recreational fishing in western australia subviridis tarwhine (Silver bream) Rhabdosargus sarba Western yellowfin bream (Yellowfin bream) Acanthopagrus latus northwest black bream

recreational fishing in western australia

northern fish identification guide

March 2011

2 northern fish identification guide

Cover: Spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus) Photo: Shannon Conway

Published by Department of Fisheries, Perth, Western Australia. Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 87, March 2011.ISSN: 1447 - 2058 ISBN: 978-1-921845-06-2

3northern fish identification guide

this guide has been developed to help you identify the more common species within the Gascoyne and North

Coast bioregions that you may encounter. The purpose of this recreational fishing guide is to greatly enhance consistent and accurate species identification.

If you are unsure about a particular species (or if it is not in this guide), please discuss it with a representative of the Department of Fisheries, Western Australia. You can access additional information on the website www.fish.wa.gov.au

about this guide

North Coast(Pilbara/Kimberley)

GascoyneCoast

WestCoast

South Coast

Ashburton River

Kununurra

Broome

Port HedlandKarratha

Onslow

Exmouth

Carnarvon

Denham

Kalbarri

Geraldton

Perth

AugustaBlack Point

Albany

Esperance

Eucla

115°30' E

114° 50' E

27°S

21°46' S

Regions covered by this guide

See Southern Fish Identfication Guide for these regions

http://www.fish.wa.gov.au


contents

About this Guide ...................................................... 3

offshore demersAl ................................................. 5

inshore demersAl .................................................... 5

neArshore............................................................... 11

PelAGic .................................................................... 16

shArks ..................................................................... 19

crusctAceAns ......................................................... 20

indeX of common nAmes ....................................... 21

Five broad ecological depth based habitats are recognised within each bioregion. Finfish species are listed in the habitat where they most commonly occur. Sharks and crustaceans are presented separately as they may occupy many habitats.

Land

250m 20m

200 mile Economic Exclusion Zone

OFFSHORE DEMERSAL PAGE 5

INSHORE DEMERSAL PAGE 5

NEARSHORE PAGE 11

ESTUARINEPELAGIC PAGE 16


offshore demersal

eightbar grouper(Grey banded rockcod, eightbar cod)

Hyporthodus octofasciatus

bass groperPolyprion americanus

ruby snapperEtelis carbunculus

flame snapperEtelis coruscans

inshore demersal

barramundi codCromileptes altivelis

Gold spotted rockcod(Estuary cod, slimy cod, greasy grouper)

Epinephelus coioides

black spotted rockcod(Malabar cod, estuary cod, slimy cod)

Epinephelus malabaricus

rankin cod(White spotted rockcod)Epinephelus multinotatus

Juvenile


inshore demersal (continued)

Potato rockcod Protected sPecies

(Potato cod)Epinephelus tukula

Queensland groper Protected sPecies

(Giant grouper, Queensland grouper)Epinephelus lanceolatus

Yellow spotted rockcod(Spotted cod, honeycomb cod)

Epinephelus areolatus

frostback rockcod(Spotted cod, honeycomb cod, frostback cod)

Epinephelus bilobatus

duskytail grouper(Spotted trout, trout cod)

Epinephelus bleekeri

common coral troutPlectropomus leopardus

barcheek coral trout(Inshore coral trout)

Plectropomus maculatus

Yellowedge coronation trout(Coronation trout, lunartail trout)

Variola louti


robinsons’ seabream(Robinsons’ bream, Robinsons’ perch)

Gymnocranius grandoculis

bluespotted emperor(Lesser spangled emperor)

Lethrinus punctulatus

Yellowtail emperor Lethrinus atkinsoni

Grass emperor(Black snapper, blue-lined emperor,

grass snapper, tricky snapper)Lethrinus laticaudis

redspot emperor(Pink-eared emperor)

Lethrinus lentjan

redthroat emperor(Sweetlip emperor, redthroat)

Lethrinus miniatus

spangled emperor(North west snapper)

Lethrinus nebulosus

longnose emperor(Long-nosed emperor)

Lethrinus olivaceus



rosy threadfin breamNemipterus furcosus

mangrove jack(Jacks)

Lutjanus argentimaculatus

moses snapper(Moses perch, fingermark bream)

Lutjanus russelli

darktail snapper(Maroon seaperch, dark tailed seaperch)

Lutjanus lemniscatus

brownstripe snapper(Flagfish)

Lutjanus vitta

stripey snapper(Spanish flag, stripey seaperch)

Lutjanus carponotatus

crimson snapper(Crimson seaperch, red snapper)

Lutjanus erythropterus

Golden snapper(Fingermark seaperch)

Lutjanus johnii

Juvenile


saddletail snapper(Scarlet seaperch)Lutjanus malabaricus

maori snapper(Maori seaperch)Lutjanus rivulatus

red emperor(Reds)

Lutjanus sebae

Goldband snapperPristipomoides multidens

rosy snapper(Rosy jobfish, crimson jobfish)

Pristipomoides filamentosus

sharptooth snapper(Sharptooth jobfish)Pristipomoides typus

chinamanfish(Chinaman)

