Coronation trout are one of the flashiest reef fish you’ll come across, with bright red colouring and electric blue spots that stand out straight away. They fight hard, hit lures and baits with intent, and are a favourite for anglers fishing tropical reef country.
In Australia you’ll mainly find coronation trout right across the tropical north, especially on coral reefs off Queensland, the Northern Territory and northern Western Australia. They like clear water around bommies, reef edges, drop-offs and broken coral country, usually from shallow reef tops down into deeper ledges.
They’re classic reef ambush hunters, feeding on small fish, squid and crustaceans that move past the structure. Most of the time they sit tight around cover, then belt a meal fast when the chance comes. If bait is stacked on a reef edge, coronation trout won’t be far away.
Tide-wise, they usually fire best when there’s enough run to push bait across reef edges, with the building part of the tide often better than dead slack water. Low light can help a lot, especially early morning, late afternoon or under a bit of cloud, because they’ll move out from cover and feed more confidently. Light to moderate wind is usually ideal since it gives the reef some life without making it hard to hold position or work lures properly. Smaller swell or a gentle roll is generally better than a big sea, because heavy swell can dirty shallow reef water and make fish harder to find on the top edges.
A medium-heavy overhead or spin setup with abrasion-resistant leader is a smart choice, because these fish love trying to brick you back into the reef. Soft plastics, deep vibes, stickbaits and metal jigs all work, and fresh flesh baits or pilchard chunks fished close to structure get eaten too. Keep your drag solid and hit them hard early.
Despite the name, coronation trout aren’t a true trout at all — they’re actually a coral reef grouper.