John Fish/John Snapper

Description

Lutjanus johnii, commonly known as John’s snapper or the golden snapper, is a marine fish native to the western Pacific and Indian Oceans, from East Africa to Fiji and Australia. In Queensland, Northern Territory, and other parts of Australia, it is perhaps known more commonly as fingermark bream, and is arguably one of the best estuarial eating fish. The former name is generally used when the fish is in much larger sizes, with juveniles and young adults usually referred to as the latter. It has a remarkably slow growth rate, so release is encouraged and bag limits apply. It can grow to about 8 kg in weight, although 10-kg fish have been recorded off the coast of Cairns, though even a small individual provides a substantial fight. They are not recommended to be targeted for catch and release when fishing in depths of 10 m or over, as the species is highly susceptible to barotrauma. Fingermark encounters often occur when targeting other species such as barramundi, and can be distinguished by their golden-brown to reddish skin tint and dark “finger mark” beneath the dorsal fin – colourations both lost as the species dies once taken from the water or grows in size. Colourations are extremely prominent in juvenile fish. They are members of the snapper genus Lutjanus, which also includes mangrove jack and other well-known table species.