Things to do
Coral Trout
Land a trout on the end of your line
Tucking into a plate of freshly grilled fish that you’ve hand-plucked from the sea is one of life’s most delicious pleasures. And while it’s true to say that any fish you’ve caught yourself tastes pretty good, the coral trout – native to the waters of the Great Barrier Reef – is as good as it gets.
Widely recognised as Australia’s best eating fish – you’ll find the firm white pearly flesh featured on seafood menus across the country – the coral trout, which is not actually a trout but a member is the grouper and cod family, is also one of the most popular catches in the reef waters of Tropical North Queensland.
Coral trout can be caught from a boat on rods or handlines, or by spear fishing, and you can often see schools of the colourful fish when snorkelling on the reef. You can’t miss them: they’re pink and covered with electric blue spots. Like everywhere in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, there are bag limits and zoning rules for fishing, but you’re allowed 10 coral trout per bag as long as they are more than 38cm in size, enough to feed even the hungriest crew.
Catch a Coral Trout on a tour with Cairns Reef Fishing
