AMBERJACK (Seriola dumerilii)

Other names: Kingfish
Description: Dark stripe (variably present) extends from nose to in front of the dorsal fin and lights up when the fish is in feeding mode; no scutes; soft dorsal base less than twice the length of the anal fin base.
Found: Coastal and ocean waters of our southern coastline, especially in the vicinity of reefs.
Grows to 40.00 kg
Eating Smaller fish eat quite well, but once they grow bigger, they are coarse and tasteless.
Bait Squid, fish, crustaceans;  is a sucker for live bait.

AMBERJACK BLACK BANDED (Seriolina nigrofasciata)

Other names: Black Banded Kingfish
Description: It is a comparatively deep bodied fish, blue green in colour, flushed with dull pink and has irregular dark blotches.
Found: Coastal and ocean waters of our southern coastline, especially.
Grows to 1.00 m in length
Eating Quite good eating
Bait Squid, fish, crustaceans and live bait.

ARCHER FISH (Toxotes chatareus)

Other names: Rifle Fish, Spotted Bream
Description: A deep bodied fish, it is bright silver underside with bronze reflections along the top and upper body. It has several dark blotches along the side.
Found: It inhabits our northern freshwaters.
Grows to 300 mm
Eating This fish’s basic food is insects and it catches them by squirting a jet of water onto low hanging limbs.
Bait Will take small lures, flies and shrimps.

 BARRACUDA (Sphyraena barracuda)

Other names: Dingo Fish, Giant Sea Pike
Description: Gun metal grey, with white tips to dorsal, caudal and anal fins. It has 18 greyish cross bands on the back with a fearsome set of teeth.
Found: All along the Queensland Coastline
Grows to 2.5 m or 45.00 kg
Eating Not recommended - the flesh is rank, coarse and lacking in flavour.
Bait Live bait, Pilchards or other surface swimmers

BARRAMUNDI (Lates calcarifer)

Other names: Giant Perch, Cock up, Palmer
Description: Dominantly greenish on the body with a golden copper glow. It has pink red eyes that seem to reflect at night time. Fish caught in land locked areas are extremely dark tending towards black.
Found: North of the Capricorn.
Grows to 1.50 m or 55.00 kg
Eating Excellent – no 1 eating fish in Queensland
Bait Live bait is best – shrimps, prawns, mullet, garfish etc. They will also take a wide range of lures.

 BARRAMUNDI COD (Cromileptes altivelis)

Other names:
Humpback Cod
This fish is totally protected and having one of these in your possession will mean prosecution.
Description: An unusually deep bodied fish that has the head of a barramundi. Its fins are reddish brown and it is covered with round black spots.
Found: North of the Capricorn
Grows to 660 mm to 3.5 kg
Eating Excellent
Bait Squid, cut fish, crustaceans or pilchards
BASS RED (Lutjanus bohar)

Other names: Kelp Bream, Kelp Sea Perch
Warning : This fish does cause ciguatera food poisoning and for this reason, it also has been deemed a no take species. Having one in your possession will risk prosecution.
Description: The body is dark red along the back to the head. It has a pinkish red underbelly with a set of dog like teeth.
Found: Basically on the Barrier Reef, but some of these fish have been caught as far south as Noosa.
Grows to 900 mm or 15.00 kg
Eating WARNING! This fish is poisonous - DO NOT EAT!
Bait Squid, cut fish, crustaceans and live bait.
BASS SAND (Psammoperca waigsiensi)

Other names: Dwarf Palmer, Glass Eyed Perch, Jewel Eyed, Reef Barramundi
Description: Very similar to a barramundi, only it is dull brown in colour. Its eyes glow at night and the fins are tinged with yellow.
Found: Along the rocky reef foreshores north of the Capricorn Coast.
Grows to 380 mm
Eating Good
Bait Squid, cut fish, crustaceans and live bait.
BATFISH HUMP HEADED (Platax batavianus)

Other names: Nil
Description: The adult fish has a cranial bump. They are greyish in colour above and blue silver below, with a broad vertical band crossing the eye, cheek and throat .
Found: Coastal and northern reef waters.
Grows to 600 mm or 5.00 kg
Eating Not rated highly; tend to be fairly dry
Bait These fish are basically vegetarians, but will take peeled prawns. A case has been recorded where one took a banana.
BATFISH LONG FINNED (Platax pinnatus)
Other names: Nil
Description: Similar to the hump head without the hump and has extremely long dorsal and anal fins.
Found: Along the Queensland coast, but the bigger fish tend to be in the north of the state
Grows to 500 mm
Eating Not rated highly; tend to be fairly dry
Bait These fish are basically vegetarians, but will take peeled prawns.
BATFISH SHORT FINNED (Platax Novaemaculatus)
Other names: Nil
Description: Basically brown grey above and ash grey below, with the body crossed by two narrow dark bands, the first over the eye, the second across the dorsal fin
Found: Along the North  Queensland coast.
Grows to 450 mm
Eating Not rated highly; tend to be fairly dry
Bait These fish are basically vegetarians, but will take peeled prawns.
 BEACH SALMON (Leptobrama Mulleri Steindachner)
Other names: Steelback, Moreton Bay Tailor, Salmon Trout, Silver Salmon
Description: Blue steel is the colour of the back, with a black tipped dorsal fin, and silver sides and belly.
Found: Northern Queensland waters;, these fish will also enter brackish water.
Grows to 900 grams or 430 mm long
Eating Only fair; needs to be bled to make it  better.
Bait Hardy heads, white pilchards or yabbies
 BLUBBER LIPS BROWN (Plectorhinchus gibbosus)
Other names: Brown Morwong, Blubber Lip Bream, Brown Sweetlip
Description: Rather drab looking fish with a dark brown body. The fins are chocolate brown to black.
Found: Around rocky outcrops in the Central Queensland area
Grows to 24.00 kg, but are normally taken around the 2.00kg mark
Eating Poor
Bait These fish are vegetarians, but will take crustaceans from time to time.
   BLUBBER LIPS GOLD SPOT (Plectorhinchus flavomaculatus)
Other names: Rubber Lip, Netted Sweetlip
Description: Light brown to olive green on the body with a darker network on the upper half. A series of dark horizontal stripes encircle dark yellow spots.
Found: All along the Queensland coast
Grows to 600 mm to 4.00 kg
Eating Not recommended, tastes a little weedy; improves if it is bled and gutted immediately after it is caught.
Bait Prawns, cut flesh and pilchards

BONEFISH (Albula vulpes)
Other names: Lady fish
Description: This fish is a brilliant silver with a greenish tinge. It has a small under slung mouth and is very similar to a whiting. Most fish of this type caught weighing 1 kg or more are possibly bonefish.
Found: All along the Queensland inshore waters, inhabits shallow sand flats  
Grows to It has been taken at 1.1 m in length or weighing 5.00 kg. A bonefish caught in the Florida Keys was weighed at 27.00 kg.
Eating Not recommended as name suggests it is absolutely full of fine bones.
Bait Shrimp, shellfish, crabs, worms.

BONITO AUSTRALIAN (Sarda Australis)
Other names: Tuna
Description: This fish is a bright blue green above and silver below;  it has 10 narrow grey stripes running along the sides.
Found: All along the Queensland Coast inshore waters.  
Grows to 2.5 kg
Eating Not highly regarded;  the flesh is very soft and quite red. However, it would have to be the best cut flesh bait available for almost any type of fish. It is also used whole for larger pelagics and bill fish.
Bait Hardy Heads, White and Blue Pilchards and it will easily fall to small silver lures and soft plastics.
 BONITO LEAPING (Cybiosarda elegans)
Other names: Watsons Leaping Bonito, Tuna
Description: Blue green in color above and silver below; there are a series of broken dark lines on the upper part of the body that run into continuous lines on the bottom of the body.
Found: Inshore coastal waters all along the Queensland coast   
Grows to 2.00kg.
Eating Not highly regarded; the flesh is very soft and quite red. It also would have to be regarded as one of the best cut flesh baits available for almost any type of fish. It is also used whole for larger pelagic and bill fish.
Bait Hardy Heads, White and Blue Pilchards and it will easily fall to small silver lures and soft plastics.
BREAM PIKEY (Acanthopagrus berda)
Other names: Black Bream
Description: Dusky in color almost to black or could be greyish or olive brown. It is also a much thicker fish than the bream in the south.
Found: North Queensland Coast in rivers and estuaries 
Grows to 560 mm  or 7.00kg.
Eating Quite good quality eating
Bait Prawns or cut baits of mullet or garfish

BREAM YELLOWFIN  (Acanthopagrus Australis)
Other names: Silver Bream, Sea Bream, Black Bream
Description: Olive green in color;  yellowish reflections on sides and abdomen. The pectoral fins are a bright yellow.
Found: Rivers and estuaries all along the Queensland Coast, but much more predominant in the south.
Grows to 3.00kg.
Eating Quite good eating
Bait Yabbies, prawns, gut and cut flesh baits.
 BUTTERFISH SPOTTED (Scatophagus argus)
Other names: Spotted Scat
Description: Yellowish green to olive above to brownish grey on the lower sides and white below. Profusely covered with dark round spots. Handle this fish with care for the dorsal fins are extremely sharp and inflict a painful sting.
Found: Mainly North Queensland coastal waters and rivers  
Grows to 330 mm
Eating Acceptable table fish, should be bled and cleaned on capture.
Bait Rarely caught by line fishing; it does eat algae, enriched mud and small bottom dwelling invertebrates.
 BUTTERFISH STRIPED (Selenotoca multifasciata)
Other names:  
Description: Generally silver back flushed with pale green, the body is broken up by a series of black vertical stripes. Once again, caution is required, as it has the same painful spike the spotted fish has.
Found: Mainly the South Queensland Coast and estuary waters  
Grows to 280 mm
Eating Slightly better eating than the spotted butterfish; fresh is best and should be bled.
Bait Can be caught on a line by using moss, dough or peeled prawns.

