Barramundi

Best Time to Fish: The end of March through to April— The run-off season is the best time to target Barramundi, although this fish species can be caught all year round in the Top End. During the run-off, Barramundi move back to the estuaries and feed by congregating around the mouths of rivers and creeks.

Best Targeted: Fresh or saltwater, rivers or estuaries, lures, trolling or casting

Appearance: Barramundi is a popular fish species in the NT. Its colour varies depending on the environment. In saltwater, Barramundi has yellow fins and a silvery body. In freshwater, Barra has a darker greenish-blue upper body, becoming white towards the ventral surface, with dark brown to black fins. Barramundi grows up to 60-120cm and 60kg/130 pounds.

Eating: Popular white-fleshed fish with a sweet, mild flavour and firm texture

Bag Limit: 5 per person

Legal Size: 55-90cm min NT & 58-120cm min QLD

Black Jewfish

Best Time to Fish: Year-round, but December to January are prime months for the Black Jewfish species.

Best Targeted: In deep holes, around rough bottom structures, rocky reefs, and artificial reefs such as sunken wrecks. Use solid reef fishing tackle; squid and fish baits are best. Once hooked, they will give you a great fight and speed off straight ahead.

Appearance: The Jewfish features a stout, elongated body that tapers towards the tail, adorned with a mottled pattern in shades of grey, brown, or olive green. Small, rough scales enhance its rugged appearance. Notably, it has large, rounded pectoral fins that outsize its pelvic fins, while the continuous dorsal fin has longer soft rays than the spiny first dorsal fin, creating a distinctive silhouette. The rounded caudal fin complements its overall shape. The Jewfish possesses a broad, flattened head with a large mouth and relatively small eyes compared to its head. Typically, they weigh between 8 to 15 kg, but can grow much larger.

Eating: Excellent table fish

Bag Limit: 2 per person

Legal Size: No size limit in NT & 75cm in Queensland

Sailfish

Best Time to Fish: October till January in tropical and temperate waters between 24-28 degrees. We like to hunt Sailfish species between Port Douglas and Cairns.

Best Targeted: Wider reefs along the coast, islands and bait grounds. Lures and live bait. Slow trolling or Switch-baiting. For Switch-Baiting, troll with a teaser and no hook, then switch it out with a circle hook.

Appearance: 3 m in length and up to 90 kg. A large bill, blue to grey, with a large sail-like dorsal fin that can stretch the entire length of its back.

Bag Limit: Catch and Release

Spanish Mackerel

Best Time to Fish: January to September

Best Targeted: Spanish Mackerel are best targeted in coastal waters and reef systems to depths 15m to 200m. Use trolled lures and jigs or live bait. Spanish Mackerel excel with high-speed runs and jaw-dropping aerobatics when hooked.

Appearance: 50-120cm, commonly 5-12kg, Razor-sharp teeth, long narrow bodies, silver in colour and iridescent blue-grey above the lateral line with a series of narrow, wavy vertical bars and blotches rear of the anal fin.

Eating: Highly sought-after table fish. Immediately bleed and put in a salty ice slurry to enhance the flesh.

Bag Limit: 2 per person

Legal Size: 75 cm

Black Marlin

Best Time to Fish: From September to January, Black Marlin migrate to the warm waters off the coast of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland to feed on sardines, mackerel, tuna and other baitfish.

Best Targeted: The Great Barrier Reef is known as the Marlin Mecca, and anglers flock to the popular marlin destination between Cairns and Lizard Island to catch this fish species in QLD. Black Marlin are generally found using a depth sounder. Black Marlin typically hunt baitfish in reef systems and over the continental shelf. They tend to hunt above 30 meters. Effective tactics include slow trolling and switch-baiting. For Switch-Baiting, troll with a teaser baitfish without a hook, then switch it out with a circle hook. Trolling with live or dead bait at 5 knots is an effective technique. Popular bait fish include Skipping Gars, Split Tail Mullet, Yellowtail Scad, small Bonito, Scaley Mackeral, and Tuna. Lures can be effective, but fresh fish bait gains more strikes.

Appearance: The Black Marlin has a black-to-blue back with a white silvery belly. Its bill is cylindrical, long, and pointed. Its Dorsal fin is lower than that of other marlins and retractable. It has short, rigid pectoral fins that do not fold (unlike the blue marlin). It is one of the largest marlins, growing up to 4.65 metres(15.3ft) and commonly over 950 lbs (430 kg).

Bag Limit: Catch and Release

Brassie Trevally

Best Time to Fish: From September to April, Brassie Trevelly migrate and feed in the warm waters off the coast of Queensland.

