Species
Snapper
Chrysophrys auratus
Also known as Australasian snapper · silver seabream
Tier 1Eating10/10medium tackleNSWVICQLDSAWATAS
203 waypoints40–70 cm (max 130 cm) typical
Regulations
NSW30 cm min · bag 5VIC28 cm min · bag 10QLD35 cm min · bag 4SA38 cm min · bag 3TAS50 cm min · bag 5
| State | Size | Bag |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | 30 cm min | 5 |
| VIC | 28 cm min | 10 |
| QLD | 35 cm min | 4 |
| SA | 38 cm min | 3 |
Closed: Spencer Gulf/Gulf St Vincent closures — verify annually | ||
| TAS | 50 cm min | 5 |
Regulations change. Always verify with the relevant state fisheries authority before fishing.
Overview: about snapper
Iconic Australasian reef fish, rosy pink with electric blue spots when young. Most active around reefs, structure and broken bottom from 10-100m depth; targeted with bait or soft plastics, particularly on slack tides. Mature fish develop a distinctive forehead bump.
Biology: 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 pink snapper
How to target: Snapper angling strategies
Generally fished with medium tackle — match gear to the conditions and the size of fish you expect.
- berleyed pilchards drifted unweighted on light line in shallow reef country at dawn
- 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 with current
- running paternoster anchored over reef at dusk and through tide change
- slow-pitch jigs over deep offshore reef
Best season: when to catch snapper in Australia
- NSW
- Mar-Oct (cooler months)
- VIC
- Oct-May (Port Phillip Bay run)
- SA
- seasonally closed in main gulfs — check PIRSA
Seasons shift with water temperature and local conditions, so check recent reports before a trip.
Conservation
IUCN: Least Concern
SA stocks closed in several gulfs since 2019 due to depletion.
Recent community catches: anglers who caught snapper
No snapper catches logged yet. Log one and you'll be recognised here.
Where to catch: snapper fishing spots in Australia
Victoria68
- Aireys InletRock Platform · VIC-38.46°
- Apollo Bay HarbourBreakwall · VIC-38.76°
- Beacon 18Reef · VIC-37.95°
- Beaumaris BayBay · VIC-37.99°
- Bird RockRock Platform · VIC-38.35°
- Bonito BanksShoal · VIC-38.97°
- Bouchier ChannelEstuary · VIC-38.45°
- Brighton PierJetty · VIC-37.92°
- Cape ConranRock Platform · VIC-37.82°
- Cape Otway ShelfShoal · VIC-38.92°
- Carrum Artificial ReefReef · VIC-38.08°
- Carrum PierJetty · VIC-38.08°
- Cat BayBay · VIC-38.51°
- City of Foochow WreckWreck · VIC-38.65°
- Corinella JettyJetty · VIC-38.42°
- Cowes JettyJetty · VIC-38.45°
- Crawfish RockReef · VIC-38.40°
- Eagle RockRock Platform · VIC-38.47°
- Edithvale BeachBeach · VIC-38.04°
- Frankston Artificial ReefReef · VIC-38.16°
- Frankston DeepReef · VIC-38.16°
- HMVS CerberusWreck · VIC-37.97°
- Half Moon ReefReef · VIC-37.95°
- Hampton PierJetty · VIC-37.94°
- Hastings JettyJetty · VIC-38.31°
- Lang Lang BeachBeach · VIC-38.29°
- Lonsdale WallReef · VIC-38.30°
- Lorne PierJetty · VIC-38.54°
- Lower Eastern ChannelShoal · VIC-38.44°
- Marengo ReefReef · VIC-38.77°
- Mordialloc PierJetty · VIC-38.00°
- Mornington PierJetty · VIC-38.22°
- Mount Martha BeachBeach · VIC-38.26°
- Mt Martha ReefReef · VIC-38.26°
- Mud IslandsShoal · VIC-38.27°
- Newhaven JettyJetty · VIC-38.51°