 

BLUE CATFISH (Arius graeffei)
Other names: Cattie
Description: Purple-blue above with greenish reflections and a white underbelly. It has strong serrated dorsal and pectoral fins that can deliver a nasty wound. They also have fleshy whiskers around the mouth. This fish croaks on capture
Found: In estuaries and rivers, either salt or fresh water, and can be a nuisance at times.
Grows to 690 mm or 3.9 kg
Eating Not generally known for its edible qualities, but when looked after, can eat ok.
Bait These fish will eat everything, with no particular bait recommended.

BLACK EEL TAILED CATFISH (Neosilurus ater)

Other names: Cattie
Description: A relatively elongated snout, grey to blackish on the sides, sometimes mottled, paler on the belly. Both sexes develop a bright golden orange hue on the sides during breeding.
Found: Northern Australia, only in rivers and streams
Grows to 600 mm
Eating Has a flavour all its own - ok for those who like it.  Much better eating fish to be caught in the North.
Bait Worms, fresh water shrimps and crayfish

CHINAMAN FISH (Symphorus nematophorus)

Other names: Galloper, Threadfin Sea Perch
Description: This fish is generally pink with dusky vertical bars, and a network of fine yellow lines running over the head.
Found: On most northern reefs, in depths around 45 m 
Grows to 15.00 kg
Eating WARNING! This fish is poisonous - DO NOT EAT!
Bait As usual, fish you don’t want to catch will eat anything that normal reef fish take and sometimes become a nuisance. It is illegal to have one of these in your possession.

BLACK FIN COD (Epinephelus maculatus)
Other names: Spotted Groper
Description: It has a brownish to green network which resembles wire netting;  the fins are edged with yellow.
Found: All along the Queensland coastline around rocky headlands
Grows to 450 cm
Eating Useful  table fish that tends to have a coarse texture
Bait Usual reef bait - cut flesh, squid, prawns  and pilchards

BLUE SPOT COD (Cephalopholis cyanostigma)

Other names: Blue-Spotted Rock Cod, Peacock Cod
Description: The body is reddish brown crossed by six distinctive mesh-like bars of darker brown, which enclose paler patches. The head and body are covered by small scattered blue spots.
Found: Northern offshore waters
Grows to 350 mm
Eating Highly esteemed table fish
Bait Usual reef bait-  cut flesh, squid, prawns  and pilchards

BLUE MAORI COD (Epinephelus cyanopodus)

Other names:
Purple Cod
Description: Body bluish going to purple rather than brown – a large, heavy bodied fish covered in black dots
Found: Northern coral reefs during winter;  normally bites best after dark.
Grows to 900  mm
Eating One of  the best eating of the cods
Bait Live bait, cut flesh
CORAL COD (Cephalopholis miniata)

Other names: Round Tailed Trout
Description:  A richly coloured fish. The head, body and fins are reddish brown to scarlet in colour. Covered in black-edged blue spots.
Found: On coral reefs north of Gladstone
Grows to 450 mm
Eating Prized table fish
Bait Usual reef bait - cut flesh, prawns, squid and pilchards
ESTUARY COD (Epinephelus coioides)

Other names: Greasy Cod, Groper, Spotted River Cod
Description: Olive green body with scattered orange, red or brown spots on the back;  has 4 to 6 bands running across it.
Found: Reef waters and mainland estuaries mainly in the north
Grows to 230 kg or 2.1 m
Eating Smaller fish are quite good eating, but larger fish are coarse and tasteless.
Bait Whole live fish and cut baits;  have been known to take whole mud crabs.
FLOWERY COD (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus)

Other names: Carpet Cod, Black Rock Cod
Description: A beautifully patterned fish generally light brown with a number of dark blotches over a pattern of small dark spots.
Found: North Queensland reefs, but more in the mouths of rivers
Grows to 900 mm
Eating High eating qualities
Bait Live bait, cut baits and squid
FRECKLED COD (Cephalopholis cexmaculatus)
Other names:  
Description: One of the smaller rock cods, is a dark orange above, much lighter below. Has several lighter bars running around the body, which is covered in bright blue spots.
Found: Great Barrier Reef area
Grows to 300 mm
Eating Only fair
Bait Even though this is a small fish, it will take large cut flesh baits.
LONG FINNED COD (Epinephelus megarchir)
Other names: xx
Description: This fish is brown with large irregular blotches over the body. Its pectoral fins are longer than its length.
Found: Coral reefs around Central and North Queensland
Grows to 450 mm
Eating Not classed as a great table fish
Bait Cut flesh, pilchards and squid
MAORI COD (Epinephelus undulatostriatus)
Other names: Red Speckled Cod
Description: The body is creamy brown to stone grey with narrow golden stripes running obliquely along the lateral line;  the fins are edged with yellow.
Found: South Queensland, in water from 30 to 70 m
Grows to 5.5 kg
Eating Excellent table fish
Bait Cut flesh, pilchards and squid
ORANGE COD (Cephalopholis aurantia)
Other names: Peacock Cod
Description: Brilliantly coloured fish of red and orange, speckled with blue spots
Found: Tropical reef waters as far south as Flinders Reef in Moreton Bay
Grows to 500 mm
Eating Good eating
Bait Cut flesh, pilchards and squid
PURPLE COD (Epinephelus flavocareuleus)
Other names: Blue Maori Cod
Description: Large heavy bodied fish, coloured from lilac to deep purple, dotted with black 
Found: Northern deep waters
Grows to 900 mm
Eating One of the best eating fish of the rock cod species
Bait Live bait and cut bait

RED FLUSHED COD (Aethaloperca rogaa)
Other names: xx
Description: A comparatively drab fish, mainly dark brown;  the inside of the mouth is yellow.
Found: Coral reefs in North Queensland
Grows to 600 mm
Eating Good table fish
Bait Cut flesh, pilchards and squid

SLEEPY COD (Oxyeleotris lineolata)
Other names: Sleepy
Description: An elongated fish that is a drab brown in color
Found:  Freshwater, north of the Dawson and west of the Great Divide
Grows to 500 mm
Eating Excellent eating
Bait Flesh bait, crayfish and freshwater shrimps
TOMATO COD (Cephalopholis sonnerati)
Other names: Red Rock Cod
Description: A brilliant red, the color of a ripe tomato; some blue lines and dark red spots cover some of the fins, that are black edged.
Found: Central to North Queensland
Grows to 600 mm
Eating Excellent
Bait Cut flesh, pilchards and squid
YELLOW SPOTTED COD (Epinephelus areolatus)

