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The Coral trout ranks amongst our premier food fishes, and justifiably so; it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful coloured of our eating fishes, and yields firm textured white meat fillets. It is recognised by the square cut tail and the abundance of small brilliant blue spots over the body, head and fins; always circular in form, never elongated or bar-like.
Fish taken from deep water are bright red in colour when brought aboard. This dominant colour fades through pink to a dull slate grey immediately after capture. The brilliance of the blue spots, and even their number, vary with the mood of the fish. Some Coral Trout caught in the shallow water are uniformly greyish or even black; others quite white.
This is a hard fighting fish which is generally taken on baits of cut fish and such small bait species as hardyheads, ponyfish and herring. The Coral Trout gives excellent sport to anglers working with artificial lures or plugs, but is apt to dive into refuge among the coral clumps while being played. The general run of fish lie within the 2 to 4 kg bracket.
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