- Ocean Grove BeachBeach · VIC-38.28°
- Patterson River MouthRiver Mouth · VIC-38.07°
- Pinnace ChannelBait Ground · VIC-38.26°
- Point AddisHeadland · VIC-38.42°
- Point RoadknightHeadland · VIC-38.45°
- Popes EyeReef · VIC-38.28°
- Port Campbell BayBay · VIC-38.62°
- Port Fairy WharfWharf · VIC-38.39°
- Port Phillip HeadsRock Platform · VIC-38.29°
- Portarlington Artificial ReefReef · VIC-38.09°
- Portland HarbourBreakwall · VIC-38.34°
- Pyramid RockRock Platform · VIC-38.54°
- Queenscliff HarbourJetty · VIC-38.27°
- Reef IslandShoal · VIC-38.39°
- Rhyll JettyJetty · VIC-38.46°
- SS Coramba WreckWreck · VIC-38.65°
- SS Federal WreckWreck · VIC-38.43°
- SS Time WreckWreck · VIC-38.42°
- Seaford PierJetty · VIC-38.11°
- Skenes CreekRiver Mouth · VIC-38.70°
- Sorrento HoleShoal · VIC-38.34°
- Sorrento PierJetty · VIC-38.34°
- South Channel FortReef · VIC-38.29°
- St Leonards PierJetty · VIC-38.17°
- Stony Point JettyJetty · VIC-38.37°
- The ConesReef · VIC-38.19°
- Torquay Back BeachBeach · VIC-38.35°
- Tortoise HeadHeadland · VIC-38.37°
- Western Port - TankertonShoreline · VIC-38.43°
- William Salthouse WreckWreck · VIC-38.29°
- Williamstown PierJetty · VIC-37.87°
- Wilsons PromontoryRock Platform · VIC-39.13°
Queensland50
- 10 mile North endReef · QLD-26.60°
- 12 mileReef · QLD-26.53°
- 12 mile SouthReef · QLD-26.57°
- 18 mile MiddleReef · QLD-26.57°
- 18 mile NorthReef · QLD-26.53°
- 18 mile SouthReef · QLD-26.58°
- 21 mile edge of the Barwon Banks in MiddleReef · QLD-26.55°
- 23 mile edge of the Barwon Banks NW endReef · QLD-26.48°
- 8 mileReef · QLD-26.62°
- 85m Ridge of the Barwon BanksReef · QLD-26.47°
- Brisbane Twelve Apostles Artificial ReefReef · QLD-27.35°
- Caloundra 12 mileReef · QLD-26.80°
- Caloundra Wide Northern endReef · QLD-26.70°
- Caloundra Wide South Western endReef · QLD-26.85°
- Cape Moreton TrenchReef · QLD-26.93°
- Chardons Reef off NoosaReef · QLD-26.43°
- Deep Tempest Reef off Cape MoretonReef · QLD-27.12°
- Ex-HMAS Brisbane WreckWreck · QLD-26.60°
- Flinders Reef ApproachesReef · QLD-27.00°
- Hervey Bay Artificial ReefReef · QLD-25.25°
- Hutchison Shoal off Cape MoretonShoal · QLD-26.93°
- Inner GneeringsReef · QLD-26.63°
- Mermaid Beach Artificial ReefReef · QLD-28.05°
- Middle North Reef off NoosaReef · QLD-26.28°
- Mooloolaba WideReef · QLD-26.60°
- Murphys ReefReef · QLD-26.68°
- Myora ReefReef · QLD-27.48°
- North of Hutchison ShoalsShoal · QLD-26.92°
- Northern Little ShipsReef · QLD-26.25°
- Northern North Reef off NoosaReef · QLD-26.27°
- Outer GneeringsReef · QLD-26.62°
- Palm Beach Artificial ReefReef · QLD-28.12°
- Rooneys PointHeadland · QLD-24.83°
- Rosslyn Bay Boat HarbourBoat Ramp · QLD-23.16°
- Scottish Prince WreckWreck · QLD-27.93°
- Smiths RockReef · QLD-26.98°
- Snapper RocksRock Platform · QLD-28.16°
- Sothern end of Barwon banksReef · QLD-26.71°
- Southern Little Ships MarksReef · QLD-26.38°
- Southern North Reef off NoosaReef · QLD-26.30°
- Sunshine Reef off NoosaReef · QLD-26.38°
- Tiger Kelly wreckWreck · QLD-26.60°
- Top of the Barwon Banks Northern endReef · QLD-26.47°
- Western Rocks/YellowpatchReef · QLD-27.02°
- Western end of the TrenchReef · QLD-26.88°
- Wide Bay Artificial ReefReef · QLD-25.90°
- Wide CurrimundiReef · QLD-26.77°