Best Targeted: From spring to summer, in NT and Queensland, anglers can target Brassie Trevally in the shallow waters around lagoons, reefs, and estuaries. Lures like small-medium poppers on the water’s surface and soft plastics or jigs work well. This Brassie was caught with a 3″ ZMan Minnowz soft plastic lure. Live bait, such as pilchards, herrings and prawns, are also successful options for targeting Brassie Trevally. In winter, you will need to move to deeper waters to find Brassie Trevally in Northern Australia. This video shows you how to make a jig and catch a Brassie Trevally.

Appearance: When looking to ID the Brassie Trevally species, look for the yellow tips on its dorsal and tail fins. It has a streamlined muscular body, and the adults are brassy to yellow-greenish on the upper side and silvery white on the underside. Juveniles have small black or brown spots and are not brassy-coloured. Brassie Trevally grows to 88cm max and 6.4kg.

Eating: Mild, sweet flavour with a medium-textured moist flesh.

Bag Limit: 5 per person

Legal Size: 30 cm

Giant Trevally

Best Time to Fish: Anglers can catch Giant Trevally all year round in Queensland and Northern Territory. They are more active during the warmer months, from September to March.

Best Targeted: GTs are found cruising in shallower nearshore and offshore reef structures such as coral reefs and atolls, pinnacles, and drop-offs. Anglers can best target GTs during changing tides, especially at high tide. Early morning and late afternoons are generally the best time to fish when they may be hunting near the surface. Try surface lures such as poppers and stickbaits (Stickbaits are like soft cigars). These create surface disturbances that attract a strike. Live bait such as mullet or herring presented in areas where they like to hunt can also be successful. Jigging with soft plastics can also yield results if you drop the jig to the bottom and retrieve it with jerks that mimic prey.

Appearance: Max length of about 170cm and weight approx. 80kg. The juvenile Giant Trevally are silvery-grey and darken to a dusky or jet-black colour as they mature. The GT has a triangular head, a pointed snout, and large eyes. They have two dorsal fins. The pectoral fins are long and pointed, and the caudal fin is deeply forked, as is its large tail.

Eating: Trevally meat is firm, dense, and slightly oily. Overcooked, they can be dry but lightly grilled, BBQ’d, or pan-fried; they are pleasant to eat but strong-flavoured. To preserve the flavour, bleed and ice them right away.

Bag Limit: 5 per person per day

Legal Size: 38 cm

Mangrove Jack

Best Time to Fish: Look for Mangrove Jacks in the hot, humid Spring and Summer weather, from October to March, when the water is between 26-32 degrees.

Best Targeted: The timing of the tide helps catch Mangrove Jacks. Look for the time when the tide runs out, the last couple of hours, and the beginning of the run-in. During this time, Mangrove Jacks are busy chasing bait fish. The Mangrove Jack seeks cover in structures, so look for mangroves, rock walls, fallen timber and jetties along freshwater creeks and around estuaries and deep holes to find this challenging catch. The mature Jacks move from the fresh water to the inner and outer reefs. You will need strong tackle for these tough guys, and it is best to hide your hooks (weedless) inside your soft lures to avoid the snags where your Mangrove Jacks are hiding. Try the technique of quick-retrieve and pause to mimic the movement of prey. Soft plastic and topwater lures are best, but live bait, such as herring, garfish and mullet, at night are also particularly effective. Cast your lures into the shaded areas, without sinkers, where Mangrove Jacks may be hiding.

Appearance: Mangrove Jacks are attractive fish with reddish-brown to dark olive-brown colouration and pinkish fins. They have prominent canine teeth and large eyes. Their scales have dark spots, making their bodies look like crisscrossed lines. They grow up to 120 cm and weigh up to 15 kg. Mangrove Jacks can be caught while targeting other fish species, such as barramundi in NT.

Eating: A popular eating fish with delicious white flesh, a firm texture and mild flavour. It can be grilled, baked or fried.

Bag Limit: 3 per person

Legal Size: 35 cm

Fingermark (Golden Snapper)

Best Time to Fish: Fingermarks gather in large numbers around the new moon in spring.

Best Targeted: Fingermark don’t travel far in their life and love to hide in structures such as reefs and rocky outcrops and can be found in estuarine and coastal headlands in the NT. The juveniles tend to stay around the estuaries. For the best chances of catching them, use heavy tackle, as they are strong fighters, and you don’t want to lose your lures in the weeds. Live bait such as herring and squid or soft plastic lures all work successfully. They move around in schools in waters less than 10 metres deep and can be caught during the day. Care is needed to release Fingermarks as they are very susceptible to barotrauma. Their bodies don’t manage the different water pressures well as they are brought to the surface and may not survive being released.

