Fish

Spanish flag snapper (stripey)

Pargo bandera española (stripey)

Lutjanus carponotatus

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

10–14 in and 1–2 lb.

Depth

3–250 ft; mostly 10–80 ft.

Best time

Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon.

Found in

6 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A small, pretty snapper with 8–9 narrow brown-orange to golden stripes on a white-silver body, yellow fins and a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin.
Typical size: 10–14 in and 1–2 lb.
Maximum size: About 16 in.
Diet: Small fish, prawns and crabs.
Behavior: Lives in small groups around coral heads and rocky reefs, often coming up into a berley trail. A tough little fighter for its size.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Queensland & the Great Barrier Reef, Northern Territory & Western Australia, Indonesia (Bali, Komodo, Raja Ampat, Sulawesi), South Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea, Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam) and Philippines. Inshore and lagoon reefs, coral bommies and rocky islands, from Western Australia across northern Australia and the Great Barrier Reef to New Guinea and Southeast Asia.
Habitat: Inshore and lagoon reefs, coral bommies and rocky islands, from Western Australia across northern Australia and the Great Barrier Reef to New Guinea and Southeast Asia.
Depth: 3–250 ft; mostly 10–80 ft.
Fishing depth: 10–60 ft.
Best season: All year; check Queensland's October–November reef fish spawning closures.
Best time: Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon.
Best tides: Moving water: the hours around the tide change, when current pushes over the reef edges and bait gets swept along.
Best weather / conditions: Stable weather with clean water; a few days of steady conditions beat a front coming through.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Leader Hooks Weight Tool

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Inshore and lagoon reefs, coral bommies and rocky islands, from Western Australia across northern Australia and the Great Barrier Reef to New Guinea and Southeast Asia.
Rig up: 7 ft light-medium spinning rod. 20–30 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Pilchard pieces, squid strips and peeled prawns. Lures: Small soft plastics, micro jigs and small vibes.
Fish it: Anchor near bommies, start a berley trail and drop lightly weighted baits or small plastics close to the coral.
Time it: Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon. Moving water: the hours around the tide change, when current pushes over the reef edges and bait gets swept along.

Fishing techniques: Anchor near bommies, start a berley trail and drop lightly weighted baits or small plastics close to the coral.
BigJoe's tip: Where you catch one stripey there are usually more; stay on the spot and keep the berley going.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Excellent: sweet white fillets; great pan-fried or steamed whole.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Sharp dorsal spines and gill covers — hold the fish firmly with a wet hand or towel and use pliers to remove hooks.
Regulations: Queensland and Western Australia set minimum sizes and bag limits; marine park green zones are closed. Check current rules. Licenses and rules differ by country across the Indo-Pacific: Australia's states, Asian countries and the Pacific islands all set their own bag limits, size limits and marine park zones. Check the local rules or fish with a licensed charter.
Conservation: Keep only what you'll eat and release the big breeders; wet your hands, support the fish's belly and get it back in the water fast.

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Sources & photo credits