Symphorus nematophorus

humphead maori wrasse Protected sPecies Cheilinus undulatus

Juvenile


blackspot tuskfish(Bluebone)

Choerodon schoenleinii

Purple tuskfish(Grass tuskfish, bluebone)

Choerodon cephalotes

bluebarred parrotfishScarus ghobban

Juvenile

Pink snapper(Snapper, pinkie)

Pagrus auratus


Goldspot pigfish(Goldspot foxfish)Bodianus perditio

baldchin groper(Baldies)

Choerodon rubescens

bluespotted tuskfish Choerodon cauteroma

blue tuskfish(Bluebone)

Choerodon cyanodus


frypan breamArgyrops spinifer

Painted sweetlips(Slatey bream, sand snapper)

Diagramma labiosum

Pearl perchGlaucosoma buergeri

West Australian dhufish(Dhufish)

Glaucosoma hebraicum

nearshore

barramundi Lates calcarifer

chinaman cod(Charlie court)

Epinephelus rivulatus

common dart Trachinotus botla

longtomFamily Belonidae


nearshore (continued)

mulloway Argyrosomus japonicus

black jewfish(Northern mulloway)Protonibea diacanthus

Queenfish(Queenie)

Scomberoides spp.

Giant trevally(GT)

Caranx ignobilis

Golden trevally(Banded trevally)

Gnathanodon speciosus

turrum(Gold-spotted trevally)Carangoides fulvoguttatus

blotched javelin(Blotched javelinfish)Pomadasys maculatus

barred javelin(Spotted javelinfish)

Pomadasys kaakan


silver toadfish Poisonous (North-West blowfish)Lagocephalus scleratus

tripletail Lobotes surinamensis

blue threadfin(Bluenose threadfin salmon, blue salmon)

Eleutheronema tetradactylum

king threadfin(Giant threadfin salmon, giant threadfin)

Polydactylus macrochir

oriental bonito Sarda orientalis

tailorPomatomus saltatrix

Giant sea catfish(Giant salmon catfish)

Arius thalassinus

Western butterfish(Butteries)

Pentapodus vitta


nearshore (continued)

sea mulletMugil cephalus

bluetail mulletValamugil buchanani

diamondscale mulletLiza vaigiensis

Greenback mulletLiza subviridis

tarwhine(Silver bream)

Rhabdosargus sarba

Western yellowfin bream(Yellowfin bream)Acanthopagrus latus

northwest black bream(Pikey bream)

Acanthopagrus palmaris, Acanthopagrus berda

Western sooty grunter(Sooty grunter)

Hephaestus jenkinsi


Yellowfin whiting(Western sand whiting, yellowfinned whiting,

silver whiting)Sillago schomburgkii

Goldenline whiting(Golden-lined whiting)

Sillago analis

Western school whiting(School whiting, sand whiting)

Sillago vittata

Yellowtail flathead(Bar-tailed flathead)

Platycephalus endrachtensis

northern sand flathead(Sand flathead, flag tailed flathead)

Platycephalus arenarius

silver cobbler(Lake Argyle catfish, Ord River catfish)

Arius midgleyi


Pelagic

samsonfish(Sambo)

Seriola hippos

AmberjackSeriola dumerili

Yellowtail kingfish(Kingfish, kingie)

Seriola lalandi

mahi mahi(Dolphinfish, dorado)Coryphaena hippurus

spanish mackerel(Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel)

Scomberomorus commerson

shark mackerel(Scaly mackerel, salmon mackerel)

Grammatorcynus bicarinatus

Grey mackerel(Broad barred spanish mackerel,

broad banded mackerel)Scomberomorus semifasciatus

school mackerel(Queensland school mackerel, doggie)

Scomberomorus queenslandicus

Juvenile


spotted mackerel(Australian spotted mackerel)

Scomberomorus munroi

cobia(Black kingfish)

Rachycentron canadum

Wahoo Acanthocybium solandri

Yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares

northern bluefin tunaThunnus orientalis

mackerel tuna(Jack mackerel, kawakawa)

Euthynnus affinis

dogtooth tuna(Doggie)

Gymnosarda unicolor

Great barracudaSphyraena barracuda


Pelagic (continued)

sailfishIstiophorus platypterus

blue marlinMakaira mazara

black marlinMakaira indica

striped marlinTetrapterus audax


sharks

tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier

hammerhead sharksF. Sphyrnidae

Whaler sharksNumerous

Carcharhinus spp.

sandbar shark(Thickskin shark, northern whaler, sand shark)

Carcharhinus plumbeus

sawfish Protected sPecies Family Pristidae


crusctaceans

Western rock lobster Panulirus cygnus

Painted rock lobster(Tropical rock lobster, green rock lobster)

Panulirus versicolor

ornate rock lobsterPanulirus ornatus

blue swimmer crab(Blue manna, blue crab)

Portunus pelagicus

brown mud crabScylla olivacea

Green mud crabScylla serrata

redclaw(Queensland red claw crayfish)

Cherax quadricarinatus

cherabin(Freshwater prawns)Macrobrachium spp.


