Large-Eye Bream

Gymnocranius grandoculis has an oblong body that has a depth which fits into its standard length around two and a half times. The head has a moderately sloping dorsal profile with the larger adults having a bony ridge on the nape and a bony shelf oabove the anterior part of the eye. The eye is placed high on the head and is relatively large, although its diameter is a little less than the length of the snout. The continuous dorsal fin is supported by 10 spines and 10 soft rays while the anal fin contains 2 spines and 10 soft rays. The teeth in the jaws are conical at the front and are bristle-like to conical at the sides. The caudal fin is moderately fork with pointed lobes. The overall colour is golden brown to yellowish with wavy blue lines and spots on the head in front of the eye, the cheek and the operculum. The fins are yellowish-orange and the caudal fin has an orange margin.

Gymnocranius grandoculis has a wide distribution in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It occurs from the Red Sea south to South Africa across the Indian Ocean, although it is absent from the Persian Gulf into the Pacific Ocean where it occurs north to Japan and east to the Tuamotus and south to Australia. In Australia it occurs at least as far south as Yanchep in Western Australia along the northern coasts to Townsville in Queensland, as well as the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and the Ashmore and Cartier Reefs in the Timor Sea. This species is found on soft mud or sand substrates, also on rock substrates in offshore waters at depths of 50 to 100 m (160 to 330 ft).

Gymnocranius grandoculis is a target for artisanal fishers in many parts of its range, much of the catch is caught with bottom longlines and bottom trawls. It is used as bait in tuna fisheries in the Philippines and is taken as bycatch on the Great Barrier Reef.