Common names
Golden snapper, Big-scaled bream, Fingermark bream, Fingermark seaperch, John's sea-perch, Spotted-scale sea perch
John's snapper
Lutjanus johnii
- Saltwater
- Least concern
Max length38.25 in
Common length19.75 in
Length typeTotal Length
Max weight22 lb 1 oz
Depth range0 - 263 ft
Water typeSaltwater
Fish info
IUCN Vulnerability status
Short description
John's snapper have a moderately deep body. They have a steeply sloped forehead and the incision and know on the preoperculum are weakly developed. The vomerine teeth are arranged in a crescent-shaped patch with no rearward extension although there is a patch of granular teeth on the tongue. Their overall colour is yellow, with a sheen of bronze or silvery, becoming silvery-white on the abdomen. There is a rusty spot at the centre of each scale creating the appearance of horizontal lines along the flanks. There is a sizeable black blotch below the front of the soft-rayed part of the dorsal fin which is mostly above the lateral line, although this may be absent in adults. The soft part of the dorsal fin and the anal fin has a rounded shape and the caudal fin is truncate or weakly emarginate.
Habitat
The adult fish are thought to be inhabitants of coral reefs (they are more numerous over deep reefs than over reefs in shallower waters), hard substrates in silty and sandy coastal and offshore areas, while the juveniles use the shelter of mangroves.
Distribution
A wide Indo-Pacific distribution. They occur from the eastern African coast where they range from the southern Red Sea to South Africa, across the Indian Ocean into the Pacific as far as Fiji. They are found as far north as the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan and south to northern Australia.
Behaviour
A predatory species which prey on fishes and benthic invertebrates such as crustaceans and cephalopods. Spawning has been observed during September in the Andaman Sea. The large adults school in turbid waters.
Edibility
Golden snapper are delicious with firm white meat and clean taste that can be cooked a number of ways like most Snapper.
Lure suggestion
Golden snapper will take small, deep-diving lures around reefs and other underwater forms. Offshore, snapper are often caught by bottom fishing on heavy lines but lighter tackle is fine for estuaries. Good bait: squid (works best), pilchard, prawns.