Red Emperor
Offshore / ReefDeep-water tropical snapper and one of the most prized demersal fish in northern WA. Found from the Abrolhos northward, but the recreational fishery is centred on the Gascoyne and North Coast bioregions in 40–120m of water. Slow-growing, long-lived, and managed within tight mixed-bag rules.
Red emperor are the trophy demersal of WA's tropical north — deep-bodied, vivid red, and a fish that grows slowly enough that big breeders are decades old. They live on rubble and broken bottom in 40–120m, often holding alongside spangled emperor, rankin cod and tropical snappers. The Gascoyne and North Coast bioregions hold the bulk of the recreational catch; south of Kalbarri they're a rare bycatch. Because they're slow-growing and breed at size, the bag rules are conservative and barotrauma management matters — release tools and weighted releasers are standard kit.
Whole squid, butterflied mullet, slimy mackerel fillet, octopus strips, large pilchards
Slow-pitch jigs 150–300g, large soft plastics on heavy jigheads, vertical knife jigs
Paternoster rig with two 8/0–10/0 circle hooks on heavy droppers and an 80–100lb mono leader. Use enough sinker — typically 16–32oz — to hold bottom in deep water and current. Some anglers run a snelled twin-hook on a single dropper for big baits. Strong knots, sharp hooks, and quality terminals are essential at depth.
Drift or lightly anchor over rubble and reef edges in 40–120m, dropping baits to the bottom and winding two cranks up. Reds favour the corners of reef structure rather than the peaks. Slow-pitch jigging works well when fish are aggressive — short, sharp lifts off the bottom. When you find a school, mark the spot and work it methodically. Use a release weight for any fish you're not keeping; barotrauma is real at depth.
Northern WA fishes year-round, with the cooler months (May–September) offering the best weather windows in the Gascoyne and Pilbara. Tide changes trigger the bite; neap tides make bottom-fishing easier than springs. Dawn and dusk are most productive.
Up to 20kg, commonly 4–10kg
Year-round (Gascoyne, Pilbara, Kimberley)
Premium table fish — firm white flesh, very mild flavour, holds together well on the grill or in curries. Bleed immediately and ice on capture; the flesh deteriorates faster than it appears in tropical conditions. Roe and wings are also good eating.
Bag limit: 2 (within the demersal mixed bag of 5 in Gascoyne/North Coast, with emperors capped at 3 of that 5). Minimum size: 41cm. The West Coast demersal closure applies south of Kalbarri until spring 2027. Always check current DPIRD rules — regulations may change.
Charters out of Exmouth, Onslow, Dampier and Broome target reds as a headline species. Inshore reefs around the Mackerel and Montebello Islands hold them in summer. Common rookie mistakes are using gear too light for the depth, and not having a release weight on board — you'll need one for undersized fish or a full bag.