- Wreck 11 miles East of MooloolabaWreck · QLD-26.70°
- Wreck of the Centaur/Kyogle off Cape MoretonWreck · QLD-27.00°
- Wreck of the JodieWreck · QLD-26.73°
New South Wales42
- 12 Mile ReefReef · NSW-33.87°
- Batemans Bay - Tollgate IslandsReef · NSW-35.74°
- Bermagui BluewaterRock Platform · NSW-36.42°
- Black RockRock Platform · NSW-36.45°
- Brunswick Heads OuterReef · NSW-28.54°
- Camel RockRock Platform · NSW-36.35°
- Coffs Harbour JettyJetty · NSW-30.30°
- Crowdy HeadHeadland · NSW-31.84°
- Eden - Twofold BayBay · NSW-37.07°
- Evans Head BarRiver Mouth · NSW-29.12°
- Jervis Bay - Point PerpendicularHeadland · NSW-35.09°
- Lennox Head ReefReef · NSW-28.80°
- Long Reef WideReef · NSW-33.74°
- MV Malabar WreckWreck · NSW-33.97°
- Montague IslandReef · NSW-36.25°
- Narooma BreakwallBreakwall · NSW-36.22°
- Norah HeadHeadland · NSW-33.28°
- North Head - SydneyHeadland · NSW-33.82°
- North Solitary IslandReef · NSW-29.93°
- Port Kembla BreakwaterBreakwall · NSW-34.47°
- Port Macquarie Artificial ReefReef · NSW-31.45°
- Port Stephens - Broughton IslandReef · NSW-32.62°
- SS Annie M Miller WreckWreck · NSW-34.85°
- SS Birchgrove Park WreckWreck · NSW-33.58°
- SS Catterthun WreckWreck · NSW-32.49°
- SS Centurion WreckWreck · NSW-33.73°
- SS Myola WreckWreck · NSW-33.80°
- SS Tuggerah WreckWreck · NSW-33.30°
- SS Undola WreckWreck · NSW-34.45°
- SS Wollongbar WreckWreck · NSW-28.82°
- Solitary Islands WideReef · NSW-30.02°
- South West Rocks - Trial BayBay · NSW-30.88°
- South West Rocks Artificial ReefReef · NSW-30.88°
- South West Solitary IslandReef · NSW-30.20°
- Sydney Offshore Artificial ReefReef · NSW-33.71°
- Tathra WharfWharf · NSW-36.73°
- Terrigal HavenBay · NSW-33.45°
- The 32 FathomReef · NSW-33.90°
- The Banks (12 Mile Reef)Reef · NSW-33.85°
- The PeakReef · NSW-33.84°
- Twelve Mile Reef NewcastleReef · NSW-32.90°
- Ulladulla HarbourBreakwall · NSW-35.36°
South Australia34
- Aldinga Reef EdgeReef · SA-35.29°
- Cape BauerHeadland · SA-32.72°
- Cape CatastropheHeadland · SA-34.99°
- Cape NorthumberlandHeadland · SA-38.06°
- Cape SpencerHeadland · SA-35.29°
- Carpenter RocksBoat Ramp · SA-37.90°
- Coffin BayBay · SA-34.62°
- Cowell JettyJetty · SA-33.69°
- Edithburgh JettyJetty · SA-35.09°
- Fowlers Bay JettyJetty · SA-31.99°
- Glenelg JettyJetty · SA-34.98°
- Hallett Cove Drop-offShoal · SA-35.07°
- Kangaroo Island - American RiverEstuary · SA-35.79°
- Memory CoveBeach · SA-34.96°
- O'Sullivan Beach Boat RampBoat Ramp · SA-35.13°
- Point LowlyHeadland · SA-32.99°
- Point Turton JettyJetty · SA-34.94°
- Port Germein JettyJetty · SA-33.04°
- Port Noarlunga ReefReef · SA-35.15°
- Port Pirie JettyJetty · SA-33.18°
- Port WillungaBeach · SA-35.28°
- Robe BreakwallBreakwall · SA-37.16°
- Royston HeadHeadland · SA-35.04°
- Searcy BayBeach · SA-33.01°
- Stokes BayBeach · SA-35.62°
- Tumby LumpShoal · SA-34.46°
- Wallaroo JettyJetty · SA-33.94°
- Wedge Island (Eyre)Reef · SA-35.15°
- Wedge Island LedgesReef · SA-35.15°
- West CapeHeadland · SA-35.22°
- Whyalla - Spencer GulfShoreline · SA-33.03°
- Whyalla Shipping Channel EdgesShoreline · SA-33.05°
- Williams IslandReef · SA-35.02°
- Wool Bay JettyJetty · SA-35.02°
Tasmania5
More information: snapper references & sources
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