Spearfishing Tropical Fish Species - A Beginner’s Guide
In the lead up to our next Great Barrier Reef live-aboard sail and spearfishing trip, I’ve created this beginner’s guide to key tropical fish species that we tend to encounter and target. The list is by no means exhaustive and it seems there is an almost endless array of edible fish species in these rich waters. Many sustainable and delicious species are often overlooked in pursuit of those more charismatic and popular varieties (and perhaps that is a topic for another post) but for our purposes here we will focus on the key target species.
The observations and tips provided herein are merely a starting point for newcomers to get their bearings and develop their own approach. The rabbit-hole goes deep, experiences will vary, and many divers far more experienced than myself will have endless wisdom to add. One of my favourite parts of these trips is debriefing with our guests after a long day’s diving to share experiences and learn together, mentally cataloging the circumstances, behaviours and strategies that were successful and not so.
Note: I have omitted recreational catch limits and sizes, which vary between Fisheries jurisdictions, and should be thoroughly understood and abided by before heading out for a day’s spearing.
Recreational Target Fish Species of the Great Barrier Reef
Common Coral Trout Ref: Fishes of Australia
Name: Common Coral Trout/Leopard Groper
Varieties: Footballer Trout, Barcheek Trout, Coronation Trout
Description: Generally red or brown with iridescent blue spots. Look out for the yellow, black and white variety known as ‘Footballer Trout’ or the more ornate ‘Coronation Trout’ which are actually a different species. They have a crescent-shaped tail which serves as a key identifying trait distinguishing them from Rock Cod and other groper varieties.
Some consider these guys to be the tastiest fish in the ocean, with beautiful white and sweet flesh. Coral trout are a key target species in the Great Barrier Reef and can be found anywhere there is sufficient cover for them to hide. They are a shy fish that will usually be found sheltering from predators beneath coral plates or within shelves and bommies.
Hunting Tip: Good fun for beginner spearos. Dive to the bottom and approach structure and potential hiding places quietly and with minimal movement. Coral trout will allow you to approach quite close and often sit facing you front-on before turning to expose their side…a little patience in selecting the right time to shoot will yield results. Alternatively, dive bombing slowly from above can work well….AKA ‘death from above’.
Footballer Trout Ref: Fishes of Australia
Coronation Trout Ref: Fishes of Australia
Barcheek trout - note the elongated/bar shaped spots on the cheek
Black-spot Tuskfish
Name: Tuskfish AKA Tusky
Varieties: Black-Spot/Blue-bone Tuskfish, Venus Tuskfish, Bald-chin Groper
Description: Large bluish-green fish with round head and prominent tusk/teeth used for munching hard-shelled prey. The common variety have a prominent black spot on the upper back.
Another prized table fish, Tuskies are fairly abundant on the reef and can be found inhabiting the flat and sandy or weedy areas of lagoons or near the seaward edge of reef structure.
Hunting Tip: Depending on their feeding habits, can often be easily approached horizontally along the reef or from above. At other times they will be flighty and present a challenge requiring a more strategic approach – try using cover of the reef to conceal your approach, moving slowly and utilising a moderate breath-hold. Feigning disinterest and throwing sand in the air can also lower the guard and bring them within shooting range.
Bald-chin Groper/Tusky
Venus Tusky Ref: Fishes of Australia
The prized Red Emperor Ref: Fishes of Australia
Name: The Emperors
Varieties: Red Emperor, Spangled Emperor, Red-throat Emperor, Long-nose Emperor
Description: Generally deep-bodied fish with noticeably protruding snouts.
Red Emperor have distinct black and white vertical bands which are more prominent in juveniles. They will appear black and white at depth and then bright red when brought to surface.
Spangled Emperor are yellowish/bronze colour with pale blue/white spots along the side.
Red-Throat/Sweet-Lip Emperor are greyish with black scale centres and red/orange pectoral and dorsal fins.
A highly-prized fish with excellent table qualities. All can be found adjacent to coral shelves and rocky areas, often over sandy lagoon bottoms.
