Fish Species in the Northern Territory

Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson)

A great fighting fish normally caught on lures or spoons. It hits hard, runs with increbible strength and has very sharp teeth. Grows to 60kg. Good catches are 5-20kg and must be bled and chilled immediately. One of the best eating fishes as fillets or steaks simply grilled with a squeeze of lemon juice.

Barramundi (Lates calcarifer)

The legendary hard-hitting fresh water fighting fish of the NT also happens to be one of the best table fish you can catch. Their prawn-based diet may be the reaon they are so tasty. They grow up to 60kg and are often caught on lures or prawns close to submerged logs and snags. Watch out for your gear!

Giant Trevally (Caranx ignobilis)

Another superb fighting fish that will take all of your skill and strength to land. If you're fishing with hand lines make sure you wear gloves, as they are known to pull hard and fast. The GT Grows up to 52 kg and those up to 15 kg are an acceptable table fish, especially cut in large cubes in a fish curry.

Mangrove Jack (Lutjanus argentimaculatus)

One of the most aggressive and powerful fish the "Jack" can be found up to 16kg, although 1-2 kg specimens are perfect. A great table fish, they are most often caught in similar habitats to the Barramundi on floating baits. Beware, they often play dead and then leap about causing havoc with their sharp dorsal fins.

Red Emperor (Lutjanus sebae)

Another fantastic eating fish. There is little better eating than steamed red emperor Asian-style. The "reddie" can grow to over 20 kg and is found in the deeper waters and channels around reefs. A great fighter that challenges every foot of the way into the boat, whose sheer beauty is only surpassed by its taste.

Other common species include:

Shark Jewfish Sailfish Queenfish Coral Trout Spangled Emperor

Red Throated Emperor Saddle Tail Snapper Golden Snapper Various Tuna Cod Saratoga