Open Year-Round

Golden Snapper

Lutjanus johnii

Also known as: Fingermark, johnii

DPIRD Category Nearshore / Estuarine
Peak Season April - October
Difficulty Intermediate
Fight Rating ★★★☆☆
Golden Snapper

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 Size35-50 cm
Max Size80 cm
Typical Weight1-3 kg
Max Weight12 kg

Habitat

Where: Mangrove-lined creeks, estuaries and nearshore reefs in tropical waters

Depth: 1-30m

ID Features: Golden-bronze body, pointed snout, faint darker bars on juveniles, dark spot on each scale forming lines

Season

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

Peak: April - October | Water Temp: 24-32°C

How to Catch Golden Snapper

1

Bait fishing

Setup

  • Line: PE 2-3
  • Leader: 40-60lb fluorocarbon

Best Baits

  • Live prawns
  • Mullet strips
  • Squid
2

Lure casting

Setup

  • Line: PE 2-3
  • Leader: 40-60lb fluorocarbon

Top Lures

  • Soft plastics
  • Vibes
  • Jerkbaits

Eating Quality

★★★★★ Excellent

Flesh: White, moist and sweet with medium flake

Best cooked: Pan-fried, steamed whole, grilled fillets

The Fight

★★★☆☆ 3/5

Strong initial run towards structure with a dogged fight. They use their broad body and reef knowledge to make landing them a challenge.

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