AAmberjack ................................... 16

bBaldchin groper ........................... 10Barcheek coral trout ...................... 6Barramundi ................................ 11Barramundi cod ............................. 5Barred javelin .............................. 12Bass groper .................................. 5Black jewfish ............................... 12Black marlin ................................ 18Black spotted rockcod ................... 5Blackspot tuskfish ....................... 10Blotched javelin ........................... 12Bluebarred parrotfish ................... 10Blue marlin ................................. 18Bluespotted emperor ..................... 7Bluespotted tuskfish ................... 10Blue swimmer crab ...................... 20Bluetail mullet ............................. 14Blue threadfin ............................. 13Blue tuskfish............................... 10Brown mud crab .......................... 20Brownstripe snapper ...................... 8

cCherabin ..................................... 20Chinaman cod ............................. 11Chinamanfish ................................ 9Cobia ......................................... 17Common coral trout ....................... 6Common dart .............................. 11Crimson snapper ........................... 8

dDarktail snapper............................ 8Diamondscale mullet ................... 14

Dogtooth tuna ............................. 17Duskytail grouper .......................... 6

eEightbar grouper ............................ 5

fFlame snapper .............................. 5Frostback rockcod ......................... 6Frypan bream .............................. 11

GGiant sea catfish ......................... 13Giant trevally ............................... 12Goldband snapper ......................... 9Goldenline whiting ....................... 15Golden snapper ............................. 8Golden trevally ............................ 12Goldspot pigfish .......................... 10Gold spotted rockcod .................... 5Grass emperor .............................. 7Great barracuda .......................... 17Greenback mullet ........................ 14Green mud crab .......................... 20Grey mackerel ............................. 16

hHammerhead sharks ................... 19Humphead Maori wrasse Protected sPecies ............................ 9

kKing threadfin ............................. 13

lLongnose emperor ........................ 7Longtom ..................................... 11

indeX of common names


mMackerel tuna ............................. 17Mahi mahi .................................. 16Mangrove jack ............................... 8Maori snapper ............................... 9Moses snapper ............................. 8Mulloway..................................... 12

nNorthern bluefin tuna .................. 17Northern sand flathead ................ 15Northwest black bream ................ 14

oOriental bonito ............................ 13Ornate rock lobster...................... 20

PPainted rock lobster .................... 20Painted sweetlips ........................ 11Pearl perch ................................. 11Pink snapper ............................... 10Potato rockcod Protected sPecies ....... 6Purple tuskfish ............................ 10

QQueenfish ................................... 12Queensland groper Protected sPecies . 6

rRankin cod ................................... 5Redclaw ...................................... 20Red emperor ................................. 9Redspot emperor .......................... 7Redthroat emperor ........................ 7Robinsons’ seabream .................... 7Rosy snapper ................................ 9Rosy threadfin bream .................... 8Ruby snapper ................................ 5

sSaddletail snapper ........................ 9Sailfish ....................................... 18Samsonfish ................................ 16Sandbar shark ............................ 19Sawfish Protected sPecies .............. 19School mackerel.......................... 16Sea mullet .................................. 14Shark mackerel ........................... 16Sharptooth snapper ....................... 9Silver cobbler .............................. 15Silver toadfish Poisonous .............. 13Spangled emperor ......................... 7Spanish mackerel ........................ 16Spotted mackerel ........................ 17Striped marlin ............................. 18Stripey snapper ............................. 8

tTailor .......................................... 13Tarwhine ..................................... 14Tiger shark ................................. 19Tripletail ...................................... 13Turrum ........................................ 12

WWahoo ........................................ 17West Australian dhufish ............... 11Western butterfish ....................... 13Western rock lobster ................... 20Western School whiting ................ 15Western sooty grunter ................. 14Western yellowfin bream .............. 14Whaler sharks ............................. 19

YYellowedge coronation trout ........... 6Yellowfin tuna .............................. 17Yellowfin whiting .......................... 15

indeX of common names (continued)


Yellow spotted rockcod .................. 6Yellowtail emperor ......................... 7Yellowtail flathead ....................... 15Yellowtail kingfish ........................ 16

dePArtment of fisheries – heAd office3rd Floor, The Atrium,

168 St George’s Terrace, Perth 6000 Ph: (08) 9482 7333 Fax: (08) 9482 7389

Website: www.fish.wa.gov.au e-mail: [email protected]

ABN: 55 689 794 771

Before you leave, tell someone about your boating plans, and if these change during the voyage, notify them immediately. Always report in when you return.

The information in this guide is current at the time of the date of printing, but may change. For the most up-to-date information on fisheries and fishing rules in plain English, check the Department of Fisheries’ website at www.fish.wa.gov.au or contact the Department before going fishing.

The latest version of each brochure is available for download in PDF format from the website. For legislation, a link from the website will take you to the State Law Publisher.

RES667 MAR 2011Illustrations © R.Swainston/www.anima.net.au

Produced for the survey of recreational fishing in Western Australia.

Documents

recreational fishing in western australia subviridis tarwhine (Silver bream) Rhabdosargus sarba Western yellowfin bream (Yellowfin bream) Acanthopagrus latus northwest black bream