Photograph by Carlos Villoch

Coral trout are beautifully marked, robust, predatory reef fish of tropical waters. They belong to the same large group of grouper-like fish as the tropical Australian saltwater cods (Serranidae). Coral trout have large mouths and sharp, widely-spaced canine teeth. Colouration varies between species and locations; from greenish-brown in shallow water, through brick-red to bright red in deeper water, but always with an overlay of blue or red spots.

Many consider the coral trout with its firm, very white and delicately-flavoured flesh with fine flakes and low oil content to be one of the finest table fish in Australian waters. It is highly-prized and highly-priced on the eastern seaboard and in south-east Asia.

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