SNAPPER, GOLDEN

G, S -

SNAPPER, GOLDEN

Scientific Name: 
Lutjanus johnii
Salt/Fresh: 
Salt
Also Known As: 
Spotted Scale Sea Perch; John's Sea Perch; Red Bream; Fingermark; Fingermark Bream; Golden Snapper; Red Chopper; Big Scale Red; SNAPPER, GOLDEN
Rating: 
Countries: 
Australia
Description: 

Spotted Scale Sea Perch, known mostly under the name Fingermark. It is a one of the best eating fish of the tropics. It is also a great fighting fish.

How To Identify: 

Golden Snapper (Fingermark) have a typical sea perch shape with the strong jaws of its relative the Mangrove Jack. The Golden Snapper as its name suggests is quite often a deep golden colour, with spotted scales and a large dusky to reddish block (or fingermark) on the back upper half of its body. Juveniles are often confused with the Moses Perch which has a finger type mark on its back as well however a different species. The Spotted Scale Sea Perch (I like Fingermark much better!) can grow to over 12 kgs.

How To Catch: 

When caught on inshore reefs they are normally fished with a standard reef rig such as a padenoster rig. Best baits include pilchards, squid (possibly the best), or other fish flesh baits. When caught in the creeks and estuaries they are caught on either bait or lures. Many are caught when targeting barramundi or mangrove jack, so on the same type of lures, tending towards the medium size lures such as for mangrove jack than the larger ones used often for Barramundi, but will still attack.

Where Found: 

Golden Snapper (or Fingermark) are a tropical warm water fish that lives on inshore rocky reefs or Northern Queensland, through Northern Territory and into the top part of Western Australia. Fingermark commonly enter estuaries and creeks and caught by fisherman also chasing Barramundi and Mangrove Jack.

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