Open Year-Round
Saddletail Snapper
Lutjanus malabaricus
Also known as: Saddle-tailed sea perch
DPIRD Category
Demersal
Peak Season
Year-round
Difficulty
Intermediate
Fight Rating
★★★☆☆
Regulations & Limits
DEMERSAL
⚖️ Mixed Species Limit Applies
Saddletail Snapper 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
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 Size | 40-60 cm |
| Max Size | 100 cm |
| Typical Weight | 2-6 kg |
| Max Weight | 15 kg |
Habitat
Where: Deep reef areas and hard bottom in tropical waters
Depth: 20-100m
ID Features: Red body with distinctive dark saddle-shaped mark on tail base
Season
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak
Available
Poor
Peak: Year-round | Water Temp: 24-30°C
How to Catch Saddletail Snapper
1
Bottom fishing
Setup
- Line: PE 3-5
- Leader: 40-60lb fluorocarbon
Top Lures
- Jigs
Best Baits
- Squid
- Pilchards
- Fish strips
Eating Quality
Flesh: White, moist, sweet flesh
Best cooked: Pan-fried, grilled, steamed whole
The Fight
Strong dives back to the reef with good power. A quality tropical demersal catch.