John Bell with a lovely sun-up knobby. A lovely southeast Queensland snapper.
Snapper time in southeast Queensland
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Andrew with a solid pair of knobbies.
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Page 22 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2024
INTER is snapper time in southeast Queensland and since the introduction of the closed season from mid-July to mid-August, June is the month to chase a few. The cooler water temperature and light southerly wind that we typically experience during June are perfect conditions for schooling snapper to feed and spawn. Snapper are an incredible fish, particularly when you consider they inhabit shallow inshore reefs and estuaries in water only 1m deep, as well as the continental shelf and depths of up to and sometimes in excess of 220m. The diversity in their habitat means that there are a stack of different techniques and tactics that can be used to catch these prized fish, however there are a couple that anglers keep coming back to. Float lining Without a doubt, the most traditional way to catch snapper is by ‘float lining’ lightly weighted bait through the water column. This technique has stood the test of time for one simple reason… it’s incredibly effective.
Fishing Tips by CHRIS RAIMONDI
Snapper will leave structure to feed, particularly in low-light periods, and will rise through the water column in the presence of food. A well-presented and consistent berley trail will typically attract the majority of fish in an area, it’s then only a matter of presenting your bait as naturally as possible within the feeding frenzy. The rig to use is simple – a running ball sinker on a set of gangs, snelled or even a single hook. I like to use a green glow bead between the sinker and top hook to protect the knot because big snapper have strong jaws that will typically bite down on your hooks and easily slice through your knot. The weight of your sinker is determined by the depth of water you’re fishing in, the current and wind speed. As a rule, you’ll want to use a sinker that will get your bait to the bottom as slowly and as natural looking as possible. Float lining is most ef-
fective at anchor, especially when employing a berley trail. I prefer to use a star drag overhead, such as a Shimano Trinidad or Torium, slowly feeding out the monofilament line so that the bait descends at a 45-degree, or thereabouts, angle from the boat. In my opinion, mono line has a distinct advantage over braid when float lining due to two key factors. First, mono sinks and braid floats, so mono will allow for a more natural bait presentation. Second, when a snapper strikes, the stretch of mono becomes your best asset. As line starts to peel off the reel, allow the fish to run for a second or two and then engage the drag. The engagement of the drag and the strike from the angler puts a significant amount of pressure on the hooks, and the stretch component of the monofilament line acts as a shock absorber, meaning you’ll set the * continued P24
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