Mangrove red snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus) is a saltwater, freshwater, brackish species recorded in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore. It is mainly found over reef, coral, estuary, mangrove, at depths of 1–120 m. The main season in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore runs spring, summer, autumn.
Scientific name: Lutjanus argentimaculatus · Water: Saltwater, Freshwater, Brackish · Season: Spring, Summer, Autumn · Also known as: Mangrove jack
Size: 20–80 cm
Weight: 0.5–8 kg
The mangrove red snapper is a euryhaline lutjanid: juveniles and young adults haunt mangrove estuaries and the lower reaches of freshwater streams, while adults move to offshore reefs. It grows large and fights hard, often diving for cover after the hook-set, making it a heavyweight target for boat fishing and shore lure casting. In Hong Kong it is in season from spring to autumn (roughly March to October), feeding most eagerly near shore and in estuaries on summer nights.
Caution: large individuals carry a ciguatera risk. Heat, cold and marinating do not remove the toxin, which concentrates in the liver, roe and head, so avoid eating those parts. Seek medical help if numbness, tingling or a reversed sense of hot and cold follows a meal.
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