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As its name implies, the Mangrove Jack is found in rivers and mangrove creeks of the whole of the Queensland coastline; it is a beautiful, hard fighting fish, and has the added feature of being excellent eating.
Although occasionally captured in northern arrowhead fish-traps, this species is more generally taken by line-fishing amateurs. Baits used are generally small fish (preferably alive), prawns and flesh baits, especially Striped Sea-pike and Mullet. These are floated out on lines without sinkers of any kind; the first intimation of a bite is usually a swift and strong run which may lead to snagging among mangrove roots and other hazards unless promptly controlled.
In recent years a sport-fishery has developed which relies on trolling plugs and lures at slow speeds in the vicinity of submerged trees and similar snags. A 2.7-kg (six-pound) fish can strike with sufficient force to deform the standard ganghooks and to smash gear to 7 kg (15 lb.) strain.
The Mangrove Jack takes the name Dog Bream from the sharp and powerful dog-like teeth in the front jaw region; these can inflict nasty wounds-even to puncturing the base of a thumb-nail-and care is necessary when unhooking even small examples. Small groups of Mangrove Jacks take up residence in proximity to jetties and rock-walls where they fall easy prey to unscrupulous spear-gunners.
This fish grows to a weight of 16 kg (36 lb.); however, line-fishermen rarely take them at weights above 4 kg (9 lb.). The body varies from bright pink to reddish-brown in colour; each scale carries a dark mark that forms into longitudinal lines. Often a thin wavy blue line is set on the cheeks, below the eye.
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