Golden Snapper

COMMON NAME

Golden snapper / red snapper

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Centroberyx affinis

LEGAL LENGTH & LIMIT

Any size

Golden Snapper are included as your combined daily bag limit of fin fish. There are different amounts allowed depending on where you are in New Zealnd

• Auckland Central and Challenger are 20 per person
   
• South East Area, Southland Area, and Fiorlans Area are 30 per person

DESCRIPTION

By day, dusky brown shadows hover in the twilight above an undersea cave. Golden snapper or red snapper as some prefer are named after their red body which becomes apparent once brought to the surface as the colour red dissipates the fastest underwater. Swimming slowly in mid-water, seldom near the surface and never resting on the bottom. Golden snapper are deep water fish often seen hovering in the gloom on top of pinnacles and deep cracks.

HABITAT & FEEDING

Nocturnal feeding they are triggered by the fall of light, they begin to rise and feed on plankton, krill and small fish doping down again at sun rise. There mouth has bands of minute teeth in both jaws. They have a gulping action for sizing prey that may be silhouetted against the starlight.

Normally found in deep water up to 500m and around northern new Zealand in open water and deep reefs

AGE & GROWTH

Golden snapper are a very slow growing reaching a maximum length of 55cm. Species and can live up to 30-40 years old

FOOD QUALITY

Snapper has a tender white to pinkish flesh with a sweet, mild flavour. It can be cooked in practically every way, or alternatively served raw as sashimi.

HUNTING TECHNIQUES

The hardest thing about hunting golden snapper (Goldie's) is finding them and being able to dive to that depth. Once spotted they are very easy to spear. Most people keep their Goldie spot well guarded.

WHERE TO SHOOT THE FISH

A kill shot is paramount when targeting golden snapper. If the snapper is left to thrash around the other Goldie's will move deeper becoming more dangerous for the freediver.

EQUIPMENT

A small light gun is best, often Goldie's will be right by rocks. So a 90cm or 100cm carbon speargun is ideal.