Appearance: Anglers can quickly identify Fingermarks (or Golden Snapper) by the dark spot below their dorsal fin. They can exhibit a range of colours, including copper, golden, and silvery hues, which can vary depending on their habitat and the time of day. (Moses Perch also have a dark spot below their soft dorsal fin and can look similar to this fish species, but they have more yellowish fins and more of a pink flush) They have prominent canine teeth and can grow to about 100 cm.

Eating: Premium table fish with delicious taste.

Bag Limit: 3 per person NT

Legal Size: 35 cm Queensland

Barracuda

Best Time to Fish: Catch Barracudas in the warmer months, from October to April, in the Top End, when they are most active in shallower water.

Best Targeted: Look for Barracuda near the surface in open seas or near coastal coral reefs where you can see seagrass fields. Barracuda are effectively targeted using lures that mimic the movement of their prey. They are aggressive strikers, so a fast retrieval can entice them to bite. You can also catch them by trolling, casting, and using surface lures and jigs.

Appearance: Barracuda have long, slender bodies and pointed snouts filled with sharp teeth and fangs (distinguished from Wahoo, which don’t have fangs). Typically, they have shiny blue-grey colouration on their upper bodies that fades to silver and white below and often feature dark spots along their sides. The barracuda has two short, separate dorsal fins and a crescent-shaped caudal fin or tail designed for speed and quick, powerful bursts when hunting prey.

Eating: Barracuda have a firm white flesh but can also have a high mercury content.

Bag Limit: 5 per person

Legal Size: >75 cm

King Threadfin Salmon

Best Time to Fish: King Threadfin Salmon are more active in the warmer months. Try the spring tides in the Northern Territory and Queensland from October through March. Early mornings and late afternoons are the most productive times.

Best Targeted: Threadfin Salmon are only found in northern marine waters, including north Queensland, especially around mangroves, rock bars and drop-offs. They tend to stay in a particular spot all their life. They are formidable fish species to catch, ducking, weaving, and pulling very hard. They can be targeted with soft plastic lures in the shallows, hard vibes of different colours in deeper water, and stickbaits that attract attention going down and up. They will also take live bait such as prawns and small fish.

Appearance: Threadfin Salmon get their name from the long filaments extending from the pectoral fin area, which give them sensory aid in shallow, muddy waters. (In the picture, you can see them stuck to the side of its body) The long forked tail allows them great speed to catch prey in schools. They have silver to bluish-green colouration with lighter silver on the belly. Their dorsal fins are separate and brown-grey, while the pectoral and pelvic fins are yellow. King Threadfin Salmon grows up to 170cm and weighs up to 45 kg.

Eating: King threadfin Salmon is a popular eating fish with a mild-flavoured white, flaky with a firm texture. Grill, bake or fry this delicious seafood.

Bag Limit: 3 per person

Legal Size: 55 cm in NT, 75cm in Qld

Estuary Cod

Best Time to Fish: Estuary Cod are best caught during the warmer months, October to March, when they are breeding and more active.

Best Targeted: Estuary Cod hides in structures on rocky banks, under fallen trees, in mangroves, estuaries, and reef systems. Try bottom fishing with tough tackle. Cast your plastic lures (try ZMan range) against the bank, letting them sink slowly, then jerking and winding them along the bottom. Live bait, prawns, or small fish can also be effective.

Appearance: Estuary Cod are easily identified and unusual looking. They can vary in colour from greenish-brown to greyish hue with a whitish belly, six broad dark bands in a diagonal pattern, and small brown to orange spots. They have a large mouth, needle-sharp teeth, barbed gills and sharp gill rakers. The Dorsal fin running along the top of its body is spiny and variegated in browns and yellows. The Estuary Cod has a small, rounded tail. Its maximum size is approximately 130 cm.

Eating: Firm white flesh with a mild flavour. Versatile to cook. Excellent eating fish.

Bag Limit: 5 per person

Legal Size: 60 cm–120cm NT & 70cm Queensland

Barcheek Coral Trout

Best Time to Fish: Barcheek Coral Trout is more active during the warmer months, October to March.

Best Targeted: To catch Barcheek Coral Trout, focus on North Australia’s inshore reefs and drop-offs where these fish are commonly found. Some methods to best target these fish include bottom fishing with live bait, jigs or soft plastics near coral structures.

Appearance: Barcheek Coral Trout varies in colour depending on the depth of the water. Generally, they are known to have a robust red body. The variations can include pale greyish or olive to dark brown hues. The pretty blue spots distinguish them. To differentiate the Barcheek Coral Trout from other Coral Trout, you will notice that the blue spots are elongated around the eyes and cheeks. They have prominent mouths with small, sharp teeth. The dorsal fin is long and spiny at the front and softer at the back. The anal fin is large and similar to the dorsal fin. They grow up to 125 cm and 25 kg.