Hunting Tip: Can be timid however also very greedy and bold on the reef! The Red and Red-Throat in particular will charge in to consume any burley or investigate shiny objects. Use these tools to your advantage when approaching. Spangled Emperor in particular can be quite flighty but respond well to shiny objects. Try dusting up sand and they may become interested and approach in the hopes of securing an easy feed. An intermediate fish to hunt – adequate bottom-time a must.
Red-throat Emperor
Spangled Emperor Ref: Fishes of Australia
Green Jobfish Ref: Fishes of Australia
Name: Green Job-fish AKA Jobbies
Description: Dark green or bluish/grey with a lighter underside. A long, slender body with elongated head and forked tail. Can be found around coral reefs especially near drop-offs and are also known to travel up into mid-water attracted to flashers and burley. Often encountered as individuals or small groups but occasionally also in larger schools.
Hunting Tip: Known as lung-busters for the longer breath-hold often required to lure them into shooting range, Jobbies are a challenging fish to hunt. They respond well to auditory stimulation such as a well-timed grunt and are also voracious feeders so will approach burley trails and flashers. An intermediate to advanced fish to hunt - adequate bottom-time a must.
Bling Fish Ref: Fishes of Australia
Name: Spanish Mackerel aka Mackies, Spanish, Spaniards, Bling-fish
Description: A pelagic species that can grow to be very large, Spanish Mackerel are a delicious and highly sought after target species. They have long, narrow, torpedo-shaped bodies with dark blue colouration on the back fading into silver and white towards the belly. Vertical stripes and mirror-like reflection on the side are a dead giveaway.
Being pelagic feeders, Mackies can be found in areas of high current and pressure such as ledges, channels and headland points where they’ll feed on congregating baitfish.
Hunting Tips: Spanish can show up pretty much anywhere and any time, however top of the run-out tide and around drop-off or bommie structure with current is a good place to start. Utilising flashers or burley will draw them in but smooth and calm dive technique is essential to not spooking the fish and allowing them to come within shooting range. Limiting eye contact or feigning disinterest are also useful tactics.
Giant Trevally/GT AKA ‘your spear shaft is a pretzel now’
Name: Trevally – Bluefin Trevally, Golden Trevally, Giant Trevally (GT)
Description: Broad and tall bodied with a tapered snout. Bluefin Trevally have electric blue dorsal, anal and caudal fins. Golden Trevally have yellow fins with black vertical bars on the side of the body. GTs are the larger and more aggressive variety and can be silver through to almost silvery/black in colour.
These ubiquitous fish can be found all over the coral reefs of northern Australia, often congregating in large schools but also found in small groups, especially so with the GTs.
Hunting Tips: A fairly easy fish to target simply because they are so bold and dominant on the reef. With a moderate breath-hold and fundamental spearfishing technique one can find trevally swimming right past the front of the gun. These fish will respond very well to burley or flashers in their never-ending quest for an easy feed. Caution should be exercised when targeting GTs as they are incredibly powerful and have been known to bend shafts and entangle gear on deep reef when they run. Shot placement is therefore crucial and a stoning/paralysing shot is ideal to avoid mishap.
Bluefin Trevally
Golden Trevally
Ornate Spiny Lobster
Name: Tropical Lobsters – Painted/Ornate Spiny Lobster (Crays)
Description: Tropical lobsters can be found hiding under coral plates and shelves across the Great Barrier Reef. These beautifully rainbow coloured lobsters are covered in very fine and sharp spines. The painted variety have distinct black stripes running down the length of the legs, often with pinkish horns and greenish tails and black stripes on the carapace. Whereas the ornate variety tend to have a more funky, multi-coloured carapace without the black markings.
Hunting Tips: Far more abundant in areas with less pressure, they can still show up anywhere an adequate hideout presents so its always worth poking your head into a hole for a look. Victorians are accustomed to utilising a long breath-hold and patience to lure lobsters within grabbing range – grabbing the horns or a full grab to the underside of the body is the best bet as these areas will not be shed, unlike the legs which will drop off easily when touched. It is legal to spear lobsters in Queensland so, if it’s been a long day of diving, perhaps opt for this easier option.
Painted Spiny Lobster
