Skip to main content
Bite Compass

Bluebone (Blackspot Tuskfish)

Offshore / Reef
Choerodon schoenleinii

Big, bull-headed reef wrasse named for the aqua-blue tint of its bones and fin spines — a hard-pulling demersal prized for its sweet white flesh. Distinct from the West Coast baldchin groper (Choerodon rubescens); the blackspot tuskfish is WA's tropical 'bluebone', found from the Houtman Abrolhos northward through the Gascoyne, Pilbara and Kimberley on coral and rubble reef in 10–60m. A managed demersal species subject to tight bag limits and the West Coast demersal closure where its range overlaps.

Overview

Bluebone — the blackspot tuskfish, Choerodon schoenleinii — are heavy-shouldered reef wrasse named for the blue-green tint of their bones and spines. They're a distinct species from the West Coast's baldchin groper (Choerodon rubescens, the southern 'bluebone' of some anglers); the blackspot tuskfish is the bigger tropical cousin, ranging from the Houtman Abrolhos up through the Gascoyne, Pilbara and Kimberley. They live on coral and rubble reef in 10–60m, using powerful jaws and peg-like teeth to crush crabs, shellfish and sea urchins. Tuskfish hold tight to structure and bury into it on the strike, so they reward heavy gear and a fast lift. Like all WA demersals they're slow-growing and protogynous (changing sex with age), which is why the bag limits are conservative.

How to Catch
Best baits

Whole or half crab, prawn, squid, octopus, fish strip, shellfish — anything reflecting their hard-shelled natural diet

Lures

Soft plastics on heavy jigheads worked along the bottom, slow-pitch jigs (60–150g), occasionally deep-diving hard-bodies over the reef edge

Rigs

Paternoster rig with one or two dropper hooks (5/0–7/0) on a 50–80lb mono leader, enough lead to hold bottom in current. Bait fished hard on the bottom right against structure. Use heavy line and lock up on the bite — tuskfish dive straight for cover and a soft drag means a bricked fish and a lost rig.

Technique

Anchor or drift over coral and rubble reef in 10–60m and put baits hard on the bottom near broken ground. The bite is often a sharp double-tap followed by solid weight as the fish turns for cover — strike immediately and lift hard to turn its head before it reaches structure. The first few seconds decide the fight. Move spots if you don't connect within ten minutes; tuskfish are territorial and either present or not. Crabs and prawns out-fish most other baits.

Best time

Northern WA fishes year-round, with the cooler months (May–September) offering the best weather windows in the Gascoyne and Pilbara. Tide changes — particularly the start of the run-in — trigger the bite. Neap tides make bottom fishing easier than the bigger spring runs. Dawn and dusk produce the better fish.

Size

Up to 1m and around 15kg, commonly 2–6kg

Peak season

Year-round (Gascoyne and North Coast)

Eating quality

Among the best eating fish on the reef — sweet, thick, white fillets that hold together beautifully grilled, baked or in curries. Bleed and ice on capture; the flesh is firm but better for prompt handling. The cheeks and wings are a delicacy. Tropical reef fish carry a small ciguatera risk, but tuskfish are considered low-risk in WA waters.

Regulations (WA)

Tuskfish (including bluebone) sit within WA's demersal scalefish rules. Bag limit: 2 per fisher in the West Coast Bioregion (and counted within the demersal mixed bag), 2 in other bioregions, and just 1 at the Houtman Abrolhos. Minimum size: 400mm. IMPORTANT: a boat-based demersal closure applies in the West Coast Bioregion (Kalbarri to Augusta) until at least September 2027 — you cannot target or retain demersal scalefish, including bluebone, there during the closure. Possession limit applies. Always check current DPIRD rules — regulations may change.

Perth Tips

Coral Bay, Exmouth, the Mackerel and Montebello Islands and the broader Pilbara and Kimberley reefs are the productive grounds. Fish heavier than feels necessary — a hooked tuskfish over rubble will test 80lb leader. Use a release weight for any undersized fish brought up from depth, and know the demersal closure boundaries before you drop a bait anywhere from Kalbarri to Augusta.

Where to Catch Bluebone (Blackspot Tuskfish)
Coral Bay (South Ningaloo) Dampier / Karratha (Hampton Harbour / Hearson's Cove) Exmouth (North Ningaloo / North West Cape) Houtman Abrolhos Islands (Wallabi / Easter / Pelsaert Groups) Mackerel Islands (Thevenard Island / Direction Island) Montebello Islands (Conservation Park / Marine Park)
← All species