In tune for snapper

by Jarrod Day on 15 Aug 2012 The Victorian snapper season begins in early September and this is the time many rumours begin about when they enter the bay; a classic is divers seeing thousands of snapper swimming past them while diving in the rip. Whether this 'crimson tide' is a myth or not, the sheer numbers of fish that become more active in their feeding patterns by November is astonishing, putting Port Phillip Bay on the map as the best snapper fishery in the country.

The run continues until late march but fish are still caught throughout the entire year. Continuing on throughout winter, the Victorian snapper run is awe inspiring for angler’s right around the country.

The time is near: Although a Victorian winter gives us a break from the long hour’s endured while snapper fishing during the summer, it does let us concentrate on other prized species like gummy sharks, calamari and salmon of the few. Even if these other species provide limited entertainment, they do however give us Vic’s alternative options to bide the time between snapper seasons.

During all this commotion of which species to target we often forget about regular boat maintenance. It is during the winter period that anglers should do all the minor modifications and maintenance to their boats and trailers before the fishing hits full bore.

Each season is quick to fire; one day there will be no reports of snapper being caught when the next, it is a bombardment spanning internet fishing forum sites and tackle stores.

When this happens, all the maintenance jobs the boat requires are quickly forgotten leaving your boat unsafe or at risk at breaking down.

Being organised and having your boat looked over and repairs completed during the winter will have you ready and safe to head out the minute the reports flood in thick and fast.

The build up: When September rolls around, the words 'snapper' get tossed around in many fishing reports. Although they are still far from being in full bloom, the anxiety of getting out there really sets in. Working in a fishing tackle shop I get all the questions tossed at me by this stage 'are the snapper on yet', 'where are they biting' and plenty of other questions. Nevertheless, those keen enough to head out early in the season usually find the odd fish willing to take a bait providing they are fishing in known early season areas.

By the time the first reports of a successful capture is heard, anglers flock in buying up what bait they can to better their chances. Silver whiting, pilchards, scad, mackerel and squid are all hot favourites but it is silver whiting and the humble pichard that catches most of the fish.

Fishing during the early season can lead to angers burning themselves out searching for that first fish of the season. Although it is a good feeling to put a fish on the board, it sometimes pays to hold off for a few more weeks until the fish become a little more regular in taking baits.

Finding the action: During the first week of November the water temperature fluctuates around 19 to 21 degrease, this higher temperature stimulates a feeding frenzy in snapper.

They begin to explore their surroundings, swimming off the reefs and onto the muddy bottom in search of food.
This 'feeding frenzy' lasts up until Mid December, just prior to spawning.

When the fish are actively feeding, finding them is very easily. Your best tool is your sounder and getting to know it intimately is your best chance at actually finding fish.

There are two types of anglers that fish during snapper season on Port Phillip Bay. Those that like to dangle a line and hope to catch fish, which usually involves following other anglers or anchoring close by to other boats. While the other is quite switched on knowing frequented locations, GPS marks and stays away from the crowds to catch fish others might often drive over the top of. This angler has been fishing for years both in season and out of season sussing out reefs and marks only to try for success when the fish are hot. In the early season he might not catch many fish but gets quality fish putting in the long hours for that one heart stopping run.

It is this angler that many aspire to become and it all boils down to spending time on the water and understanding the tools required to catch fish.

Sounding snapper is the most important technique required to find fish. I’m always watching the sounder, even when going from mark A to B; I keep an eye on it in case I see something that might look like a fish arch or structure in which fish could be holding. Then, if spotted, do a U turn and sound back over it at a slower speed to distinguish wether it is or not.

Once a fish arch or any structure is found, I mark it as a waypoint and continue on sounding. The purpose of marking the arches as waypoints is to give me an idea of where the fish are congregating. I can check this after marking a few then switching to view the path I have just been travelling on the sounder. This gives me an indication of how far spread apart each arch so I can make a precise decision on where to lay the anchor taking into consideration the tide and wind direction.

After the anchor is deployed with all relevant factors in position it is left to the berley and baits to do the rest of the work.

Basic snapper principles: Fishing for snapper is really simple once you have found the fish.

At the business end of things it couldn’t get any simpler. A light tapered 4 – 8 kilo rod with matching 4000 series reel is all that’s required. I use a Wilson Texalium 4 – 8 kilo rod because its soft taper allows the rod to throw whole baits and loads nicely before line is pulled from the spool on the reel. This is coupled with a Shimano 4000 Twin Power balancing the outfit nicely.

I currently have been fishing this light tackle to prolong the battle from snapper. Snapper are known for only short 30 to 50 metre runs and tire quickly. The light approach is far more challenging making the fight longer. With this, I’m fishing 4 kilo line class and 20lb leader in which the hooks are attached. The leader is attached via a small 4 kilo swivel with a size 1 ball sinker suspended above it. I have one free running hook on the leader threaded on through the top of the eye on the hook and the second hook is tied with a uni knot to the end of the leader.

This setup is the standard when it comes to snapper fishing in Port Philip and is used by nearly every successful snapper angler that fishes the top half of the Bay.

Being quite tidal in the Southern end, anglers must trade the unweighted approach to a running sinker rig using up to 20 ounces of lead depending on the strength of the tide flow.

Of course, you do need to attract the fish to your immediate fishing area which is where a good berley trail is beneficial.

Berleying for snapper is as easy as setting a cube trail. Generally, I cut a bunch of pilchards and sprinkle out two handfuls, scattering them from the transom. This procedure is repeated every five minutes or so, even when the fish are going crazy to keep them on the chew.

After the first few handfuls of berley are tossed out, the baits are cast in uniformity from one side of the boat to the other.

When all the baits are cast out you’ll notice the first bait directly under the boat after twenty minutes or so. At this point, wind it in and cast out following suit with the others until all the baits have been re-cast. This also gives you a chance to re-bait should the bait have fallen off or been stolen by a fish without being noticed.

Top locations: There is no doubt that the number one location to find snapper is on reef, in saying that during the peak of the season it doesn’t really matter where you fish providing you have a sounder and can locate a few arches before dropping the pick.

During the early season, from September until the first week in October, snapper are best to be targeted on the reefs. The reefs hold heat and the water temperature isn’t to its optimum yet so they tend to hug the reefs until early November. It is during November until late December they are feeding aggressively before spawning. Spawning usually takes place for about four weeks in which the water temp tapers off a few degrees. The fish then are quite spasmodic in their feeding and days where the Barometer is at its highest have the fish in a feeding frenzy once again, but it can change very quickly.

January and February still has a good run of fish but not to the extent that was November. February is usually called the beginning of the late season where anglers have to go back to fishing strategically in order to find fish. The fish are still of exceptional size but lack in quantity. Early mornings in close up to 8 metres are usually areas to begin to look for fish.

March and April is the last run for numbers of fish although you will do a few trips to find them. Many a time you could go home empty handed, so be prepared. It is back to the reef at this stage in the early morning to fish first light for the most productive time.

Throughout the rest of the year, snapper are still caught. Winter snapper can be taken off Black Rock in 5 – 10 metres of water. This is usually by the soft plastic anglers flicking lures over the reef early in the morning or late evening.

Larger fish are still taken but are very rare captures. Some long hours are put in and although some are rewarded it is a long time between runs.

Snapper fishing in Port Phillip Bay becomes an obsession. It is the constant researching of techniques, times and locations as well as trying to get an understanding of this phenomenon we call 'Red Fever'.