They are found in the Western Pacific, including Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Arafura Sea, Solomon Islands, and Australia.

They are often found on nearshore, coastal reefs in depths of 3 to 30 metres (10 to 98 ft).

Plectropomus maculatus can be red, pale grey or olive to dark brown with numerous small blue elongate spots on head, body and fins.

They have been reported to 125 cm (49 in) but scientific record is 85 cm (33 in) and 9.7 kg (21 lb) for a fish captured by a spearfisher at Moreton Island, Queensland in 2017[2] and a 6.4 kg (14 lb) captured by a line fisher at Broadhurst Reef in 1987.

The former displayed higher levels of cortisol, glucose, lactate, hemoglobin, and hematocrit than the latter; lactate concentration (responsible for muscle movement) in Plectropomus maculatus was especially heightened when they were thrashing.