  
Other names: Green spotted cod
Description: Reddish brown above, with green below;  has large yellow to green spots on the body and fins.
Found: Mainly on North Queensland coral reefs
Grows to 400 mm
Eating Reasonable
Bait Will take almost any type of reef bait.
WHITE LINED COD (Anyperodon leucogrammicus)
Other names:  
Description: A long fish with 3 to 5 whitish lines running the length of the body – brown to olive green in the body, covered with orange to red spots.
Found: Taken only in the vicinity of coral reefs
Grows to 500 mm
Eating Good eating fish
Bait Cut flesh and the like; has been known to rise to trolled spoons
COMMON PONYFISH (Leiognathus moretoniensis)
Other names: Slipmouths
Description: Silver grey green with faint greyish bars running along the lateral line.
Found: In estuaries throughout Queensland,  from Moreton Bay to New Guinea  
Grows to 200 mm
Eating Not considered as a table fish.
Bait Usually pinches the bait, when you are fishing for whiting or bream.
DART BLACK SPOT (Trachinotus bailloni)
Other names: Dart
Description: Brilliant silver on top, greenish grey below, with 2 to 5 round black blotches on the side
Found: North Queensland inshore waters
Grows to 560 mm
Eating Good table fish if skinned and cleaned on capture.
Bait Yabbies, prawns, pipies
DART SNUB NOSED  (Trachinotus blochii)
Other names: Buck nosed trevally, Oyster cracker
Description: A deep bodied fish with a blunt rounded snout;  brilliant silver above with cheeks and breasts washed with yellow.
Found: All along the Queensland coast, but most prolific north of Townsville.
Grows to 10.00 kg
Eating Good eating
Bait Loves crustaceans of any type, but can be caught on pipies, prawns and yabbies.
DART SWALLOWTAIL (Trachinotus velox)
Other names: Swallowtail, Surf Trevally
Description: Brilliant silver above, greenish below;  has 4 to 7 dark blotches along the lateral line.
Found: From mid Northern NSW to Central Queensland
Grows to 600 mm
Eating Reasonable eating if filleted and skinned on capture
Bait Yabbies, prawns and pipies.
DOLPHIN FISH (Coryphaene hippurus)
Other names:  
Description: When boated it makes a spectacular display of colour - brilliant blue, purple with bright blue and green and golden reflections. On death, the colours fade.
Found: In open water all along the Queensland Coast:
Grows to 1.8 m or 28 kg
Eating Excellent eating
Bait Trolled bait or lures are best. When you locate a school, you can keep them biting by keeping a live fish in the water.
EMPEROR RED (Lutjinus sebae)
Other names: Government bream, King Snapper, Red Kelp
Description: A salmon pink body with three vivid transverse bands in the form of a government broad arrow – these become less distinct with age.
Found: Mainly in North Queensland, but small numbers are caught down as far as Moreton Bay
Grows to 25.00 kg
Eating Much sought after, excellent eating
Bait Will take almost any type of reef bait, but the larger fish prefer live bait of any type.
EMPEROR SPOT CHEEK (Lethrinus rubrioperculatus)    
Other names: Scarlet cheek emperor
Description: Has a bright circular scarlet spot high on the trailing edge of the gill cover. The body is olive green carrying glints of bronze and gold all over.
Found: Great Barrier Reef down to Cape Moreton
Grows to 330 mm
Eating First rate table fish
Bait Will pinch any type of reef bait.
EMPEROR YELLOW SPOTTED (lethrinus kallopterus)
Other names: Bleeker
Description: An olive green fish, with white centres in the scales forming  longitudinal streaks on the sides. Yellowish spots on the fins.
Found: Mainly North Queensland
Grows to 380 cm
Eating Highly prized reef fish
Bait Will take most reef baits - cut flesh, pilchards, squid, prawns

FINGERMARK (Lutjanus johnii)
Other names: Spotted scaled sea perch, Big scaled red, Red bream
Description: Olive green to salmon in colour, speckled appearance, with a large black blotch towards the tail.
Found: Northern inshore waters
Grows to 900 mm
Bait Likes any type of cut flesh bait

BAR TAILED FLATHEAD (Platycephalus indicus)

Other names: Flatie
Description: Sandy brown above, whitish below with 8 irregular blotches on the back , three horizontal bars on the tail
Found: Entire Queensland coastline
Grows to 1.00 m
Eating Quite good eating
Bait Cut flesh baits, pilchards; will rise to lures and soft plastics.

DUSKY FLATHEAD (Platycephalus fuscus)

Other names: Mud flathead, lizard 
Description: The largest of the flatheads, it is dark greenish brown above, with a white underbelly. This fish appears to change colour depending on where it inhabits - dark brown in mud, light brown on sand.
Found: Along most of the Queensland coast, but most fish occur in and around southern Queensland inshore waters.
Grows to 14.5 kg
Eating Excellent table fish, but bigger fish must be cooked slowly for best results.
Bait Cut baits, pilchards, live bait, lures;  nowadays, a large number of these fish are caught on soft plastics.
FRINGE EYED FLATHEAD (Cymbacephalus nematophthalmus)

Other names: Rock flathead
Description: Dark brown, with a series of dark cross bars running along the sides. Has fleshy fringes above the eyes. Rarely seen over 225 mm in length.
Found: Central to south Queensland inshore waters
Grows to 380 mm
Eating Quite good eating
Bait Cut baits, white pilchards, lures or soft plastics
MARBLED FLATHEAD (Platycephalus marmoratus)

Other names: xx
Description: Blotched pale brown, marbled and flecked with cream; has  6 to 8 broad cross bands over the body.
Found: South Queensland into New South Wales in 35 to 70 m of water
Grows to 560 mm
Eating Acceptable eating
Bait Pilchards and cut flesh baits
NORTHERN ROCK FLATHEAD (Cymbacephalus paralis)

Other names: xx
Description: Very similar in color and markings to the fringe eyed flathead, but does not have the fringes on the eyes 
Found: North Queensland, taken mainly by trawlers
Grows to 480 mm
Eating unknown
Bait Cut flesh and pilchards
LARGE TOOTHED FLOUNDER (Pseudorhombus arsius)

Other names: Sole
Description: Brownish, with indistinct dark blotches and rings
Found: All along the eastern coastline in shallow estuaries to 30 m of water
Grows to 330 mm
Eating Prized table fish
Bait Prawns and cut flesh bait
SMOOTH FLUTEMOUTH (Fistularia commersonii)

Other names: xx
Description: Brownish grey in color and usually associated with eel grass
Found: All Queensland estuaries
Grows to 1.10 m
Eating Not worth the effort of cleaning
Bait Rarely taken by line and more often caught by accident.
MASKED FOXFISH (Bodianus flavifrons) 

Other names: xx
Description: Pink above, white below, with two yellow bands across the forehead and eyes; has a red blotch at the base of the pectoral fin.
Found: Found in the deep water from 100 to 300 m in southern Australia. Some stray into southern Queensland.
Grows to 420 mm
Eating A reasonable eating fish
Bait Cut flesh bait is best.
FUSILIER RED-BELLIED (Caesio cueing)
Other names: Yellowtail
Description: Bright pinkish red sides with a brilliant yellow tail
Found: North Queensland Reefs
Grows to 450 mm
Eating Quite good eating
Bait Prawns, cut flesh bait
RIVER GARFISH (Hyporhamphus ardelio)
Other names: Needle Gar, Splinter Gar
Description: Long beaked, greenish above, fins yellow with a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin.
Found: Common in South Queensland rivers and estuaries.
Grows to 360 mm
Eating Reasonably good eating
Bait Bread, dough, peeled prawns, gents
LARGE SCALED GRINNER (Saurida undosquamis)
Other names: xx
Description: Brown on body, creamy silver below, large mouth with sharp fine teeth
Found: All Queensland waters, into New South Wales
Grows to 560 mm
Eating Not recommended - full of fine bones that are difficult to remove.
Bait Will take anything;  always bite when they are not wanted.
GEMFISH (Rexea solandri)
Other names: King barracouta, hake, silver kingfish
Description: Bright blue above, silver below, with prominent black blotches located on the leading part of the dorsal fin. Has a scaleless body and efficient bladelike teeth.
Found: In the deep waters of southern Australia, but odd specimens have been taken off Cape Moreton. Caught in water up to 400 m deep.
Grows to  
Eating Good eating fish with a relatively bland flesh
Bait Cut flesh baits
BLACK SPOT GOATFISH (Parupeneus signatus)
Other names: xx
Description: Orange in colour on the body with a large black spot near the tail, two longitudinal lines above the lateral line and two purple lines below
Found: Mainly in Southern Queensland, but has been known to stray.
Grows to 450 mm or 1.30 kg
Eating Reasonably good eating
Bait Cut baits and squid
GOLD SADDLED GOATFISH (Parupeneus cyclostomus)
Other names: xx
Description: Bright pink fish with purple reflections and a bright conspicuous saddle on the tail. . Like all goatfish, has a pair of long white fleshy whiskers attached to the bottom jaw.
Found: This is a tropical specie,s mainly caught in Torres Strait
Grows to 380 mm
Eating Very good eating
Bait Will take any type of bait
INDIAN GOATFISH (Parupeneus indicus)
 
Other names: xx
Description: Has a large elongated yellow spot in the middle of the back on the lateral line with a large black spot on the tail.
Found: Silty sandy areas with eel grass, in southern Queensland
Grows to 350 mm
Eating Reasonably good eating
Bait Will take any type of bait
SMALL SPOTTED GRUNTER (Pomadasys argenteus)
 
Other names: Small spotted javelin fish, Grunter bream, trumpeter
Description: Silver olive body with a number of dark brown spots which fade towards the belly; fins are bright yellow.
Found: Mainly in North Queensland, but odd specimens are taken in the Moreton Bay area.
Grows to 500 mm
Eating Excellent table fish
Bait Flesh bait, prawns, live bait
SPOTTED GRUNTER BREAM (Pomadasys kaakan)
 
