(family: lutjanidae) 

Fingermark are easily identified by the large dark blotch found beneath the soft dorsal fin, which can change its intensity with the fishes mood. Other common names include fingermark bream, big scale red, large-scale sea perch and golden snapper in the NT.

Numbers of these fish are plentiful on the cape, both on inshore reefs and estuaries. In estuaries and from rocky headlands they can be caught on deep diving lures, while in deep water they feed actively on cut fresh baits and squid.

Typically similar size fish will school together, in areas with a rocky/rubble type bottom. In my humble opinion they are the finest eating fish going around (a big call I know, but this is my favourite), and provide the angler with a hard fight all the way back to the boat.

The biggest I’ve caught up here was 9.5 kg.

Bag Limits in Qld apply, a min size of 35cm and max 10 fish per person.