Found in southeastern waters of Australia from Moreton Bay in Queensland to western Bass Strait, including northeastern Tasmanian waters, although the species is most abundant off the New South Wales coast. Redfish have been reported from trawl catches off western Victoria and South Australia but these specimens may have been confused with similar species such as Bight redfish (Centroberyx gerrardi).

Based on tagging studies, a single stock exists off New South Wales but the genetic relationship with fish from other areas is unknown (Ref. 27112).

Commercial fishery: The main fishery for redfish is part of the South East Fishery, with most of the catch taken by demersal otter trawlers between Sydney and Eden (Ref. 27108). Redfish are also caught by trawl vessels operating as far north as Crowdy Head, but in smaller quantities than off southern New South Wales. Modest catches are taken in eastern Bass Strait and small quantities of redfish are also taken as a bycatch of the trap fishery for snapper (Pagrus auratus) in New South Wales.

Redfish are commonly caught with tiger flathead and jackass morwong (Nemadactylus macropterus) in depths of less than 200 m. About half of the redfish catch is taken by target fishing, with the remainder caught as bycatch. Historically, redfish were caught in summer on the continental shelf, but in the early 1990s, 30% of the catch was caught in waters between 200 m and 450 m, mainly as bycatch in the winter gemfish (Rexea solandri) fishery.

By 1993, the mean size of the redfish in trawl catches had declined from 25 cm FL (1975 average) (Ref. 27112) to less than 20 cm FL, and fish as small as 17 cm FL were common (Ref. 6390). Redfish are an important component of the domestic fresh fish market and are sold mostly whole and chilled.

Recreational fishery: Redfish are an incidental catch of anglers fishing reefs for snapper and morwong, and open ground for flathead (Platycephalidae). They are normally caught on handlines or rod-and-line and are often used as live bait for yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares). The largest redfish caught by an angler under Australian Anglers Association rules was 2,000 g, caught in 1984 off Sydney (Ref. 6390).

Resource status: As of 1993, redfish catches had decreased steadily since 1980. Trends in catch rates and size composition of commercial catches indicate a significant reduction in the population off New South Wales, mainly due to commercial fishing (Ref. 27108). The total allowable catch for redfish from the South East Fishery in 1992 was set at a level below the mean of historic catches.

Also Ref. 2156; 9563, 7300.