Eating: Barcheek Coral Trout are excellent fish to eat, with firm, white flesh.

Bag Limit: 5 per person

Legal Size: 38 cm NT & Queensland

Queenfish

Best Time to Fish: Queenfish are best targeted during the warmer months, October to April, but Anglers can catch this fish species all year round in the Top End of NT Australia.

Best Targeted: Queenfish are best targeted in estuarine environments, coastal waters, nearby reefs, rivers, creeks, and harbours. They are famous for their speed. Queenfish like to surface feed, so surface lures such as poppers and stickbaits can provoke aggressive strikes. Cast quickly. Trolling can be effective when targeting a school of Queenfish. Live bait, such as small mullet and herring, can also be successful. Watch near the end of this video to see how easy and fun it was to catch this Queenfish on a homemade jig.

Appearance: Queenfish are sleek and streamlined, with silver to bluish-green colouration on the upper body, transitioning to lighter silver on the belly. Their bodies have distinguishing large, darker spots along the sides. The Queenfish has distinctive Dorsal fins that are spiny at the from and softer at the back, with almost matching anal fins. They have a sizeable forked tail. Their mouth uniquely reaches past the eye. When caught, take care as they have sharp spines on their backs and stomachs, which can be difficult to unhook. They grow to over 15 kg.

Eating: Queenfish have a strong flavour and firm texture and are not the most popular eating fish.

Bag Limit: 5 per person

Legal Size: No minimum size limit in NT & Queensland

Wahoo

Best Time to Fish: Wahoo can be found year-round on the Great Barrier Reef. They are a tropical fish. October to April would be their most active months in NT and Queensland.

Best Targeted: Wahoo can swim fast, like 60 km an hour fast! So trolling at 14-20 knots using high-speed lures or live bait is a great way to snag a Wahoo. Some fishermen troll with up to six lures. Wahoos feed around reefs and deep drop-offs, so cast your lures or live bait into these areas. Also, target Wahoo under debris. Use wire leaders to target Wahoo because of their sharp teeth. Wahoo seems to like lures with varied colour combinations and strike different colours and sizes on other days, so vary it up. If using live bait, Redtail Scad chunks are a popular choice. Some fishermen throw fish chunks into the water, and after the third piece is taken, they throw in the hooked piece.

Appearance: Wahoos can be mistaken for barracuda, but the difference is the teeth. Wahoos have dangerous needle-like teeth (while barracudas have fang-like teeth and a different tail shape). They are silver with light iridescent blue stripes and tiny scales. They have a long dorsal fin, forked tail, and long snout. Wahoo grow up to 243cm and 182 kg approx.

Eating: Wahoo are considered excellent eating fish. They have firm white flesh that is mild sweet in flavour. They are versatile and popular grilled, smoked or sashimi.

Bag Limit: 5 per person

Legal Size: No minimum size limit in NT & Queensland.

Red Emperor (& Spangled Emperor)

Best Time to Fish: Red Emperors are found more active in the cooler months, April to September, in the NT and Queensland.

Best Targeted: Red Emperors are generally found near coral reefs such as The Great Barrier Reef in QLD. They can be targeted near sand areas, gravelly bottoms, and deep reefs of up to 140 m. They love to swim in schools of similar-sized fish and can be caught with Large Mouth Nannygai and Spangled Emperors. You can also find them on flat, featureless bottoms with wonky holes (freshwater springs that look like a v-shaped depression in the ocean bottom on your fish finder) and debris. Look for the baitfish, and you will find them. Try targeting by bottom fishing using heavy sinkers and bait such as squid or fish. They will eat larger bait, preferably on the sea floor. You will need tough tackle, as they will give you quite a fight.

Appearance: Red Emperor (also called tropical snapper or Government Bream) is a vibrant red fish with a forked caudal fin and a continuous dorsal fin. They have a robust body and a large white mouth. (This is different from the Nannygai, which has a pink mouth, a dark saddle mark over its tail, a more triangular tail and more pink gradient underbelly). The juvenile Red Emperor has three dark red vertical bands and a paler overall colour. Reds grow commonly to 65-70 cm and 33 kg. This is a popular reef fish species of Australia that is related to Golden Snapper and Mangrove Jacks.

Eating: Red emperors are considered excellent eating fish and are one of the most sought-after reef fish in Australia. They have firm white large flakes and mild-flavoured flesh. It is best to bleed immediately and place it in a salty ice slurry.

Bag Limit: 5 per person in NT & QLD, but these coral fish cannot be taken in certain months.

Legal Size: 55cm QLD & 70 cm NT

Other Fish Species of Australia Identification Guides

Fish id Queensland Gov

fish species NT and QLD guide