Species
Red Emperor
Lutjanus sebae
Also known as emperor red snapper · emperor snapper · government bream · king snapper · queenfish · red kelp
Tier 2Eating10/10medium tackleQLDWANT
25 waypoints~50–75 cm typical
Sign in
Community
Recently caught
Be the first.
No red emperor catches logged yet — log one and you'll be recognised here.
Where to catch
Range & spots
No catches reported in the last 14 days.
Overview: about red emperor
Premier deep-reef snapper of northern Australia — found across WA, NT and QLD in 30-150m. Targeted with bait and jigs over reef edges and shoals. Striking red colour, top-shelf table fish and tightly regulated with size and bag limits across the north.
Biology: Red Emperor size, diet & habitat
- Habitat
- Offshore, Reef
- Typical size
- 50–75 cm (max 116 cm)
- Weight
- 3–10 kg (max 23 kg)
- Depth range
- 10–180 m
- Diet
- small reef fish, crustaceans, squid
- Most active
- crepuscular
- Global range
- Indo-West Pacific tropics (Lutjanus sebae)
How to target: Red Emperor angling strategies
Generally fished with medium tackle — match gear to the conditions and the size of fish you expect.
- squid, pilchard or mullet baits on a paternoster rig over offshore reef in 40-100m
- soft plastics and slow-pitch jigs over coral edges
- drift fishing with whole baits across reef contours
Best season: when to catch red emperor in Australia
- QLD
- Apr-Oct (outside spawning closures)
- WA
- Apr-Oct (north coast)
Seasons shift with water temperature and local conditions, so check recent reports before a trip.
Where to catch: red emperor fishing spots in Australia
25 mapped fishing spots, marks and waypoints for red emperor across Australia, covering land-based fishing, rock fishing, estuary fishing and offshore and bluewater fishing. Each location below links through to access notes and coordinates.