Open Year-Round

Vermicular Cod

Plectropomus oligacanthus

Also known as: Highfin coral trout

DPIRD Category Demersal
Peak Season Year-round
Difficulty Intermediate
Fight Rating ★★★☆☆
Vermicular Cod

Regulations & Limits

DEMERSAL

⚖️ Mixed Species Limit Applies

Vermicular Cod 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 Size30-45 cm
Max Size65 cm
Typical Weight1-2 kg
Max Weight5 kg

Habitat

Where: Coral reefs and lagoons in tropical waters

Depth: 5-40m

ID Features: Distinctive wavy/vermicular (worm-like) blue lines on head, red-brown body with blue spots

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 Vermicular Cod

1

Bottom fishing

Setup

  • Line: PE 2-3
  • Leader: 30-50lb fluorocarbon

Top Lures

  • Soft plastics

Best Baits

  • Live bait
  • Squid

Eating Quality

★★★★★ Excellent

Flesh: White, moist flesh similar to common coral trout

Best cooked: Steamed whole, pan-fried

The Fight

★★★☆☆ 3/5

Typical coral trout fight with a dive for structure.

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