Overview
Nannygai school in numbers over isolated deep structure and are the backbone of offshore bottom fishing across northern Australia.
They are long-lived and slow to replace, so working several marks rather than hammering one is the sustainable approach.
Fish from 40 m and deeper almost always need a release weight to survive.
Where to find them
- ▸Isolated lumps and coral heads in 40–100 m.
- ▸Deep gutters between reef systems.
- ▸Wrecks and shoal edges well offshore.
- ▸Drop-offs where the bottom falls away sharply.
Tackle
- ▸Rod: heavy 15–24 kg boat rod or PE5 jig stick.
- ▸Reel: 8000 spin or 300-size overhead.
- ▸Line: 50–80 lb braid.
- ▸Terminal: heavy paternoster with 8/0 circles and 24–32 oz of lead.
Tips from the water
- ▸Fish the slack water — heavy current makes depth impossible to hold.
- ▸Use a release weight for every fish you do not keep.
- ▸Move between marks rather than emptying a single school.
Regulations
Included in reef fish bag limits in QLD and the NT. Barotrauma management is essential.