Black jewfish

Black jewfish are one of the most popular reef fish for anglers in the Northern Territory (NT).

They fight hard and they can grow up to 150cm and weight up to 45kg.

Scientific name

Protonibea diacanthus.

Black jewfish grow relatively fast in comparison to other popular reef fish, such as the golden snapper.

They can reach almost 60cm in their first year and 90cm in their second.

Fifty percent of black jewfish are sexually mature at 89cm or around 2 years of age, and can live up to 13 years.

Peak reproductive activity of black jewfish in the coastal waters of the NT occurs during a single extended season.

This occurs from August to January, with spawning activity peaking in December when water temperatures have increased.

Black jewfish are a highly aggregative species, making them an easy target for catching in large numbers and prone to overexploitation.

Black jewfish can be caught using baited hook and lures.

They are also highly prone to barotrauma in depths greater than 10m and should not be targeted for catch and release.