Spangled Emperor caught in Oman on a Tady surface iron
Emperors
Lethrinidae family
Genus Lethrinus
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Emperors Description
Emperors (from the genus Lethrinus in the Lethrinidae family) are a group of inshore saltwater gamefishes primarily found in tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans. Some of the better known species are the Yellowlip Emperor (Lethrinus xanthochilus), the Yellowtail Emperor (Lethrinus atkinsoni), Longnose Emperor (Lethrinus olivaceus), Redthroat Emperor (Lethrinus miniatus), and the Spangled Emperor (Lethrinus nebulosis). They are nearshore fishes that are generally highly sought after for food in the different areas where they are found. Note that these fish are not related to the Red Emperor, which is a popular food and game fish in Australia and other parts of the Pacific.
Emperors feed primarily on invertebrates such as mollusks and crabs, and also small fish. Some species have teeth that crush the shells of the invertebrates they feed on.
Emperors don't generally jump when hooked, but instead make for the bottom and whatever rocks or structure they can find. Generally they are hooked at or near the bottom. Often they are not specifically targeted, but are caught along with many other species while bottom fishing in the tropics.
Emperor Fish Pound for Pound Fight Rating - 7 out of 10 on the Saltwater Scale
Like many reef species, Emperors are quite strong for their size. They don't get huge, but if you hook them near the rocks you better pull hard no matter what tackle you are using or they can break you off.
Emperor Fish Culinary Rating - High
I have only eaten one that I caught, but it's flesh smelled and tasted exactly like crab, which is presumably what it had been eating. I don't know if all species are like that, but they are generally highly regarded as a food fish.
Emperors Tackle
Emperors can generally be targeted with lighter tackle since none of them get extremely large. However, many are found in reef areas or among rocks, so if you are fishing in those areas you probably should scale up a bit. You don't have to worry about them biting through your line, so you can get away with a mono or fluoro leader rather than wire. That is preferable from a visibility standpoint anyway since many places where they are found have very clear water. Click here for tackle recommendations.
Emperors Techniques
Emperors generally live in nearshore areas, generally in relatively shallow water. Chum can be employed to start getting them in a feeding mood. Baits and lures should be fished right on the bottom, although chum may bring them up off the bottom.
Lethrinidae family
Genus Lethrinus
Home
Other Species
Emperors Description
Emperors (from the genus Lethrinus in the Lethrinidae family) are a group of inshore saltwater gamefishes primarily found in tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans. Some of the better known species are the Yellowlip Emperor (Lethrinus xanthochilus), the Yellowtail Emperor (Lethrinus atkinsoni), Longnose Emperor (Lethrinus olivaceus), Redthroat Emperor (Lethrinus miniatus), and the Spangled Emperor (Lethrinus nebulosis). They are nearshore fishes that are generally highly sought after for food in the different areas where they are found. Note that these fish are not related to the Red Emperor, which is a popular food and game fish in Australia and other parts of the Pacific.
Emperors feed primarily on invertebrates such as mollusks and crabs, and also small fish. Some species have teeth that crush the shells of the invertebrates they feed on.
Emperors don't generally jump when hooked, but instead make for the bottom and whatever rocks or structure they can find. Generally they are hooked at or near the bottom. Often they are not specifically targeted, but are caught along with many other species while bottom fishing in the tropics.
Emperor Fish Pound for Pound Fight Rating - 7 out of 10 on the Saltwater Scale
Like many reef species, Emperors are quite strong for their size. They don't get huge, but if you hook them near the rocks you better pull hard no matter what tackle you are using or they can break you off.
Emperor Fish Culinary Rating - High
I have only eaten one that I caught, but it's flesh smelled and tasted exactly like crab, which is presumably what it had been eating. I don't know if all species are like that, but they are generally highly regarded as a food fish.
Emperors Tackle
Emperors can generally be targeted with lighter tackle since none of them get extremely large. However, many are found in reef areas or among rocks, so if you are fishing in those areas you probably should scale up a bit. You don't have to worry about them biting through your line, so you can get away with a mono or fluoro leader rather than wire. That is preferable from a visibility standpoint anyway since many places where they are found have very clear water. Click here for tackle recommendations.
Emperors Techniques
Emperors generally live in nearshore areas, generally in relatively shallow water. Chum can be employed to start getting them in a feeding mood. Baits and lures should be fished right on the bottom, although chum may bring them up off the bottom.
The author with a beautiful Emperor caught while bottomfishing with bait in Aitutaki, Cook Islands.
Emperors Lures
Emperors of all sorts can be caught on a variety of soft plastics. Berkley Gulp series plastics work well, and you should experiment with different ones that imitate both crustaceans and fish. Work these lures right on the bottom with a leadhead. Emperors will sometimes chase lures quite a ways off the bottom if they are in an aggressive mood. Other times you can catch them just slowly reeling a Gulp Shrimp across a sandy bottom near rocks.
Jigging a variety of plastics off the bottom while drifting over rocky areas also produces fish.
Emperors Bait
Bottomfishing with bait probably accounts for more Emperors caught than anything else. Dead bait often works just as well as live bait, and you can use a variety of different things. Any baitfish that are found in the area probably work, and standard baits like squid and shrimp should work most places. I had good luck in Aitutaki fishing chunks of Yellowfin Tuna, but you may decide you would rather keep those for eating!
Where to get the big Emperors
Most Indo-Pacific reefs should have some. The Great Barrier Reef in particular has some monsters.
Other Emperors Resources
Nomad Sportfishing can put you on a variety of different Emperor species on the Great Barrier Reef: www.nomadsportfishing.com.au
Emperors of all sorts can be caught on a variety of soft plastics. Berkley Gulp series plastics work well, and you should experiment with different ones that imitate both crustaceans and fish. Work these lures right on the bottom with a leadhead. Emperors will sometimes chase lures quite a ways off the bottom if they are in an aggressive mood. Other times you can catch them just slowly reeling a Gulp Shrimp across a sandy bottom near rocks.
Jigging a variety of plastics off the bottom while drifting over rocky areas also produces fish.
Emperors Bait
Bottomfishing with bait probably accounts for more Emperors caught than anything else. Dead bait often works just as well as live bait, and you can use a variety of different things. Any baitfish that are found in the area probably work, and standard baits like squid and shrimp should work most places. I had good luck in Aitutaki fishing chunks of Yellowfin Tuna, but you may decide you would rather keep those for eating!
Where to get the big Emperors
Most Indo-Pacific reefs should have some. The Great Barrier Reef in particular has some monsters.
Other Emperors Resources
Nomad Sportfishing can put you on a variety of different Emperor species on the Great Barrier Reef: www.nomadsportfishing.com.au
A great double-header of a grouper on the left and an emperor on the right. Caught jigging the bottom off the Great Barrier Reef in Northern Australia.
This greedy Emperor took a popper meant for a much larger fish in Madagascar
A nice Yellowlip Emperor caught in shallow water on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Note the teeth for crunching invertebrates.
A nice Emperor caught swimming a plastic near the rocks in New Caledonia.
A hefty Emperor caught casting lures over the reef in Australia.
A small Emperor caught on a soft plastic swum over the reef in Australia.