Red emperor (government bream)
Lutjanus sebae
Officers of DPI Fisheries
This is a regulated fish. See Recreational fishing rules in Queensland - Tidal waters for the current regulations.
Description
Red emperor are deep pink with three bright red oblique lines crossing their body. The red lines are very distinct in younger fish, but fade with age and after death. Their fins are usually edged white. These fish have a prominent "U"-shaped notch in the foremost cleft of the gill cover. This fact distinguishes them from large-mouth nannygai which only have a slight indentation. Red emperor are commonly caught at around 10kg or less, but can grow to more than 22kg (116cm). These fish take around 3.5 years to reach sexual maturity. At maturity they are around 50cm in length.
Habitat/distribution
The red emperor is a marine species, and often occurs in the vicinity of coral reefs, but also over soft bottoms to depths of about 100m. They inhabit tropical and sub-tropical waters. They are found in a variety of habitats including coral reef lagoons, reefs, sand flats and gravel patches. Juveniles generally inhabit nearshore mangrove habitats with turbid waters or offshore reefs. Red emperor can be solitary or form schools of similar sized fish.
Further information
Department of Primary Industries. (2002). Fish Guide. Saltwater, Freshwater and Noxious Species. The Great Outdoors Publications, Brisbane.
Grant, E.M. (2002). Grant's Guide To Fishes. E.M. Grant Pty Limited, Brisbane.
Note: Some information in this publication may change from time to time (especially size and in-possession limits). You should contact your nearest Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol or the DPI&F Call Centre (13 25 23) for latest fisheries regulations and information.
This DPI Note is also published on the DPI&F's PrimeNotes CD-ROM.
Information contained in this publication is provided as general advice only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought. The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Queensland has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the information in this publication is accurate at the time of publication. Readers should ensure that they make appropriate inquiries to determine whether new information is available on the particular subject matter.
File No: f00049
Last reviewed 19 December 2003
