Traditional stock assessment models were used to describe the current status of Lutjanus analis, L. chrysurus, L. jocu, L. synagris, and L. vivanus stocks off the coast of Northeast Brazil. The yield per recruit model, cohort analysis models (length-based cohort analysis (LCA), pseudo-cohort virtual population analysis (VPA), and real cohort VPA), and Thompson and Bell predictive model were used. The results showed LCA accumulates biases from pseudo-cohort VPA along with a high degree of sensitivity of growth parameters, whose determination is problematic and may not be adequate for many other reef species. Although the real cohort VPA based on short time series may also be limited, this method was determined to be the most appropriate within the traditional methods applied for the assessment of reef fish. However, the VPA model heavily depends on the accuracy of landing data and discards estimation and estimated natural mortality (M), so caution should be applied when using such models. The conservative fishing mortality index F 0.1 was found to be the most adapted index when the uncertainty of parameter estimation and model limitations were considered. Consequently, a drastic reduction of 80–90% of the current fishing effort is recommended. Despite the VPA and Thompson and Bell model limitations, these models can provide insight into species/fishery dynamics and can also be utilised to analyse the effects of changes in fishing level on catches. In addition, the trends presented in this study are confirmed in a companion paper using more complex models.