Other names: Large spotted javelin fish, grunter bream, Queensland trumpeter
Description: Silver body with dark spots arranged in a series of rows traversing the body.
Found: More common in Northern waters
Grows to 600 mm
Eating Excellent table fish
Bait Mullet, gar, hardy heads, pilchards
SOOTY GRUNTER (Hephaestus fuliginosus)
 
Other names: Black bream, purple grunter
Description: Their colour ranges from sooty brown to blackish purple; have a stocky body
Found: Northern coastal and inland freshwater streams and rivers
Grows to 2.00 kg
Eating Reasonable to eat
Bait Shrimps, crayfish, cut flesh
HAIRTAIL (Trichiurus savala cuvier)
 
Other names: xx
Description: Mirror-like slender body with a pointed tail. It has fearsome teeth that it uses to its own advantage.
Found: In estuaries and rivers all along the Queensland coast
Grows to 2.00 m or 5 kg
Eating Reasonably good eating
Bait Pilchards and live bait
GIANT HERRING (Elops australis regan)
 
Other names: xx
Description: Brilliant silver on the sides and belly, bluish olive on the back
Found: Throughout the length of Queensland
Grows to 1.2 m or 6.80 kg
Eating Poor
Bait Trolling pilchards and garfish, live bait, spoons
OXEYE HERRING (Megalops cyprinoides)
 
Other names: Tarpon
Description: Back olive green, with bright silver sides. Can survive in land locked freshwater
Found: Common in all Queensland estuary waters
Grows to 1.20 m
Eating Not regarded as a table fish
Bait Cut flesh, live bait and lures
WOLF HERRING (Chirocentrus dorab)
 
Other names: Knife fish, Leaping silver bar, ribbon fish
Description: Has an awesome set of fangs, with a silver ribbon body
Found: Mainly southern part of Queensland
Grows to 1.40 m
Eating No eating value whatsoever, but is a brilliant bait for large pelagics.
Bait Trolled pilchards or gar, will rise to silver spoons
HUSSAR (Lutjanus adetii)
 
Other names: Yellow banded sea perch
Description: Bright pink in color with brilliant yellow bands running horizontally along the body.
Found: Between South and Central Queensland
Grows to 450 mm
Eating Quite good eating
Bait Will take almost any type of reef bait.

BLACK JEW (Protonibea diacanthus)
 
Other names: Spotted Jewfish
Description: Similar to common mulloway, but has dark blotches on its back and fins
Found: Northern waterways
Grows to 45.00 kg
Eating Only average
Bait Live bait preferred, but will take full fillets

JEWEL FISH (Nibea squamosa)

 
Other names: Little jewfish, river perch, bleeker
Description: Silvery grey species shot with pink opals, bright silver sides. Inside the mouth is bright golden yellow.
Found: Mainly around the Brisbane River
Grows to 300 mm
Eating Strong flavour, but reasonable eating
Bait Prawns

JOB FISH GREEN (Aprion virescens)

 
Other names: King snapper
Description: Olive green shading to white below,  tinted with a blush of purple which fades quickly on death
Found: Entire Queensland coastline
Grows to 13.00 kg
Eating Highly regarded as a food fish
Bait Usually takes trolled baits, but will take pilchards and flesh baits
JOB FISH LARGE EYE (Etebs coruscans)

 
Other names: xx
Description: Scarlet in colour;  flanks and belly silver reflections; crescent tail with long filaments. 
Found: South Queensland, in deep water of 100 to 200 m
Grows to 1.1 m
Eating Acceptable eating
Bait Cut flesh, pilchards
JOB FISH ORNATE (Pristipomoides argyrogrammicus)

 
Other names: zz
Description: Silvery pink with elongated yellow blotches on the sides, irregular blotches on the head
Found: Around the Great Barrier Reef in water from 70 to 300 m
Grows to 400 mm
Eating Quite good eating
Bait Cut flesh, pilchards
ROSY JOB FISH (Pristipomoidesfilamentosus)

 
Other names: King Emperor, King Snapper
Description: Pale glowing pink above, silver white below
Found: Caught mainly in South Queensland
Grows to 900 mm
Eating Fair quality table fish
Bait Will take almost any reef bait.
SMALL TOOTH JOB FISH (Aphareus furca)
 
Other names:

xx
Description: Heavy shouldered species with pale brown to coppery reflections and bronze head, carrying a hint of silver
Found: North Queensland waters
Grows to 9.00 kg
Eating Excellent table fish
Bait Prefers trolled baits along ledges
LAVENDER JOB FISH (Pristipomoides typus)

 
Other names: King snapper
Description: Similar to the rosy. The colour varies to pale purplish.
Found: Tropical species, rarely taken south of Mackay.
Grows to 10.00 kg
Eating Top grade table fish
Bait Likes trolled bait or lures; will also bite along drop offs and ledges on any reef bait
GOLD BANDED JOB FISH (Pristipomoides multidens)

 
Other names: Gold band snapper
Description: A dark pinkish fish on sides and back, fading slightly underneath. Has two gold bands running from the nose all along the body. This is more predominant in smaller fish.
Found: Deeper water on the outer reefs
Grows to 1.00 m
Eating Excellent eating
Bait Prefers live baits, but will take cut flesh baits
KINGFISH BLACK (COBIA) (Rachycentron canadum)

  
Other names: Cobia, Sergeant fish
Description: Long, slim fish with broad depressed head; lower jaw projects past upper jaw; dark lateral stripe extends through eye to tail; first dorsal fin comprised of 7 to 9 free spines; when young, has conspicuous alternating black and white horizontal stripes.
Found: Southern ocean reefs
Grows to 1.80 m or  68.00 kg
Eating Excellent eating
Bait Will take lures, cut baits, trolled baits, live bait
YELLOWTAIL KINGFISH (Seriola lalandi)
 
Other names: Kingfish, yellowtail, king amberjack
Description: Brilliant purple blue above and silver below. The two colours are separated by a golden band.
Found: Central  to South Queensland
Grows to 2.40 m or  70.00 kg
Eating Small fish eat reasonably well, but large fish are coarse and tasteless.
Bait Trolled bait, live bait and lures
CHINAMAN LEATHERJACKET (Nelusetta ayraud)
 
Other names: Yellow Leatherjacket
Description: One of the larger leatherjackets that is yellow with bright yellow fins
Found: Southern half of the state around rock and sand areas
Grows to  
Eating They are fairly reasonable to eat
Bait Can become a nuisance to reef anglers and will take almost any bait.
UNICORN LEATHERJACKET (Aluterus monoceros)
 
Other names: xx
Description: A drab fish of olive brown to black in colour with yellow fins; dorsal fin is short and slender.
Found: Along the entire Queensland coastline
Grows to 760 mm
Eating Not recommended
Bait Normally caught by mistake on cut baits and prawns
BARRED LONG-TOM (Ablennes hians)
 
Other names: xx
Description: The body is distinctively ribbon like being twice as deep as it is broad, a green backed fish with silver sides with 6 to 8 dusky crossbars towards the tail
Found: Caught all along the Queensland coastline
Grows to 1.5 m
Eating Acceptable table fish despite the green bones
Bait Almost any type of bait
STOUT LONG-TOM (Tylosurus gavialoides)
Other names: xx
Description: One of the largest of the Long toms and most common, a green backed fish with silver sides.
Found: Southern Queensland
Grows to 1.3 m
Eating Acceptable
Bait Not normally fished for, caught by accident, will take any bait presented.
(BLACK FISH) LUDERICK (Girella tricuspidata)
 
Other names: Black bream, blackfish
Description: Blue grey in colour with 5 to 10 vertical bands over the body
Found: Southern Queensland rivers and estuaries
Eating Good table fish that needs to be bled on capture.
Bait Moss, cabbage and sea lettuce used under a float by day. An odd fish can be taken on yabbies at night.
BROAD BARRED MACKEREL (Scomberomorus semifasciatus)
 
Other names: Brownie, Grey mackerel, Tiger Mackerel
Description: Soft dorsal and anal fins much larger than the narrow barred, with vertical bands much broader and fewer in number.
Found: Entire Queensland coast
Grows to 7.70 kg  
Eating Good eating
Bait Trolling small lures and pilchards; also will take flesh bait
NARROW BARRED MACKEREL (Scomberomorus commerson)
 
Other names: Blue mackerel
Description: Deep purple blue above with silver blue sides, 50 greyish narrow bars
Found: Entire Queensland coast
Grows to 1.9 m or  59.00 kg
Eating Tends to be a bit dry, but does eat OK.
Bait Trolled spoons, lures, cut bait, small tailor, garfish, sea pike
SCHOOLMACKEREL (Scomberomorus queenslandicus)
 
Other names: Doggies mackerel, slimey mackerel
Description: Blue green above, silver below; several rows of indefinite blotches along the sides.
Found: Entire Queensland coastline
Grows to 7.70 kg
Eating Excellent eating cut into steaks
Bait Lures, spoons, pilchards, cut bait
SLIMY MACKEREL (Scomber australasicus)
 
