Common names
Mangrove jack, Grey snapper, Creek red bream, Stuart evader, Dog bream, Purple sea perch, Red bream, Red perch, Red reef bream, River roman
Mangrove red snapper
Lutjanus argentimaculatus
- Saltwater
- Least concern
Max length59 in
Common length31.5 in
Length typeTotal Length
Max weight17 lb 10 oz
Depth range4 - 394 ft
Max age31 years
Water typeSaltwater
Water temperature61 - 86 °F
Fish info
IUCN Vulnerability status
Short description
The colouration of mangrove red snapper ranges from burnt orange to copper, to bronze and dark reddish-brown, depending on its age and environment. Younger fish caught in estuarine areas are often darker than older fish taken from offshore reef areas and exhibit lighter vertical bands down their flanks. Fins have a pinkish hue, with the tail generally a darker shade. Each scale has a dark spot, which gives the appearance of cris-crossing lines on the body. Like other tropical snappers, mangrove jacks have prominent canine teeth in their jaws that are used for seizing and holding prey. These teeth can cause a nasty injury to unwary fishers. In reef areas, mangrove red snappers are sometimes confused with two-spot red snapper or red bass. The red bass, however, is usually darker in colouration, has fewer dorsal-fin spines, scale rows on the back that rise obliquely from the lateral line, and a deep groove from the nostrils to the eyes.
Habitat
As its name implies, the mangrove red snapper is commonly found in mangrove-lined estuarine systems, although is known to migrate to offshore reefs to spawn.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Samoa and the Line Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia. Has dispersed into the eastern Mediterranean (off Lebanon) via the Suez Canal but not well established there.
Behaviour
The species is carnivorous, they are predators, feeding mainly at night on fish, crustaceans, gastropods, and cephalopod molluscs. As ambush predators, they often dwell around mangrove roots, fallen trees, rock walls, and any other snag areas where smaller prey reside for protection. As they mature, mangrove red snappers move into open waters, sometimes hundreds of kilometres from the coast to breed.
Edibility
Mangrove Jacks are excellent for eating fish and reveal firm, sweet-tasting white flesh.
Lure suggestion
They love surface lures (splash prawns, suga pens, stick baits, paddle tail plastics & poppers), especially around dusk, and dawn and at night around pontoons, bridges, pillars, pylons, mangrove lines and rock bars and walls. Also takes the cast and trolled deep-diving lures. Good bait: mullet, yellowtail, herring, prawns, oily fish such as tuna.
Similar species
Other similar species
Golden snapper, Red bass, Two-spot red snapper, Mangrove jack