Red emperor are the undeniable kings of the Queensland offshore reef. They have an epic look, fight like bulls and are great on the plate. These fish can be tough to catch; Chris Raimondi provides some key tips and techniques to help you snare a few..

Lutjanus Sebae or the mighty red emperor is arguably the most prized offshore reef fish in Queensland waters. No matter how many you catch or how often you catch them, it’s almost impossible to lose the feeling of excitement and jubilation when those striking colours of bright orange and red hit the surface. There are a number of reasons why these fish are such a satisfying capture. In fact, when you really think about it, there is nothing easy about catching red emperor consistently.
They can be tough to locate, they tend to live in areas of high current flow, be finicky when feeding and once they’re hooked, their brutal fighting qualities make them exceptionally hard to get to the boat. As table fish go, reds are right up there, vying for the gold medal with the likes of coral trout and pearl perch. Unfortunately, sharks tend to rate their eating qualities as highly as humans do so that’s another challenge to overcome.
When you roll all of those factors together and consider that they can grow in excess of 20 kg, you begin to understand why red emperor truly are the prize capture in Queensland offshore waters. There aren’t too many anglers who have mastered the mighty red but there are a few key tactics you can use to ensure the odds of catching a few are in your favour.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!
Finding areas which are likely to hold reds in south-east and central Queensland is easier said than done but there are a few key factors to consider. Firstly, finding the correct water depth is vital. Red emperor tend to feed and reside in depths between 45 to 65 metres. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule but it’s a key starting point in your search for the mighty red fish. Structure on the bottom is of key importance as it allows cover for fish to reside and areas of which they can ambush their prey. This structure could be in the form of a coral reef, steep rocky ledge, pinnacle or bombie or simply an area of rubble grounds.
The presence of bait is of equal importance. As red emperors tend to reside among a reef system, they will typically feed on smaller preys which co-inhabit that system. Food sources include squid, shrimp, crustaceans, molluscs and fish species such as hussar, yakka and any flesh which has become available through predatory scuffles higher in the water column. Reds are a typical ambush predator that will sit tight to the bottom amongst the reef while allowing food to come to them. Not as commonly known is the fact that reds often tend to move around in areas of flat, rubble bottom, searching for food and settling in when they find it. This is an important factor to note when fishing areas where you’ve previously caught reds. Although the fish may not be present on your original mark, they may be in close vicinity, particularly if there is enough bait to hold them in the area.

It just doesn’t get any better!

A show like this would make any red angler do weak at the knees!

RIGS AND TECHNIQUES
The fact that red emperor are a true ‘bottom feeder’ ensures that the only way to target them effectively is to keep your offering hard against the bottom, or at worst, 2-3 m off the structure. Again, this is easier said than done, especially in deep areas of high current flow. The first idea that springs to mind is to ‘bottom bash’ using a traditional paternoster rig with the biggest sinker you can find and anchor your bait on the floor. While this is actually a valid way of targeting reds, showing a greater degree of finesse in your approach will increase your chances of success and offer a more comfortable way to fish. By slightly modifying your typical ‘float’ rig more commonly used for dead bait snapper fishing, you’ve got an exceptionally effective rig for bottom fishing for red emperor. Upsize your sinker weight to an 8, 9 or 10 ball depending on the speed of the current. Rig your ‘running’ ball sinker below a swivel, directly onto a set of three gang hooks or two snelled Gamakatsu Octopus 9/Os. A small lumo green bead between your hooks and sinker will protect your knot from coming into contact with your sinker while also acting as an attractant element in dark, deep waters. For fishing live baits, employ the snelled hook option and simply rig the sinker above the swivel. This will allow your live bait to swim freely.
Another really effective rig involves slightly modifying a traditional paternoster rig by employing a three way swivel. Attach around a metre of lighter line to the vertical three way swivel point and attach a snapper sinker of adequate weight. Rig around 75 cm of leader to the other swivel point and attach your three gang or snelled hooks. The advantage of this rig is that while your sinker sits anchored to the bottom, your live or dead bait will waft naturally in the current, away from any resistance imparted by the weight of the sinker.
The key with any rig is to maintain contact with the bottom while allowing your bait to be in the strikezone for as long as possible. As with any style of reef fishing, use the lightest sinker weight possible while still ensuring your bait is easily reaching the bottom. The heavier your sinker weight, the more it negatively impacts the natural presentation of your bait.
LINE AND LEADER
Red emperor can be brutal on your gear and the fight is often won and lost in the first few moments after hook up. For this reason, you need to have supreme confidence in your line, leader, terminal tackle and drag capacity of your reel. The keyword in that last sentence is confidence. Just like you have a ‘confidence’ lure for chasing flathead or snapper, use line, leader and gear that you’re confident will stand up to a big red emperor.
The braid vs. monofilament argument is especially relevant when targeting reds. The no-stretch characteristic of braid makes it perfect for bite detection and exceptional for ensuring constant contact with the bottom. However the downfall of no stretch is that it’s quite easy to pull hooks during the fight as red emperor tend to put in short, sharp, powerful surges which place an enormous amount of pressure on your knots, hook points and the line in general. Unfortunately, when braid comes in contact with rock or reef, there is only ever one winner so this too needs to be taken into consideration. Monofilament on the other hand is perfect for fighting big reds with the stretch capacity of the line acting as a shock absorber. However in deep water and heavy currents, it is tough to maintain contact with your bait on the bottom when using mono. The most effective solution is to use a hybrid approach; 60 to 80 lb braid as main line with 10 to 12 m of 80 to 100 lb monofilament as a shock absorber.
Leader material is key considering it’s the part of your rig that is likely to come into contact with nasty structure. For this reason 80 to 120 lb line class is typically called upon. Abrasion resistance needs to be a key characteristic as does knot strength. If reds are on the job, they won’t typically be fussy about heavy leaders and different colours so stick to something strong that is going to stand up to the brutality of the fight.