Other names: xx
Found: South Queensland, Double Island to Point Danger
Grows to 380 mm
Eating Not considered as a table fish, but excellent bait
Bait Small lures, cut flesh, white and blue pilchards, but normally caught whilst jigging.
SPOTTED MACKERAL (Scomberomorus munroi)
 
Other names: xx
Description: Distinctive purplish sheen over the body, with four rows of irregular dense black spots. The dorsal and pectoral fins are bluish black.
Found: More prolific from Central Queensland north all year round. Good runs of these fish occur around South Queensland during the summer months.
Grows to 9.00 kg
Eating Fine quality eating fish
Bait Floating baits such as pilchards, garfish, yellowtail;  will also take lures.
SHARK MACKEREL (Grammatorcynus bicarinatus)
 
Other names: Large scaled tuna, salmon mackerel
Description: Pale green above, silver below, washed with a golden tinge. Numerous scattered black spots.
Found: Barrier Reef waters
Grows to 1.00 m or 11.00 kg
Eating Highly ranked as a table fish
Bait Sprats, anchovies, pilchards
MANGROVE JACK (Lutjanus argentimaculatus)
 
Other names: Creek red bream, dog bream, red bass, red bream, reef red bream
Description: The body is reddish brown with each scale carrying a dark mark; thin wavy blue lines on the face with powerful dog like teeth.
Found: Entire Queensland coast
Grows to 16.00 kg
Eating Excellent eating
Bait Live bait best, will take prawns and flesh bait.
BLACK MARLIN (Makaira indica)
 
Other names: xx
Description: Stout body, steel blue to purple above with vivid purple mauve reflections, white to brown below.
Found:  More prolific in the Barrier Reef waters, but does appear all along the Queensland coast
Grows to 741.00 kg
Eating It is edible, but contains high concentrations of mercury.
Bait Trolled surface fish such as mackerel tuna and the like.
MILKFISH (Chanos chanos)
 
Other names: xx
Description: Bright blue-black back, silver underneath, good sport fish
Found: Queensland coastal lagoons
Grows to 1.80 m or 14.00 kg
Eating Poor eating - many minute bones that are difficult to get out.
Bait These fish will come up to a burley trail of bread;  little triangles of bread are the best bait.
GREY MORWONG (Nemadactylus douglasii)
 
Other names: Blue morwong, Mother-in-law
Description: Body bright silver blue, with pale blue fins
Found: Southern Queensland offshore waters
Grows to  5.00 kg
Eating Highly regarded
Bait Will take any normal reef bait
MORWONG RED (Cheilodactylus fuscus)
 
Other names: xx
Description: Generally reddish-brown in colour, scales edged with bright red. An orange patch surrounds the eyes. The fins are dull red brown.
Found: Southern Queensland waters
Grows to 450 mm
Eating A very good table fish
Bait Will take any normal reef bait
BLUE TAILED (SAND) MULLET (Valamugil seheli)
 
Other names: Sand mullet
Description: Bright silver fish with a bright blue tail; yellow pectoral fins with a dark spot at the base
Found: More prolific in northern waters, but does extend down to Bundaberg.
Grows to 4.80 kg or 430 mm
Eating Good eating fish
Bait Caught entirely by accident, but have been known to take worms and prawns
DIAMOND SCALED MULLET (Liza vaigiensis)
 
Other names: xx
Description: The scales on the upper part of the body carry black margins in diamond-like patterns; has black pectoral fins and square cut tail.
Found: The Great Barrier Reef area
Grows to 8.00 kg
Eating First rate table fish
Bait Not normally caught on line, but will take bread and prawns.
MULLOWAY  (Argrosomus holoepidotus)


 
Other names: Jewfish, Kingfish
Description: Heavy shoulders and long body, bronze green above, silver below
Found: Southern Queensland waters
Grows to 1.80 m or  60.00 kg
Eating Reasonable table fish
Bait Big fish like big live bait up to 400 grams - mullet, tailor, sea pike, whiting, squid heads, bunches of sea worms.

NANNYGIA (Centroberyx affinis)
 
Other names: Golden Snapper, Redfish
Description: Deep bodied fish with a large upturned mouth, bright red on the upper part of the body, pink red lines under the head.
Found: A southern species, but does stray as far as Moreton Island.
Grows to 460 mm
Eating Top grade white meat food fish
Bait Will take most baits presented

PADDLE TAIL (Lutjanus gibbus)

 
Other names: xx
Description: Bright pink with golden reflections on the flank. This fish is identified immediately by the broad paddle on the upper lobe of the tail.
Found: Shallow waters of the Great Barrier Reef
Grows to 600 mm
Eating THIS FISH IS CLASSED AS POISONOUS - IT IS ILLEGAL TO HAVE ONE IN YOUR POSSESSION!
Bait Will take anything. It also makes excellent bait for reef fish.

BLUE BARRED PARROTFISH (Scarus ghobban)

 
Other names: xx
Description: Bright orange head and body with 4 to 5 diffuse blue bars. It also has blue edging on the fins and tail.
Found: All along the Queensland coast.
Grows to 1.00 m
Eating Garfish, cut flesh baits.
Bait Standard reef bait, cut flesh, etc.
PENNANT FISH (Alectis ciliaris)

 
Other names: American pom-pano, Cuban jack, cobbler fish
Description: Deep bodied fish with 5 dark bands running vertically over the flanks; pale blue green above to silver olive below.
Found: All along the Queensland coast
Grows to 330 mm
Eating Reasonable table fish
Bait Pilchards, cut flesh baits
GOLDEN PERCH (Plectropliyes ambiguns)

 
Other names: Callop, White perch
Description: Can vary in colour depending on the surroundings, from dull blackish to a light yellow. It also has a rounded tail.
Found: All inland rivers and streams; also stocked in southern impoundments.
Grows to 10.00 kg
Eating Best eating of the freshwater species. Smaller fish are best; larger fish become very fatty and normally end up with a muddy taste.  
Bait Freshwater shrimps, mussels, freshwater crays, worms, lures
JUNGLE PERCH (Kuhlia rupestris)

 
Other names: Rock flagtail
Description: Brown across the back to pale greenish on the sides;  white bar on the upper lobe of the tail.
Found: North Queensland freshwater streams
Grows to 2.50 kg or 550 mm
Eating Very good food fish
Bait Small green frogs, plugs and lures
MOSES PERCH (Lutjanus russelli)

 
Other names: Black spot sea perch, one spot sea perch
Description: The colour varies from pale pink to olive green. There is a black finger mark just above the lateral line near the tail.
Found: All along the Queensland coast
Grows to 500 mm
Eating A very acceptable table fish
Bait Cut flesh baits, lures
RIVER PERCH (Johniops vogleri)     

 
Other names: Little jewfish
Description: Silver grey to dull purple on the back and whitish silver below. Inside the mouth is bright yellow to orange.
Found: South Queensland mainly, but odd specimens have been taken as far north as Rockhampton.
Grows to 300 mm
Eating Welcome pan fish
Bait Prawns
SILVER PERCH (Bidyanus bidyanus)

 
Other names: Black bream, bidyan grunter, tcheri
Description: Quite dark in colour with a body shape not dissimilar to the normal bream; will sometimes grunt on capture hence the grunter tag.
Found: Murray Darling system; stocked in most impoundments
Grows to 8.00 kg
Eating Dry and coarse in texture, but is quite acceptable to eat.
Bait Smaller fish will take worms, shrimps and lures, but it is thought that big fish become vegetarians and therefore impossible to catch.
BLACK POMFRET (Parastromateus niger)
 
Other names: Sweep, pomfret
Description: Rather drab fish, is normally grey to jet black with reflections of blue.
Found: All along the Queensland Coast
Grows to 600 mm
Eating A delicately flavoured fish
Bait Prawns, cut flesh
QUEENFISH (Scomberoides lysan)
 
Other names: Leatherskin
Description: Bright silver in colour with a double series of black dots above the lateral line.
Found: Mainly in the Great Barrier Reef area
Grows to 15.50 kg
Eating Welcome table fish
Bait Poppers, lures, pilchards and live bait
JARVA RABBITFISH (Siganus javus)
 
Other names: Streaky spinefoot, blue spotted spinefoot, blue spotted trevally
Description: Brownish fish with the head and body carrying numerous grey spots that become elongated towards the belly region.
Found: Entire Queensland coastline
Grows to 330 mm
Eating Poor table fish
Bait An algae eater, but caught from time to time by accident
RAINBOW RUNNER (Elagatis bipinnulata)
 
Other names: Rainbow yellowtail
Description: A very colourful fish, the back being deep purple with shadings of green and a belly of brilliant silver.
Found: Great Barrier Reef
Grows to 1.20 m
Eating Good table fish
Bait Lures, white feathers
ROBUST BOXFISH (Strophiurichthys robustus)
 
