Pink Snapper
Regulations
| State | Size | Bag |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | 30 cm min | 5 |
| VIC | 28 cm min | 10 |
| SA | 38 cm min | 3 |
Closed: Spencer Gulf/Gulf St Vincent closures vary annually | ||
| WA | 50 cm min | 2 |
Closed: West Coast Demersal closure 1 Feb-14 Mar and 15 Oct-15 Dec; Cockburn Sound closed 1 Oct-31 Jan | ||
Regulations change. Always verify with the relevant state fisheries authority before fishing.
Overview: about pink snapper
WA and SA name for the same fish east-coasters call snapper. Targeted over reefs, gravel bottom and shellfish beds with bait and soft plastics, particularly on slack tides. Shark Bay and Cockburn Sound have legendary fisheries with strict seasonal closures — always verify state rules.
Biology: Pink Snapper size, diet & habitat
- Habitat
- Inshore, Offshore, Reef
- Typical size
- 40–70 cm (max 130 cm)
- Weight
- 1.5–6 kg (max 19 kg)
- Depth range
- 1–200 m
- Diet
- squid, crabs, small fish, urchins
- Most active
- crepuscular
- Global range
- Southern hemisphere temperate (Chrysophrys auratus) — same species as eastern snapper
How to target: Pink Snapper angling strategies
Generally fished with medium tackle — match gear to the conditions and the size of fish you expect.
- fresh squid or octopus on a snelled rig over offshore reef in 30-80m
- soft plastics (5-7" jerk shads) on a 1/4-3/8oz jighead drifted over inshore reef
- running paternoster anchored in 5-20m at dusk in Cockburn Sound (WA) or Spencer Gulf (SA)
- berleyed pilchards drifting unweighted on light line at dawn
Best season: when to catch pink snapper in Australia
- VIC
- Oct-May (Port Phillip)
- SA
- Oct-Mar (when open)
- WA
- Apr-Sep (outside closures)
Seasons shift with water temperature and local conditions, so check recent reports before a trip.
Conservation
SA stocks closed in several gulfs due to depletion. Same species as east-coast snapper but managed separately.
Recent community catches: anglers who caught pink snapper
No pink snapper catches logged yet. Log one and you'll be recognised here.
Where to catch: pink snapper fishing spots in Australia
Western Australia30
- Albany - Princess Royal HarbourEstuary · WA-35.03°
- Bunbury Artificial ReefReef · WA-33.27°
- Cape NaturalisteHeadland · WA-33.54°
- Cape RicheHeadland · WA-34.60°
- Centaur ReefReef · WA-28.63°
- Cheynes Beach OffshoreReef · WA-34.88°
- Dawesville CutEstuary · WA-32.63°
- Denham (Shark Bay)Shoreline · WA-25.93°
- Eagle Bay / MeelupBay · WA-33.56°
- Faure SillShoal · WA-25.83°
- Five Fathom BankBait Ground · WA-32.16°
- Geographe Bay Artificial Reef (Dunsborough)Reef · WA-33.56°
- Henri Freycinet HarbourBay · WA-26.08°
- Houtman Abrolhos IslandsReef · WA-28.72°
- Jurien LumpShoal · WA-30.28°
- Kalbarri / Murchison River MouthRiver Mouth · WA-27.71°
- Lancelin LumpShoal · WA-31.02°
- Lighthouse LumpShoal · WA-28.78°
- Mandurah Artificial ReefReef · WA-32.52°
- Marmion Marine Park ReefReef · WA-31.83°
- Mewstone ReefReef · WA-31.67°
- Mindarie Keys MarinaBreakwall · WA-31.69°
- Rottnest Island - Strickland BayBay · WA-32.02°
- Sanko Harvest WreckWreck · WA-34.02°
- Stragglers ReefReef · WA-32.03°
- Three Mile ReefReef · WA-31.93°
- Trigg Island ReefReef · WA-31.87°
- Two Peoples BayBay · WA-34.97°
- Two Rocks MarinaBoat Ramp · WA-31.49°
- Useless LoopBay · WA-26.13°