queensland Snaps are coming

[Old Scaley]

Had a day out planned with one of AFO’s luminaries today, but unfortunately more compelling issues meant he needed to cancel yesterday arvo so I decided I would have a solo fish today. Had a bit of a sleep in and hit the water about 9am. Nice and quiet at the boat ramp and on the water. I fished the bottom of the tide and a bit of the incoming at the wall in front of the Port of Brisbane. I had the whole wall to myself for the entire session, about 3 hours.

Was a bit quiet to start with. I had a bait line out and flicking placcies at the wall. I started to get a few touches on the plastic, with the first fish landed on the plastic being a just under snap. Then I had a run of small tailor in that 25 to 30cm range, before I finally got a legal chopper at 35cm. I wasn’t sure if I was going to do any better so I kept that one for dinner.

Not long after that the bait (squid and pillies) started to work and the little snaps came on the chew. After about a dozen just unders I finally got a keeper, followed by 2 more. They weren’t huge (38, 41 and 51) but given the time of day and the number of fish coming over the side I thought it was worth letting you all know that the snaps are on the increase, so get out there if you can. The island fringes in the Bay should be starting to work. Good luck everyone.

Edited June 3, 2021 by Old Scaley

[ellicat]

That AFO luminary (lol) will be very sad to see what he missed out on. I also heard he'll be free from Tuesday onwards.

Some good eating sizes there, mate. Can't wait to get amongst them.

[Another Wazza]

Nice work,  the overcast conditions would’ve helped today, did you retire the plastic once they started chewing on bait?

[Kenne]

1 hour ago, Old Scaley said:

They weren’t huge (38, 41 and 51)

Huge by my standards...

[Old Scaley]

46 minutes ago, Another Wazza said:

Nice work,  the overcast conditions would’ve helped today, did you retire the plastic once they started chewing on bait?

Once they started hitting the bait, the plastics didn’t seem to work as well. I probably should have been there early to catch the tailor bite. The conditions were a bit eerie today - the sky was grey, the water was also grey and there was almost constant drizzle. Still lovely though.

[ellicat]

How'd the new jacket perform ?

[Old Scaley]

Not areal test today Brian, with only light rain, no wind and not very cold. I was nice and dry though..

[kmcrosby78]

Nice work there Steve, the wife will be happy (and surprised ....) . Just sent you a PM.

[Drop Bear]

Cracking session there mate. Glad you got a good feed. 

My decky also pulled the pin on Thursday but unlike you I didn't go. 

Good to see the Tailor and snapper coming in for winter. I hope it will be a good season. 

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Great job Steve.

Those are some nice Snaps. They would've been very tasty. The Tailor would've been fun too.

Cheers Hamish

[benno573]

Hopefully the alumni and yourself can make amends for lost trips next week. Hopefully you’ll let him at least wind one you hook in?

[tworowsofeight]

So what's the go with the snapper fellers. 

As a kid we used to catch them on gravel patches out near the shipping channel off Bribie and in a few places in the Passage . . . but how far north are they common?   

I was surprised to hook one off the rocks at Bargara, last week, had him beat, just waiting for a swell to wash him onto a ledge and my new second hand five inch Alvey broke the main frame.

Good fish too with the lump on his conk, probably around seven hundred I reckon.

Bugger! . . . and to add injury to insult, when the reel fell off the rod it partly blackened a toenail. (wry grin)

Cheers.  

 

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

15 hours ago, tworowsofeight said:

So what's the go with the snapper fellers. 

As a kid we used to catch them on gravel patches out near the shipping channel off Bribie and in a few places in the Passage . . . but how far north are they common?   

I was surprised to hook one off the rocks at Bargara, last week, had him beat, just waiting for a swell to wash him onto a ledge and my new second hand five inch Alvey broke the main frame.

Good fish too with the lump on his conk, probably around seven hundred I reckon.

Bugger! . . . and to add injury to insult, when the reel fell off the rod it partly blackened a toenail. (wry grin)

Cheers.  

 

Hey @tworowsofeight

My mate has caught them offshore at 1770 (it was 80cm, and he says when he goes up there he gets them rather regularly).

Hamish

[Drop Bear]

16 hours ago, tworowsofeight said:

So what's the go with the snapper fellers. 

As a kid we used to catch them on gravel patches out near the shipping channel off Bribie and in a few places in the Passage . . . but how far north are they common?   

I was surprised to hook one off the rocks at Bargara, last week, had him beat, just waiting for a swell to wash him onto a ledge and my new second hand five inch Alvey broke the main frame.

Good fish too with the lump on his conk, probably around seven hundred I reckon.

Bugger! . . . and to add injury to insult, when the reel fell off the rod it partly blackened a toenail. (wry grin)

Cheers.  

 

Yep I have caught them off Gladstone but in deeper waters not around the reef. 

[Jimmyjack]

They're restricted at the moment along with pearlies? or am I deluded?

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

4 minutes ago, Jimmyjack said:

They're restricted at the moment along with pearlies? or am I deluded?

From the fifteenth.

[Drop Bear]

29 minutes ago, Jimmyjack said:

They're restricted at the moment along with pearlies? or am I deluded?

Hey Jimmyjack,

in QLD, you have to get in quick! 

"A closed season also applies to snapper throughout Queensland tidal waters from 15 July to 15 August."

https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/monitoring-research/monitoring-reporting/commercial-fisheries/species-specific/snapper

Other states have other restrictions that I am not sure of. 

[Jimmyjack]

Oh thanks peeps, next week. cheers