This fish is normally found around the coastlines to depths of around 40 metres and can grow to lengths up to 1.4 metres. This species is not as plentiful as it once was, but still able to be caught if you know the right spot. Trumpeter occur at several localities around the cool temperate Southern Hemisphere, including south Indian Ocean islands, southern Australia, New Zealand and South America.

In New Zealand they occur mainly from the Bay of Plenty southwards, reaching the Auckland Islands, but are seldom common. As in Australia, they are restricted to offshore reefs and rough ground to about 300m, with juveniles (30–40cm) in shallower coastal waters.

Adults reach about 1m in length and 25kg in weight, but their growth rate is unknown. There is little information on sex ratios and reproduction. Trumpeter feed on a wide range of molluscs, crustaceans, and fish.

There are no known estimates of the size of the Trumpeter's population.