Allnighter

Just thought us southside boys would be all gentleman like and start the northside boys off with their first snapper for the state of origin comp.

Going to be hard for the southside boys to beat this one

Didnt get a measure on it but a fine specimen and released to grow up for the 2050 comp...

Sounds like a lot of fun fella's

Im a southsider, i was going to say count me in but....... 

Then i saw Ellicat was on team southside.....   sorry just realised im busy that month....

@ellicat I would say using lighter line gets a better bite rate for sure - as is the case with most fishing, but if you want to consistently land each snapper in the boat a bit heavier would be wise.

We did get 4 in the boat but got busted off on others, but today was a bit of an experiment and to up the challenge.

My son and i headed out this morning for another snapper session.

Although this time we decided to change it up a bit, so we left our normal spots alone, and also this was a catch and release session.

 The challenge was on to try some new ground even closer to the boat ramp and we both decided we were only going to use little 2-4kg bream rods with 8 pound line.

I had found some interesting spots on Google Maps at home the other night, so after a short 10 minute trip from the ramp we arrived and sounded around and settled on the likely spot.

Baited up our little Shimano Raider bream rods and little Sienna reels, sat back and before too long the little reels are peeling line off ! 

We managed four Snapper between 60cm and 74cm and then ran out of bait but had a ball, and needless to say we have a new mark to fish at and to research ☺

All fish were sent back down to swim another day.

Yea Hweebe and Hamish, the excitement and the challenge keeps us all going back! 

 Catching bait is fun and can be a learning curve in itself.

Josh @Cobiaaddict, I'm sure you're not finished with the snapper this season quite yet

Notice i crop the background out as best i can?  Lol sorry mate couldn't resist hahahaaa

Well its getting closer to Snapper shutdown, all conditions were right on wednesday so decided to head out midweek to a favourite spot near green Island for the last fish for me for awhile.

Spent some time the night before having some fun loading up with some locally caught fresh squid. 

Headed out at around lunch time, with a dead flat bay , and wasn't long before a 75cm snapper on board, and then another 69er

After a hectic bite period i sat down pretty much exhausted and i looked up in to the sky because it was so bloody hot for a winters day, and i still thought how crazy it was to be catching snapper in shallow water (6m) at near midday. 

( plus i also believe in shallow water once 1 or 2 snapper have been caught the school is spooked for awhile)

Oh well, i shrugged my shoulders and decided it was time to crack open a JD and celebrate

For shitsngiggles i put the snapper gear away, and baited up a 1-3kg bream rod which i usually use for catching squid on.

Deployed a bait down on it and whammo !

The reel starts screaming on the bream rod with only 8 pound line on hahaaa !

The sporting aspect was great fun, although it took about 20 minutes to see colour and a big beautiful 70-80cm snapper came up through the clear green water near the boat. Okay by this time i am huffin and puffin and before i could slide the net under it....... ping goes the 8 pound !!!  Lol

Off it swam so graciously back down which sorta made me feel all warm n fuzzy inside ☺

Well maybe i had one too many JD's Cause as i packed up to head home i maaaaay have forgot to reel in the bream rod and it flew out of the rod holder into the drink..... wooooooops 

Still though , gotta be happy with 2 in the pink and 1 in the drink.  

Until next winter, Green Island Snaps....

I launched around lunch time and had to wait for a boat to come back in so i could grab their trailer park spot.

And yes thats another reason i dont normally fish on weekends - boat traffic on the water.

Luckily yesterday there wasnt too much traffic where i wanted to fish.

I normally fish the incoming tide at this spot so yesterday there was no need to leave early, i fished from 12 till 3pm , and then unfortunately the easterly breeze picked up and spoilt the flat conditions, but i never sat down once in 3 hours maintaining two rods, the bite was red hot.  And on a side note,  i have never caught so many juvenile snapper while catching bait recently, so great to see..... ☺

For those interested their is an article in the april edition of bushnbeach, which you can view on-line, by yours truly on bay snapper which i had a crack at....