Other names: Freckled boxfish
Description: Yellowish brown body with dark brown spots that are larger than its eye.
Found: Southern Queensland
Grows to 250 mm
Eating Do not eat this fish; it is poisonous!
  DO NOT EAT THIS THIS - IT IS POISONOUS!
Bait Any type of bait, but it is normally caught by accident.
BLUE SALMON (Eleutheronema tetradactylum)
 
Other names: Cooktown salmon, blue threadfin
Description: Dull blue green above, clean white silver below;  pectoral fins are yellow. This fish has a deep forked tail.
Found: North Queensland
Grows to 18.50 kg
Eating Excellent eating
Bait Plugs, lures, live prawns
KING THREADFIN SALMON (polyenemus sheridani)
 
Other names: King threadfin, Burnett salmon
Found: North Queensland, but there have been excellent eating fish caught as far south as Noosa.
Grows to 30.00 kg
Eating Excellent eating
Bait Sucker for live prawn
FINNY SCAD (Megalaspis cordyla)
 
Other names: xx
Description: Bright silver fish with a slender elongated tail base section; has a jet black spot at the rear of the gill cover.
Found: All along the Queensland coast
Grows to 450 mm
Eating Not known, mainly used as bait
Bait Trolled small silver lures or cut bait
COLLARED SEA BREAM (Gymnocranius audleyi)
 
Other names: Iodine bream,
Description: A bream-shaped fish with a silvery white collar across the nape behind the eye; bright silver with blue reflections
Found: All along the Queensland coast
Grows to 400 mm
Eating This fish eats OK if it hasn’t been eating the iodine plant when the flesh becomes quite rank and inedible.
Bait Will take any type of reef bait
LETHRINOIDES SEA BREAM (Gymnocranius lethrinoides)
 
Other names: Iodine bream
Description: Silvery grey body displays dark elongated marks along the flanks, with elongated black spots below the eyes.
Found: Northern section of the Great Barrier Reef.
Grows to 370 mm
Eating Eats OK, but is prone to an iodine taste from time to time.
Bait Cut flesh, prawns, squid
ROBINSON'S SEA BREAM (Gymnocranius grandoculis)
 
Other names: Iodine bream
Description: Olive green face with fine wavy blue lines; coppery blue body
Found: North Queensland
Grows to 630 mm
Eating This fish eats OK if it hasn’t been eating the iodine plant, when the flesh becomes quite rank and inedible.
Bait Will take any type of reef bait
SEA PERCH BLACK AND WHITE (Macolor niger )
 
Other names: Black and white snapper, black and white sea perch
Description: Mature fish are a plain bluish grey above and paler below, with dark fins; may have a reticulation of pale bluish lines over the face.
Found: Entire length of the Great Barrier Reef.
Grows to 600 mm
Eating Quite good eating
Bait Normal reef baits.
SEA PERCH BLUE BANDED (Lutjanus Quinquelineatus)
 
Other names: xx
Description: Reddish brown body, shades below into white; four dark bands encircle the body.
Found: South Queensland
Grows to  250 mm
Eating Fine grained flesh that is very palatable.
Bait Cut flesh bait, prawns
DARK TAILED SEA PERCH (Lutjanus lemniscatus)
 
Other names: Yellow streaked sea perch
Description: An orange fish that has each scale outlined in yellow forming lines over the body, with a dark tail.
Found: Northern reef dweller
Grows to 600 mm
Eating Well regarded table fish
Bait Cut flesh baits
SEA PERCH MAORI (Lutjanus rivulatus)
 
Other names: Maori bream
Description: Distinctively marked with a slate blue spot on each scale, generating a series of lines running upward and backwards.
Found: Cairns to Townsville region
Grows to 710 mm
Eating Good food fish
Bait Any reef bait
SEA PERCH SCARLET (Lutjanus malabaricus)
 
Other names: Large mouthed nannygai, red emperor, red jew, red snapper
Description: Deep red in colour with narrow yellow lines above the lateral line and purple bands running lengthwise from the eyes.
Found: Reef waters of Queensland
Grows to 13.60 kg
Eating Excellent food fish
Bait Large cut bait; live bait will catch bigger fish
SEA PERCH SMALL MOUTH (Lutjanus erythropterus)
 
Other names: Saddle tailed sea perch, small mouthed nannygai
Description: Similar in colour to the scarlet sea perch;  has a large black spot in front of the tail.
Found: Northern offshore waters
Grows to 10.00 kg
Eating Excellent eating
Bait Usual reef baits
SEA PERCH STRIPEY (Lutjanus vitta)
 
Other names: Hussar
Description: Varies from dull yellow  to bright pink, with parallel chocolate brown  bars commencing at the snout running through the eye towards the tail.
Found: Shallow reefs in tropical north
Grows to 380 mm
Eating Quite good eating
Bait Cut flesh, hardy heads
STRIPED SEA PIKE (Sphyraena obtusata)
 
Other names: Yellow tail
Description: Slender fish, warm brownish and silver below, with three longitudinal brown ribbons on the sides.
Found: Southern Queensland
Grows to 550 mm
Eating Only average eating, but excellent bait for almost any other fish.
Bait White pilchards, strips of white bait, small silver lures
SERGEANT BAKER (Aulopus purpurissatus)
 
Other names:  
Description: Reddish brown elongated body, heavily blotched with irregular crimson patches; fins are bright yellow with orange blotches.
Found: Southern Queensland
Grows to 600 mm
Eating Is edible, but extremely bony and hard to fillet
Bait Molluscs, small crabs, prawns
SICKLE FISH (Drepane punctata)
 
Other names: xx
Description: Extremely deep bodied fish;  brilliant silver body washed with greenish purple; has ten vertical dark bands.
Found: North Queensland inshore waters
Grows to 500 mm
Eating Highly rated as a table fish
Bait Prawns, yabbies, worms
THREAD FINNED SILVERBIDDY (Gerres filamentosus)
 
Other names: Common silver biddy, feather bream, pouter bream
Description: Bright silver with a black blotch at the leading part of the dorsal fin; has large soft scales that fall off when the fish is handled.
Found: All along the Queensland coastline
Eating Is reasonable eating, but normally used as bait.
Bait Worms, yabbies
SMILER (Opistognathus papuensis)
 
Other names: Harlequin smiler, mouth almighty
Description: Brilliantly coloured jaw-fish with purple and golden yellow on the sides; large yellow spots and line marking. 
Found: In reef areas all over Queensland
Grows to 400 mm
Eating Very slimy; would be difficult to fillet; eating qualities unknown
Bait Normally grabs any bait that passes their way.
SNAPPER (Chrysophrys austratus)
 
Other names: Cockney bream, red bream, squire
Description: Bright pink all over fading to silver below. Smaller fish have bright blue spots on the upper part of the body.
Found: Mainly in the southern part of Queensland, but these fish have been caught up in Central Queensland
Grows to 1.30 m or 19.5 kg
Eating Excellent eating
Bait Crabs, pilchards, cut flesh baits, floating  pilchards, squid, live baits
LONG SPINED SNAPPER (Argyrops spinifer)
 
Other names: Frying pan snapper
Description: Bright rosy red fish that has every scale dotted with blue. This is a round fish with an extremely long dorsal fin.
Found: More prolific in the central part of the state, but it is basically regarded as a southern fish
Grows to 580 mm
Eating Excellent eating
Bait Pilchards, cut flesh
TWO LINED TONGUE SOLE (Cynoglossus bilineatus)
 
Other names:  
Description: Brown in colour, with two distinct lines running length wise along the body
Found: North Queensland
Grows to 400 mm
Eating Excellent table fish
Bait Normally trolled up in prawn nets;  caught by accident on cut flesh.
BLACK SPINEFOOT (Siganus spinus)
 
Other names: Stinger bream, happy moment, black trevally, mi-mi
Description: Grey green body that changes colour on capture. It has fierce spines on the top and bottom of the body that can inflict a painful wound.
Found: South Queensland
Grows to 350 mm
Eating  It is edible
Bait Normally plagiarizes any type of bait.
CRIMSON SQUIRREL FISH (Myripristis murdjan)
 
Other names: Crimson soldier fish
Description: Bright red with scales paler towards the midsection; has a vertical black line on the rear of the gill cage.
Found: Great Barrier Reef waters
Grows to 300 mm
Eating Quite good eating
Bait Cut flesh bait
SPINY SQUIRREL FISH (Sargocentron spiniferum)
 
Other names:  xx
Description: They range from bright crimson to clear silvery yellow;  have extremely sharp spikes on the rear of the gill cage, which make it difficult to handle.
Found: Great Barrier Reef waters
Grows to 450 mm
Eating Excellent
Bait Cut flesh, pilchards
SPOTTED STARGAZER (Ichthyscopus lebeck)
 
