CORAL TROUT, BLUESPOTTED

B, C, T -

CORAL TROUT, BLUESPOTTED

Scientific Name: 
Plectropomus laevis
Fish Group: 
Coral Trout
Salt/Fresh: 
Salt
Also Known As: 
Blue Spotted Coral Trout; Blacksaddle Coralgrouper; Blacksaddled Coralgrouper; Blacksaddled Coraltrout; Black-saddled Coral-trout; Blue Spot Trout; Blue-spot Trout; Chinese Footballer; Footballer Cod; Footballer Coral Trout; Footballer Trout; Footballer-cod; Oceanic Coral Trout; Oceanic Trout; Tiger Trout
Description: 

Coral Trout is one of the most delicious tasting and beautiful reef fish of Australia

How To Identify: 

This Coral Trout has two distinct colour phases: the "footballer phase" which is whitish with black saddles, a yellow caudal peduncle and yellow fins, and a greyish form with a dark head, five dark saddles along the back, and small blue spots on body.For more info on see Fishes of Australia.

Other Coral Trout include:

Common Coral Trout;

Barcheek Coral Trout;

Passionfruit Coral Trout; and

Highfin Coral Trout.

How To Catch: 

Mostly caught bait fishing and will take most fish baits, however one of the best baits in another small fillet of coral trout - but once you have caught one a real dilemma to cut up and use for bait! They love live baits as well. In recent years has been targeted with lures and they readily take nearly all types including soft plastics (they love 'em!), diving minnows, feather jigs and the most exciting of all - surface poppers, they strike hard and try and take you straight back to the coral bommie or cave they came from. They are a tough customer and awesome fun.

Where Found: 

Inshore Reefs and drop offs right to the edge of the Continental shelf, around the northern part of Australia

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