This study aimed to determine whether the relatively slow growth of wildPagrus auratusin south‐eastern Australia can be increased in captivity to a rate acceptable for aquaculture. Juvenile snapper from Port Hacking, New South Wales (34°47'S) were reared at ambient water temperatures. The fish were fed on a dry, sinking pellet with 42% protein. At the start of the trial in April 1989, the snapper had a mean fork length (FL) of 121 + 11 mm SD, an average weight of 50 g, and an estimated age of 8 months. After 12.5 months their mean FL was 249 ± 15 mm and their mean weight was 403 ± 70 g. Our data indicate that, like the reproductively isolated population in Japan, growth ofPagrus auratusfrom Australasia can be rapid enough for aquaculture, and that there is potential to increase growth rate further.