Open Year-Round
Grass Emperor
Lethrinus laticaudis
Also known as: Blue-lined Emperor, Black Snapper
DPIRD Category
Demersal
Peak Season
Year round
Difficulty
Moderate
Fight Rating
★★☆☆☆
Regulations & Limits
DEMERSAL
⚖️ Mixed Species Limit Applies
Grass Emperor 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
320mm
Individual Limit
5 fish
Mixed Limit
Within 5 demersal total
✓ Open year-round.
Pilbara
N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
North Coast (Kimberley)
OPEN
Min Size
320mm
Individual Limit
5 fish
Mixed Limit
Within 5 demersal total
✓ Open year-round.
Good to Know
- 280mm minimum size
- Part of emperor group
- Found over seagrass beds
- Grows to 56cm
ℹ️ Regulations can change. Always verify current rules at rules.fish.wa.gov.au
Size & Weight
| Typical Size | 30-45 cm |
| Max Size | 56 cm |
| Typical Weight | 1-2 kg |
| Max Weight | 3 kg |
Habitat
Where: Seagrass beds, sandy areas near reef, mangrove margins
Depth: 5-30m (shallow water specialist)
Season
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak
Available
Poor
Peak: Year round
How to Catch Grass Emperor
1
Size & Weight
Setup
- Line: 10-20lb braid
- Leader: 20-30lb fluoro
Best Baits
- Prawns
- Squid pieces
- Small fish strips
- Crabs
2
Location Tips
Eating Quality
Flesh: White, firm, mild sweet flavour
Best cooked: Pan-fried, steamed, whole baked
The Fight
Grass Emperor are relatively small and don't put up an epic fight. They'll give a few head shakes and short runs. Good fun on light tackle but not a challenging target.