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How to catch Lemonfish

Plectorhinchus flavomaculatus (Cuvier, 1830)

About Lemonfish fishing

The lemonfish is a robust marine sweetlips belonging to the grunt family Haemulidae, characterised by a fusiform body, thick fleshy lips, and a bluish-grey hue adorned with distinctive spots or lines. Growing up to a maximum length of sixty centimetres, adults typically inhabit shallow coastal waters, sheltered coral reefs, seagrass beds, and silty drop-offs down to eighty metres. They feed close to the seabed, hunting small crustaceans, marine worms, and benthic fishes either singly or in loose groups. This species supports artisanal and recreational fisheries across its range, where it is prized for its fine table qualities.

  • Difficulty

    Medium

  • Average size

    35 cm

  • Market value

    Medium

  • Habitat

    Saltwater

  • Season

    Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter

  • Also known as

    Gold-spot blubber-lips, Goldspot sweetlip bream, Goldspotted sweetlips, Gold-spotted sweetlips, Lemon sweetlip, Lemon sweetlips

Lemonfish

Truncate caudal shape

Caudal fin is more or less truncate, distinguishing this sweetlips.

Numerous spots

Numerous small dark spots cover the body, head, and fins.

Spotted dorsal fin

Dorsal fin is prominently covered with numerous dark spots.

Lemonfish fishing facts

Characteristics

  • Typical size

    35 cm (max 60 cm TL )

  • Typical weight

    0.5 kg (max 2.8 kg )

  • Preferred temperature

    22–29.1 °C

  • Depth

    2–80 m

  • Body shape

    Fusiform / Normal

  • Commercial?

  • Vulnerability score

    48.8

Best hours

  • Dawn

    First light

    Peak

  • Morning

    After sunrise

    Active

  • Midday

    High sun

    Low

  • Afternoon

    Late day

    Low

  • Dusk

    Last light

    Peak

  • Night

    After dark

    Active

When to fish for Lemonfish

01
January
02
February
03
March
04
April
05
May
06
June
07
July
08
August
09
September
10 Now
October
11
November
12
December

How to catch Lemonfish

Tips for catching Lemonfish

Targeting this bottom-dwelling species requires presenting natural baits directly on or near structured coral margins, rocky reefs, and sandy channels where the fish forage for crustaceans and worms. Anglers achieve the best results using ledger or bottom rigs equipped with fresh shrimp, marine worms, or small crab baits fished during moving tides. Because these sweetlips are predominantly active during dawn and dusk periods or under low-light conditions, timing your session around these windows greatly increases catch rates. Keep tackle sensitive to detect subtle nibbles, and maintain direct contact with the seabed to avoid snagging on rough reef structures.

Other names for Lemonfish

Local and alternate names anglers use for Lemonfish.

  • Lemon sweetlips
  • Lemon sweetlip
  • Gold-spotted sweetlips
  • Goldspotted sweetlips
  • Lemonfish
  • Rubberlip
  • Netted sweetlips
  • Painted sweetlip
  • Netted morwong
  • Goldspot sweetlip bream
  • Yellow-spotted sweetlips
  • Sweetlip
  • Yellow-spotted sweetlip
  • Morwong
  • Yellowspotted thicklip
  • Gold-spot blubber-lips

Best equipment to catch Lemonfish

Compare fishing methods for Lemonfish — sized kit for each technique.

Note: Typical fish is 0.5 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.

Best lures and baits for Lemonfish

Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.

Where Lemonfish spends the year — Non-migratory

Stays in the same waters year-round. Look for it on the same grounds rather than timing a run.

Where Lemonfish spends the year — Non-migratory 1. Eggs: Laid on the home grounds. 2. Juveniles: Grow up close by. 3. Adults: Keep to a small home range. 4. Spawners: Spawn on the same grounds, with only short moves.
Same water all year

1 Eggs

Same water all year

Laid on the home grounds.

2 Juveniles

Same water all year

Grow up close by.

3 Adults

Same water all year

Keep to a small home range.

4 Spawners

Same water all year

Spawn on the same grounds, with only short moves.

Hover or tap a number to read each stage.

Diet and behavior of Lemonfish

  • Diet

    Carnivore

  • Feeds by

    Hunts animals

  • Hunts

    Dawn · Dusk

  • Feeds over

    Seagrass · Coral reefs · Tide pools

  • Social

    Schooling · Solitary

Prey and predators of Lemonfish

Prey is what Lemonfish eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.

That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.

Prey

What it eats

Other prey

  • unspecified small finfishes juv./adults
  • unspecified crustaceans juv./adults
  • unspecified crabs juv./adults
  • unspecified fishes juv./adults
  • unspecified marine worms juv./adults
  • unspecified shrimp juv./adults

Where Lemonfish lives

Tied to reefs and rocky structure in shallow coastal water.

Habitats
Saltwater
Depth zone
Sublittoral
Continental shelf · 2–80 m
Water column
Benthic
Structure and substrate

Where this species lives

Where to fish for Lemonfish

Mapped fishing spots where Lemonfish is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.

Kaitarakihi Bay

AucklandAucklandNew Zealand