Secrets to Catch Red Emperor in Broome, Western Australia

Secrets to Catching Red Emperor

by Gino Chambers

Fishing for and catching Red Emperor off the coast of Broome, Western Australia, is an angler's dream, offering both a significant challenge and the promise of a memorable experience. This guide delves deep into the intricacies of catching this esteemed species, revealing the secrets that lie beneath the surface of Broome's waters.

What is a Red Emperor?

The Red Emperor, Lutjanus sebae, is a member of the Lutjanidae family, celebrated for its significance in recreational and commercial fishing. This family is renowned for both the toughness and the culinary delight of its members, which include the mangrove jack and fingermark bream, indicating the formidable nature and delicious taste of the Red Emperor. These fish inhabit the Indo-Pacific region, with a notable presence in Western Australia's waters, especially around Broome. They can live for over 32 years and are known for their striking red coloration and robust build.

Author with a pair of juvenile red emperor - notice the distinctive banded marking.

How to Identify Red Emperor

Identifying a Red Emperor is typically straightforward, thanks to its distinctive red coloration and body shape. Adults boast a deep red to pink colour, with large scales and a pronounced snout, reaching lengths of up to 100 cm. Juveniles display a paler red background marked by three darker red bars, making their colour pattern distinctly striking.

The striking colour and shape of an adult red emperor. 

Best Conditions to Catch Red Emperor

While Red Emperor can be caught throughout the day, they are more active during the night, venturing out of their shelters to feed. This nocturnal activity pattern suggests that fishing during dusk, dawn, or night may yield better results.

Distribution and Movement

Red Emperor's distribution extends up to the Abrolhos Islands, with Shark Bay marking the southern boundary of their typical range. Their presence below Shark Bay is rare, making the waters off Broome an ideal fishing spot. Despite their widespread presence, little is known about their breeding habits, migration, or movement patterns.

Classic red emperor caught in Broome on a hybrid jig.

Threats to the Red Emperor fishery

The primary threat to Red Emperor is habitat destruction caused by trawling, which can damage the coral environments they inhabit. With some areas reporting remaining biomass as low as 20 percent, Red Emperor are considered vulnerable to overfishing, highlighting the importance of sustainable fishing practices.

Size and Possession Limits for Red Emperor

The minimum legal size in Western Australia is 41 cm, with a bag limit of 2 per person, underscoring the need to adhere to local regulations to support conservation efforts. See below for a link to up-to-date regulations.

Gear for Red Emperor

Successful anglers targeting big Red Emperor typically opt for lines no lighter than 24kg, with many favouring the benefits of braided lines. Hooks should be strong, a 7/0 - 10/0 circle hook has proven effective for this species.

Red Emperors are not particularly selective when it comes to bait, if it is fresh and of a reasonable size. Whole squid and fresh strip bait are excellent choices. When it comes to lures, slow-pitch jigs, soft plastics and hybrid style jigs are highly effective.

Lures for red emperor include large soft plastics, slow pitch jigs and hybrid jigs that can be fished down deep.

Tackle World Broome suggested outfits for Emperor:

A light overhead set up is often preferred. Rods in the PE 2-4 Range with a light tip but strong backbone. These match up well with reels such as Daiwa Lexa 300 or Shimano Tranx 300. When choosing line look for something with a lighter PE rating but high breaking strain. A good option is Cast X12 Jigging Braid.

Tackle World Broome

Tackle World Broome is your one stop shop for fishing gear and advice in Broome. We aim to have all the latest products best suited to our fishing region. We are locally owned and operated with the buying power of over 40 stores so our prices remain competitive with the big online stores.

Address: 33 Carnarvon Street, Broome, WA 6725
Phone: 08 9192 1669

WA Fishing Regulations & Bag Limits