BAIT SELECTION
The feeding habits of red emperor provide the key to choosing effective baits. As ambush predators, reds are very responsive to dead baits but can also be targeted using live baits. To start with, large flesh baits are ideal. Fresh mullet and tailor are as effective as red baits go. Other great flesh baits include species which are caught within the reef system in which the reds are feeding. In Queensland, hussar is commonly caught in the vicinity of red emperor and a fresh hussar fillet is one of the best red emperor baits on offer. Other flesh options include trevally, iodine bream and tuna. Fresh squid is also a great option with many of Central Qld’s offshore reefs holding large numbers of these tasty critters. One key consideration of bait selection is size. Red emperor have huge mouths and sometimes it takes a large bait to get their attention. Don’t be afraid to drop down some really big baits. My PB red of 14 kg nailed a whole 45 cm tailor frame after its fillets were previously deployed as flesh baits. Whole fish baits, dead or alive, can also be effective. Yellowtail scad (yakka), slimy mackerel and pike are the pick of the bunch.

BITE DETECTION AND THE BATTLE
Red emperor have an extremely distinctive bite which is often a lot softer and more subdued then is normally the case with fish their size. A red will commonly suck a bait for long periods before engulfing it and casually making its way back to its rock. At the rod tip, patience is required. A soft, heavy bite will often signify that a hungry or inquisitive red is in the building. It’s important not to strike at the first sign of tension at the rod tip. Keep the rod tip still and gently provide the fish with half a metre or so of line. As a red engulfs a bait and moves off with it, the rod tip will load up almost as if you’ve hooked the bottom. Give the fish as long as possible to digest the bait (realistically this is only a couple of seconds) before striking. Getting a couple of quick winds on the reel is imperative but is easier said than done.
Once hooked, a red emperor will bolt for cover and a lot of times the fight is won and lost in the first 10 seconds or so. There is nothing like the force of a big red trying to bury itself back in the reef and it’s important to keep the rod tip high and as much line on the reel as possible during the early stage of the fight. Once off the bottom, it’s important to keep tension on the line and the fish swimming in your direction. If there are sharks in the area, you’ll need to pump and wind fairly frenetically. Otherwise, employ a steady pump and wind, allowing the fish to run and bang its head around when it wants to. When that big red fish hits the surface, savour the moment because what you have just achieved doesn’t come easy.
Chris Raimondi lives in South East Queensland working at the BCF head office. Chris is into everything angling; from bream and barra to snapper and red emperor. Chris’ role at BCF means he is privy to seeing many of the newest lures on the market before they hit the stores and is quick to give them a swim at any opportunity!