Other names: Northern stargazer
Description: Darkish brown to grey, the body is covered by pale yellow blotches and bars.
Found: South Queensland
Grows to 7.70 kg or  630 mm
Eating Is a reasonable table fish, but extremely difficult to handle.
Bait Taken by accident by surf and estuary anglers.
STRIPEY (Lutjanus carponotatus)
 
Other names: xx
Description: Reddish brown to bright yellow, with 8 parallel bars running the length of the sides.
Found: Great Barrier Reef area
Grows to 400 mm
Eating Excellent eating
Bait Cut flesh, hardy heads
FISH RING TAILED SURGEON (Acanthurus xanthopterus)
 
Other names: xx
Description: Bright olive green body covered with brown dots. A conspicuous ring appears at the base of the tail.
Found: Great Barrier Reef area
Grows to 630 mm
Eating Not recommended as the flesh is tainted with a strong weedy flavour.
Bait Cut flesh bait
GRASS SWEETLIP (Lethrinus fletus)
 
Other names: Brown sweetlip
Description: Brown body carrying irregular dark blotches; olive cheeks speckled white.
Found: Great Barrier Reef area
Grows to 560 mm
Eating Excellent eating
Bait Cut flesh, squid, hardy heads, pilchards
LONG NOSED SWEETLIP (Lethrinus mimatus)
 
Other names: Long nosed emperor
Description: Slender fish with a pale green body.  Three pale slender stripes descend from the eye down the cheek.
Found: Great Barrier Reef area
Grows to 8.20 kg
Eating Excellent eating
Bait Cut flesh, squid, hardy heads, pilchards
MANY SPOTTED SWEETLIP (Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides)
 
Other names: Many spotted morwong, harlequin sweetlip
Description: The body is blue grey with black spots, which extend and enlarge towards the dorsal fin.
Found: Great Barrier Reef area
Grows to 600 mm or 2.5 kg
Eating Not all that exciting to eat.
Bait Cut flesh, squid, hardy heads, pilchards
NETWORK SWEETLIP (Lethrinus reticulates)
 
Other names: Network Emperor
Description: A network of diagonal pencil lines over a silvery brown body.
Found: Great Barrier Reef area
Grows to 400 mm
Eating Very good food fish
Bait Cut flesh, squid, hardy heads, pilchards
ORANGE STRIPED SWEETLIP (Lethrinus ramak)
 
Other names: xx
Description: Greenish brown body abundantly speckled; has a bright orange bar from the base of the pectoral fin to the tail.
Found: Great Barrier Reef area
Grows to 600 mm
Eating Great table fish
Bait Cut flesh, squid, hardy heads, pilchards
PINK EARED SWEETLIP (Lethrinus lentjan)
 
Other names: Pink eared emperor
Description: This fish is identified by a small blood red spot on the gill cover – not a common species.
Found: Great Barrier Reef area:
Grows to 380 mm
Eating Good table fish
Bait Cut flesh, squid, hardy heads, pilchards
RED SPOT SWEETLIP (Lethrinus xanthochilus)
 
Other names: xx
Description: Yellowish body faintly flushed with green; has a red spot close to the pectoral fin.
Found: Great Barrier Reef area
Grows to 580 mm
Eating Quite acceptable eating
Bait Cut flesh, squid, hardy heads, pilchards
RED THROAT SWEETLIP (Lethrinus chrysostomus)
 
Other names: Tricky snapper, red throat, lipper
Description: Pale pink head, bronze cheeks, olive brown body, red fins and bright red inside the mouth. 
Found: Great Barrier Reef area
Grows to 9.00 kg
Eating Excellent eating
Bait Cut flesh, squid, hardy heads, pilchards
VARIEGATED SWEETLIP (Lethrinus variegatus)
 
Other names: Variegated emperor
Description: Brown head and body tinged with olive green.  The dorsal fin is clear.
Found: Great Barrier Reef area
Grows to 350 mm
Eating Not to be despised as a table fish.
Bait Cut flesh, squid, hardy heads, pilchards
SWEETLIP YELLOW   (Lethrinus nebulosus)
 
Other names: Spangled emperor, north west snapper
Description: Largest of the species; pale blue spots on the scales over an olive green body.
Found: Great Barrier Reef area
Grows to 10.00 kg or 940 mm
Eating Top grade food fish
Bait Cut flesh, squid, hardy heads, pilchards
YELLOW TAILED SWEETLIP (Lethrinus mahsena)
 
Other names:  
Description: Olive green body with coppery reflections, bright lemon yellow tail, splashes of crimson at the base of the dorsal and pectoral fins.
Found: Great Barrier Reef area
Grows to 430 mm
Eating Superior table fish
Bait Cut flesh, squid, hardy heads, pilchards

TAILOR (Pomatomus saltatrix)

 
Other names: Bluefish
Description: Bluish green on the back with silver sides. It has prominent teeth that will cut a line without difficulty.
Found: From the border to Fraser Island
Grows to 10.00 kg
Eating Excellent eating if bled on capture.
Bait Pilchards, garfish, lures

TARWHINE (Rhabdosargus sarba)


 
Other names: xx
Description: Silver with slender golden stripes over the body; has a rounded head with a blunt nose.
Found: South Queensland
Grows to 2.00 kg
Eating Soft flesh, but good eating if bled on capture.
Bait prawns, yabbies, cut flesh, pippies

SILVER TERAGLIN (Otolithes ruber)

 
Other names: Yankee whiting, wiretooth
Description: It has two large fangs each in the upper and lower jaws. It is a silver fish that has glints of pink and blue over the flanks.
Found: North Queensland
Grows to 840 mm
Eating Good table fish
Bait Cut flesh or live bait

BIGEYE TREVALLY (Caranx sexfasciatus)

 
Other names: Great trevally
Description: Dull silvery grey body. Dorsal fin is dusty with a white tip. Has 27 to 36 heavy scutes towards the tail.
Found: All over Queensland
Grows to 840 mm
Eating Reasonable eating
Bait Trolled plugs, lures and live bait
BLUEFIN TREVALLY (Caranx melampygus)

 
Other names: Spotted trevally
Description: Deep bodied fish, bright silver to bronze;  fins and tail are washed with blue.
Found: All over Queensland
Grows to 700 mm
Eating Good firm fleshed table fish
Bait Cut baits, pilchards
CALE CALE TREVALLY (Ulua mentalis)

 
Other names: xx
Description: Deep bodied olive green fish, silver over the belly; has six vertical dusty bands crossing the sides.
Found: Tropical Queensland
Grows to 660 mm
Eating A worthwhile table fish
Bait Cut flesh bait, pilchards
DIAMOND TREVALLY (Alectis indicus)

 
Other names:

Mirror fish
Description: Deep body of bright silver that glows with blue, pink and green. Has a hump on the head over the eyes.
Found: The warmer waters of Queensland
Grows to 1.2 m or 12.7 kg
Eating Dark flesh, poorly flavoured
Bait Cut flesh bait, pilchards
GIANT (LOWLY) TREVALLY (Caranx ignobilis)

 
Other names:

Lowly trevally, barrier trevally
Found: Normally found in tropical areas
Grows to 52.00 kg
Eating Small fish are OK to eat, but large fish are coarse and tasteless.
Bait Will rise to trolled baits and lures, but live baits are preferred.
GOLDEN TREVALLY (Gnathanodon speciosus)

 
Other names: xx
Description: One of the larger fish with a silvery yellow body. Smaller fish are bright yellow with dark bars. These bars disappear on the bigger fish.
Found: All along the Queensland coast
Grows to 1.20 m or 36.00 kg
Eating Top grade table fish
Bait Bigger fish taken by trolling lures and bait; live bait is excellent.
GOLD SPOTTED TREVALLY (Carangoides fulvoguttatus)

 
Other names:

xx
Description: Bright golden spots on the upper part of a silver body
Found: Great Barrier Reef
Grows to 900 mm
Eating Smaller fish excellent; large fish are poor.
Bait Normal reef bait
LONG NOSE TREVALLY (Carangoides chrysophrys)
 
Other names: Grunting trevally
Description: One of the smaller trevallies that grunts when being handled. Is bright olive green along the back and sides.
Found: All along the Queensland coast
Eating Good eating
Bait Cut baits and pilchards
MILK TREVALLY (Lactarius lactarius)
 
Other names:

Black cheeked trevally
Description: A slender silver bodied trevally that has a strongly protruding bottom lip; has a bold black margin to the preopercolum.
Found: Coastal waters of the Great Barrier Reef
Grows to 400 mm
Eating A superior food fish
Bait Small fish such as sardines, white pilchards
PAPUAN TREVALLY (Caranx papuensis)
 
Other names: Brassy trevally
Description: A common heavy bodied fish, silver washed with a brassy colour that carries black spots on the back and sides.
Found: All along the Queensland coast
Grows to 840 mm
Eating Good eating
Bait Will accept any type of reef bait
WHITE TREVALLY (Pseudocaranx dentex)
 
