GOLDEN SNAPPER: A PRIZED BUT VULNERABLE NORTH AUSTRALIAN FISH
- katherine831
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
Anglers and outdoor enthusiasts cherish the thrill of a successful fishing trip—there's nothing quite like reeling in a prized catch, particularly when it comes to one of northern Australia's most sought-after fish: the golden snapper. This species, renowned for its exceptional eating and fighting qualities, holds a special place in the hearts of fishing communities across our northern coastline. However, the latest golden snapper stock assessment has raised serious concerns.
Stock Decline and Management
The recent stock assessment found that golden snapper stocks in the Greater Darwin region are at just 21% of unfished levels—around one-fifth of their original population. The current catch rate is more than double the sustainable level, indicating that urgent action is needed to prevent further decline.
Fisheries NT conducts stock assessments to ensure the sustainable management of Northern Territory aquatic resources. These assessments utilise long-term data sets collected from recreational fishing surveys, charter and commercial fishing logbooks, biological information (including length and age), and stock structure research.
Golden snapper are an important indicator species for the stock condition of similar inshore reef fish. Their biological traits—including slow growth, late maturity, and long lifespan—make them particularly vulnerable to overfishing.
Laura Tolmay hooked into the fun with this lively golden snapper. It was caught in only 5m of water and swam away strongly upon release.
Understanding the Golden snapper
Golden snapper (Lutjanus johnii) are highly prized for their hard-fighting nature and excellent eating quality. They can grow up to 100cm in length, weigh as much as 11kg, and live up to 20 years.
These fish are commonly found in inshore coral and rocky reef areas. They form large spawning aggregations from September to April, with females capable of producing millions of eggs during spawning.
Juveniles spend several years in estuarine and inshore reef habitats before migrating to offshore reefs as they reach sexual maturity. Sexual maturity occurs at approximately 63cm or 8 years for females and 47cm or 5 years for males.
Compared to many other NT fish species, golden snapper are long-lived, slow-growing, and late-maturing. These biological characteristics, combined with their tendency to school, make them easy targets and highly susceptible to overexploitation.
Sustainable Fishing Practices
To alleviate pressure on golden snapper and other reef species, fishers can adopt best-practice behaviours, including:
· Targeting alternative species such as barramundi or pelagic species that are less prone to barotrauma.
· Keeping only reef fish within the possession limit, as they are unlikely to survive if released, rather than releasing many small fish in search of a prize catch.
· Changing locations if consistently catching juvenile or unwanted reef fish.
· Using large non-offset circle hooks (at least 5/0) to prevent catching undersized fish.
Reef Fish Protection Areas
To support the recovery of heavily fished reef species, including golden snapper and black jewfish, reef fish protection areas were introduced in 2015. Recreational and commercial fishing is prohibited in these areas, although vessels may pass through as long as they remain underway.
These protected zones are closely monitored by NT Fisheries through methods such as abundance surveys and population studies.
Top NT fishing guide Rob Robinson with a beauty at Seven Spirit Bay. Caught in water deeper than 10m, it could not be released, but strict bag limits were observed.
Understanding Possession Limits
Golden snapper are not suitable for catch and release in waters deeper than 10m, as they are highly prone to barotrauma. Possession limits are strictly enforced to protect the species:
Personal possession limit: 3 golden snapper
Vessel possession limits: Vessels with four or fewer people: Each person may take their personal possession limit.
Vessels with five to seven people: A maximum of four times the personal possession limit of at-risk species is allowed.
Vessels with eight or more people: A maximum of eight times the personal possession limit of at-risk species is allowed.
The remaining general possession limit may include other fish species.
Future Recovery Plan
Under the Northern Territory’s Coastal Line Fishery Harvest Strategy, the low biomass of Golden snapper requires Fisheries NT to develop a recovery plan for the Greater Darwin region. This draft recovery plan will be developed in consultation with key stakeholders and is expected to be released for public comment in 2025.
By following sustainable fishing practices and adhering to regulations, fishers can play a vital role in protecting the future of Golden snapper populations and ensuring that this iconic species continues to thrive for generations to come.
