Red Emperor, scientifically known as Lutjanus sebae, is a stunning, deep-red colored fish with a distinctive shape and a striking appearance.
It is renowned not only for its vibrant colours and fighting ability, but also for its delectable taste.
In September 2023 we headed to Yeppoon in Central Queensland to visit friends.
Thankfully we were invited to head offshore on a dynamite weather window (absolute glass) to chase Red Emperor and other prized fish like large mouth Nannygai and Tuskfish.
Best Times to Catch Red Emperor:
The Red Emperor is generally available year-round in the waters around Yeppoon. Locals tell me that the best time to catch them is when the water starts to warm up around September, October. The cooler months from April to October generally offer better weather conditions.
You’ll catch trophy versions of this stunning fish anywhere from 40m but predominantly inhabit waters of 50 m plus.
The weather leading up to the full moon are generally best with fish most active at night.
A welcome bycatch is large-mouth nannygai, gold band snapper, coral trout, spangled emperor, grass sweetlip, cod and tuskies.
Not a bad idea to troll a bait for spaniards on the way out over shoals and shallower country. If they’re there you’ll see them on your sounder.
If you don’t know what to look for, it’s all covered in our online course Sounder Skills 2.
You can also be lucky catching smaller specimens of Red Emperor around rocky headlands as shallow as 10 metres.
Equipment and Bait:
Red Emperor will take a myriad of baits and jigs including our Levitator.
A decent offshore boat with good sounder technology is a must. On this occasion set off early and travelled out in a 6.6m hydrofield.
Braided fishing lines with a minimum of 30-50lb breaking strain are recommended.
Using a paternoster rig and back off the sinker size when the current backs off – just enough to get your bait to the desired depth.
When using live bait I like to use a circle hook.
Remember to maintain a tight line and be prepared for a strong fight when you get a bite, as Red Emperor are known for their tenacity.
Red Emperor have also been implicated in ciguatera poisoning – so beware of eating large portions of super large specimens.
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I hope you enjoyed our video chasing red emperor in Central Queensland.
Check out some of our previous tips, tricks and fishing action as we travel around.
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