9 minute read
Persistence pays off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by David White
Jewfish are always a welcome by-catch when snapper fishing. This little one was released to fight another day.
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THE temperature dropping across southeast Queensland means one thing for many Brisbane anglers… snapper time!
Keeping in mind of course that snapper are a no-take species from July 15 to August 15.
Apart from the closure, snapper can be targeted year-round in Moreton Bay.
However from June through to September numbers will increase and condense – coinciding with cool water and their annual breeding cycle.
When these conditions occur, the process of catching these beautiful fish becomes a little easier.
Mind-blowing sessions of screaming drags and multiple hook-ups aren’t uncommon.
Knowing where to be and what time to be there is half the battle.
Chasing snapper in Moreton Bay has been a real challenge for me.
I first started chasing this fish 25 years ago and being able to catch them consistently has been hard work and very frustrating.
It’s taken many years of trial and error – pulling the dreaded doughnut more times than I care to remember.
Though perseverance eventually paid off.
I cracked the code and now enjoy the spectacular snapper-fishing Moreton Bay has to offer.
Taking notes of tides, moon phases, wind direction, bite periods and such will certainly point you in the right direction.
Patterns will slowly begin to emerge and give you a great insight into these smart and sometimes fussy feeders – particularly the big ones.
Piecing the puzzle together of your desired species while arduous is extremely rewarding and exciting – results will start to flow in dribs and drabs and make you even more determined.
I am a strong believer that snapper feed more aggressively around particular moon phases and tides.
Paying attention to these subtle points will certainly help and at times can make the difference between maximising your chances or missing out on a very narrow bite period.
At the time of writing, some quality early season snapper up to 80cm have been boated.
If this is anything to go by, we should be in for a cracker season!
Areas of interest will involve finding structure first.
Structure comes in many forms – reefs, ledges, drop-offs, wrecks and artificial reefs.
Many overlooked areas are less pronounced – gravel beds, broken ground, muscle beds and wire weed.
These low-profile areas also hold large snapper that readily roam while foraging for their next meal.
It’s worthwhile spending time in these locations because you’ll benefit also from a little less fishing pressure and traffic.
Understanding your sounder of choice is paramount – another important tool to have in your arsenal – and learning how to interpret bottom hardness, fish schools and bait will put you ahead of the pack.
There are many techniques and rigs for catching snapper.
All have their time and place and catch fish.
Moreton Bay by DAVID WHITE
continued P12
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Persistence pays off
from P10
Many a debate has been had over what style, rigs, rods, reels, bait or plastics work best, so I will touch on my personal preferences.
Predominately, I fish bait and enjoy float lining.
For my setup, I prefer to use a rod around the 7’ range, medium to heavy action, with enough grunt down low to set the hook and play the fish while also allowing enough finesse.
I’ve been using a Daiwa Saltist-X 70MH rod with a Daiwa Saltist 4500 spinning reel for years and they have served me well, without hurting the hip pocket.
Having a chat with your local tackle shop is always a good option if uncertain of which way to go.
As for many outfits, it can all come down to personal preference of brand and budget.
Though always strive for the best you can afford, not the cheapest available.
Buying better quality sees a great outfit last for years and will have a much smoother drag – this certainly helps when landing bigger fish and sees less gear failure.
I always try to upgrade my drag system with Carbontex Drag Washers – not a necessity but for a little extra money, I believe they add great benefit.
My main line is 40lb braid and about 2m of 40lb Sunline FC Rock leader attached by an FG knot, a set of 3-6/0 gang hooks, with swivels in between each hook for better movement, or a single 9/0, depending on the bait being used.
Sinker size is constantly changing to suit the conditions and water depth I’m fishing.
Having an assortment of ball sinkers ranging in sizes 0-6 will see most situations covered.
Too heavy a sinker and your bait will plummet to the ground, too light will see it surfing on the surface – neither of which will produce a great result.
When it comes to bait, fresh is best.
If not fresh, then freshly frozen!
Kicking off a session at the local service station trying to pry a sixmonth-old bag of pillies from the freezer with a crowbar is far from ideal.
If possible, try and collect bait before any session.
Though if time doesn’t permit, another great option is to do dedicated bait trips and have vacuum-sealed packs in your freezer.
There are also quite a few quality bait shops around that have great ranges.
Many of the beacons and artificial reefs hold healthy numbers of bait – with a bit of searching and a bait jig, you should see yourself with a few in the bucket.
Be mindful that some baitfish have bag and possession limits.
It’s always a good idea to freshen up on the rules.
I’m not overly fussy when it comes to the type of bait I use.
As mentioned, if it’s fresh and in season, chances are in your favour.
Herring, yellowtail pike, winter whiting, scad, slimy mackerel, squid and cuttlefish have all accounted for snapper.
With Moreton Bay having numerous pickers and little fish trying to destroy your offering, using softer smaller cut bait will usually see you de-baited fairly quickly.
Use bait whole – it allows those tiny fish to tap away yet enough time for that larger model to come over and see what all the commotion is about – hopefully resulting in a hook-up with a trophy fish.
Regardless of the bait being used, pay attention to how you rig it.
It must be lying flat, not spinning, and looking as natural as possible when deployed.
So, keep your eyes on that forecast and get yourself out on the water.
Keep a diary, mix it up, remain persistent and results will follow.
Good luck, see you next month!
