

Best Baits

  • Prawns
  • Squid
  • Pilchards

Eating Quality

★★★☆☆ Good

Flesh: White, firm flesh

Best cooked: Pan-fried, grilled

The Fight

★★☆☆☆ 2/5

Short, sharp dives into the reef. Fun on light tackle.

Explore More Species

Browse our complete database of 122 species.

View All Species