Other names: Silver trevally, skipjack trevally
Description: Bright bluish silver, paler over the flanks. A dull yellow band commences at the mouth and extends as far as the tail.
Found: All along the Queensland coast
Grows to 10.00 kg
Eating Firm fleshed table fish
Bait Normal reef bait
BLUE FINNED TRIGGER FISH (Balistoides viridescens)
 
Other names: Black lipped trigger fish
Description: Brown body speckled with black dots, the upper lip is black.
Found: Great Barrier Reef area
Grows to 650 mm
Eating Not recommended
Bait Any reef bait
BIG SPOTTED TRIGGER FISH (Balistoides conspicillum)
 
Other names: xx
Description: One of the most colourful fishes; has a  satin black body covered by large oval spots. A  yellow tail is black trimmed.
Found: Mainly at the Great Barrier Reef, but specimens have been caught around Moreton Island.
Grows to 350 mm
Eating Not recommended – difficult to fillet.
Bait Pieces of prawn, fish or octopus
STARRY TRIGGER FISH (Abalistes stellaris)
 
Other names: xx
Description: The most common of the trigger fishes, pale greyish flushed with olive to deeper green; has three large white blotches over the back.
Found: All along the Queensland coast
Grows to 600 mm
Eating May eat OK, but you may need a chain saw to cut it up.
Bait Any reef bait
TRIPLE TAIL (Lobotes surinamensis)
 
Other names:

Jumping cod, black perch, dusky perch, flasher
Description: Brown to black in colour;  flanks are mottled and blotched grey. The top and bottom fin extend as far as the tail. 
Found: The Great Barrier Reef
Grows to 14.00 kg
Eating Excellent eating fish
Bait Cut flesh baits, pilchards, plugs and lures
YELLOW FINNED TRIPOD FISH (Tripodichthys angustifrons)
 
Other names: xx
Description: This rough-skinned, bright silver fish has a body blotched with black. It possesses three large spines on the dorsal and two on the ventral fins. Care needs to be taken!
Found: All along inshore Queensland coast
Grows to  280 mm
Eating Do not eat – all bones!
Bait Worms, cut flesh baits
(BAR CHEEKED) ISLAND TROUT (Plectropomus maculatus)
 
Other names: xx
Description: Differs from the normal trout in as much as it has elongated bars and spots across the head.  The upper lip is somewhat thinner than the lower one.
Found: Great Barrier Reef area
Grows to 530 mm
Eating Excellent
Bait Cut flesh bait, but live bait is best.
CORAL TROUT (Plectropomus leopardus)
 
Other names: Blue spot trout
Description: Bright red in colour with an abundance of brilliant blue spots on the body and head, which fade as the fish gets bigger; has a square tail.
Found: Mainly at the Great Barrier Reef, but have been caught as far south as Noosa.
Grows to  20.00 kg
Eating Amongst the premier food fish
Bait Cut flesh, small live bait for average fish, big baits for big fish.
CORONATION TROUT (Variola louti)
 
Other names: xx
Description: Generally vermillion to orange with purple crimson spots to the cheeks. Fin margins are splashed with yellow. Has a sickle shaped tail.
Found: From the Barwon Banks north
Grows to 760 mm
Eating Excellent
Bait Normal reef bait
PASSIONFRUIT TROUT (Plectropomus areolatus)
 
Other names: Apricot trout
Description: Bright pink body washed with orange yellow. Head and body have large closely spaced blue spots.
Found: Northern sector of the Great Barrier Reef
Grows to 5.5 kg
Eating Excellent
Bait Cut flesh bait, live bait; will take a trolled lure
BANDED TRUMPETER (Terapon theraps)
 
Other names: Crescent perch
Description: Silvery green fish with 3 to 4 straight brown bars running from head to tail.
Found: All bays and estuaries along the Queensland coast
Grows to 450 mm
Eating Few of these fish reach the size to be an acceptable pan fish.
Bait Will pinch any bait that hits the water.
SPIKY TRUMPETER (Terapon jarbua)
 
Other names: Crescent perch
Description: Brownish above silver below;  three black bands in a crescent shape running along the sides.
Found: All along the coast around rocky headlands
Grows to 280 mm
Eating Not recommended, excellent bait
Bait Will also pinch any bait put in the water.
DOGTOOTH TUNA (Gymnosarda unicolor)
 
Other names: Scaleless tuna, white tuna
Description: Large doglike conical teeth and scaleless body. Is dark indigo, shading to paler blue silver below.
Found: North Queensland
Grows to 70.00 kg
Eating Good eating white meat
Bait Squid, smaller tuna
MACKERAL TUNA (Euthynnus affinis)
 
Other names: Little tunney, kawa kawa
Description: Gleaming blue above and silver below with 5 large black spots on the belly between the pectoral and ventral fins.
Found: All along the Queensland coastline
Grows to 13.60 kg
Eating Worthwhile table fish
Bait Rise to trolled baits and lures, pilchards, garfish
NORTHERN BLUE TUNA (Thunnus tonggol )
 
Other names: Long tailed tuna
Description: Heavily built fish, with several colourless spots on the lower side of the belly between the pectoral and anal fins.
Found: Deep water all along the Queensland coast
Grows to 32.00 kg
Eating Worthwhile table fish
Bait Mainly plugs and lures, trolled fish bait
YELLOWFIN TUNA (Thunnus albacares)
 
Other names: Allison Tuna, longfin yellow tuna
Description: Has a heavy body tapering slowly towards a crescent-shaped tail, which has a vivid golden stripe.  All fins are bright yellow.
Found: Deep water all along the Queensland coast
Grows to 102.00 kg
Eating Highly esteemed eating fish
Bait Plugs and lures, trolled fish bait
TURRUM (Carangoides fulvoguttatus)
 
Other names:  
Description: Greyish blue with a broken line of dusty grey running the length of the body to the anal fin. This fish is sometimes mistaken for the giant trevally.
Found: All along the Queensland coast
Grows to 1.30 m or 12.00 kg
Eating Like  trevallies, smaller fish eat quite well. Large fish are coarse and tasteless.
Bait Trolled lures, feathers, drifting cut flesh bait
VENUS TUSK FISH (Choerodon venustus)
 
Other names: Cockies
Description: The body is greenish grey and bright pink on the flanks becoming paler towards the belly. Head and cheeks have pink, blue to white spots.
Found: All along the Queensland coast
Grows to 5.00 kg
Eating Prime edible species
Bait Shell fish, crabs, shrimps, small fish
BLUE TUSK FISH (Choerodon albigena)
 
Other names: Blue bone
Description: Most common tusk fish, blue green in colour with  paler blotching under the chin.
Found: Great Barrier Reef waters
Grows to 8.20 kg
Eating  Well textured food fish, with bright blue bones 
Bait Shell fish, crabs, shrimps, small fish
WAHOO (Acanthocybium solandri)
 
Other names: Jack mackerel
Description: A streamlined power plant, purple blue on the back, with silvery flanks and bold vertical fighting stripes on the sides.
Found: Deep water all along the Queensland coast
Grows to 67.00 kg
Eating Superior food fish
Bait Flying fish, small tuna, squid, trolled lures
BAR FACED WEEVER (Parapercis nebulosa)
 
Other names: Grub fish, rock whiting
Description: Small, brightly coloured bottom dweller, brilliant pink in colour. Narrow blue lines override the face and snout.
Found:  In estuaries all along the Queensland coast.
Grows to 340 mm
Eating Flavoursome pan fish
Bait Worms, cut flesh
SAND WHITING (Sillago ciliata)
 
Other names: Summer whiting, blue nosed whiting
Description: A silver fish with unblotched sides; tail is darkish; all other fins are yellow.
Found: All along the east coast in shallow water
Grows to 1.25 kg
Eating Excellent
Bait Yabbies, worms, prawns, soldier crabs
GOLD SPOT WRASSE (Bodianus perditio)
 
Other names: Gold spot pig fish
Description: Bright red body with a golden blotch on the side towards the centre; has a  jet black leading edge to the dorsal fin.
Found: Inshore reefs of south Queensland
Grows to 2.60 kg
Eating Firm flesh, well flavoured fish
Bait Cut flesh baits, pilchards
MAORI HUMP-HEADED WRASSE (Cheilinus undulatus)
 
Other names: xx
Description: Wavy, creamy lines overlay the snout and cheek. The brownish body is washed with green above. The fins are brown and finely dotted with yellow.
Found: Tropical Queensland
Grows to 45.00 kg
Eating Smaller fish to 20.00 kg are excellent eating;  larger fish are coarse and tasteless.
Bait Cut flesh bait, live bait; big bait for big fish
MAORI VIOLETLINE WRASSE (Oxycheilinus digrammus)
 
Other names: xx
Description: Greenish body bright pink over the flanks. The  mid side and back are flecked with short vertical lines.
Found: Tropical Queensland
Grows to 380 mm
Eating Very worthy pan fish
Bait Cut flesh bait, squid, pilchard