Summer Snapper

By Cameron Cronin

Whilst the best snapper fishing isn’t typically associated with the warmer months, there is some surprisingly good fishing to be had for those who are prepared to put in the effort. In recent times I’ve spent quite a few sessions on the inshore reefs targeting snapper, and although I’ve had to refine my tactics a little, to suit the warm water conditions, I’ve found it surprising just how productive snapper fishing at this time of year can be. What’s more, due to summer being perceived as the ‘off peak’ time to chase these fish, there is often very little snapper-based traffic on the water, which makes it much easier to hop between spots and present your lures to unpressured fish. In this article I’ll go through my tactics for catching warm water snapper, including lures, locations, and tackle that I have had success using in recent times.

First things first, I think it is good to understand how summer snapper fishing can be different to winter fishing. On the east coast of Australia, the warm waters of the East Australian current begin to permeate further south as we move into autumn, which brings strong current and warm, clear water. Furthermore, northeast winds start to become common, which brings dirtier ‘green’ water close to shore, that is usually cooler in temperature. As a result, on the deeper reefs (30-50m+) there is often clear water with very strong current pushing southwards, which although can be fished on days where the current is lighter, is often very difficult to fish and not very enjoyable in my opinion. On the other hand, as we begin to push closer to shore into shallower waters, under 20 metres deep, the cooler, greener water, although not visually very inviting, can prove to be a haven for snapper at this time of year. In recent times, this is where I have had most of my success fishing for snapper, and as a result will be the focus of this article.

When fishing these shallower areas, there is often very little or sometimes no current, making it very easy to present lures to feeding snapper. There is also generally an abundance of bait on these shallow grounds compared to in deep water, which makes finding a productive location far easier than out in the deep. When it comes to finding a location, it is very hard to go past using the Navionics app, available for around $30 a year from the app store. The charts on this app are usually far more detailed and accurate than what is available on most sounders, and having this app allows you to plan out your session from your phone well in advance. When scouting new water, I’ll look for pinnacles within a few miles of the coast, rising to 10 metres or less and dropping down to depths around 20-30 metres. These features are usually quite numerous across most areas of the east coast. If possible, I’ll also look for islands and bommies that generate wash, which can be an excellent producer as well.

With a run of spots now in mind, once on the water, it is very important to stay mobile when scouting for new ground. If no bait is being sounded after a drift over a prospective location, I would strongly encourage moving to the next spot until more bait and fish begin to mark on the sounder. Whist you will certainly come across fish by toughing it out in the more barren areas, I have had far better results moving and trying the location again on another day, as a change in conditions may result in improved fishing.

Generally, I will also fish the low light periods in the shallowest of water, and then move out into deeper water as the day goes on, or vice versa for afternoons. When it’s safe to do so, this usually means fishing washes around sunrise or sunset and fishing the reefs whilst there is more intense light. If you are new to an area, I find it is very hard to beat an afternoon session for scouting new ground, as you can get out on the water with plenty of time to drive about looking for ground with good bait, before settling on the best-looking locations to fish the lower light periods, which are often the peak bite times for snapper.

The technique used to target these areas varies slightly, depending on whether it is reef or wash that is being targeted. When fishing reefs, it is best to kill the motor well short of the ground you are planning to fish and do a ‘test drift’ to determine which way the boat is moving. Once the drift direction has been determined, set up a long drift that will take you across a range of depths, from the drop off to the top of the reef. If you notice current, the bait and fish will usually be pressed against the leading edge or ‘pressure side’ of the reef, so I will always try and factor this into the drift. There is generally no need for an electric motor, however if there is very little current, they can be used to speed up the drift and cover more ground without spooking fish by using the main motor.

This is very different to wash fishing where I would argue that an electric motor is almost essential, as it allows for spot locking right on the edge of the wash, as well as stealthily moving between points of interest within the same location. When the swell is low enough to do so, I generally look for the area where the swell is most directly impacting the rocks, which tends to get the snapper feeding more aggressively. If you don’t have an electric, it is possible to take turns driving the boat while you or a mate gets to cast, however this is not nearly as fun as when both anglers get to fish in my opinion.

Finally, when it comes to gear and lures, there are a few different ways to approach this side of the equation. Whilst lighter line is favoured by many for casting distance and better sensitivity, I have personally had more success extracting larger fish from the shallows with heavier gear of around 20lb braid and 30lb leader. It may be possible that sometimes heavier leaders could deter the bite, however I have not observed any increased bite rate whilst using leaders such as 20lb or lighter, that would warrant the increased risk of bust offs. Lately I have been using 20lb Platypus Bionic X9 Braid or Platypus Pulse X8 Braid and Platypus 30lb Hard Armour FC Flurocarbon leader, which are all very hard-wearing lines that stand up to some punishment when a big snapper tries to bury itself in reef or kelp. Using rods of around 7’6” to 8’ in length, rated 4-8kg and matched with a 4000 size reels allows for enough casting distance, without being a burden in the hand.

Lure wise, my selection is very simple, with a range of ZMan plastics in a variety of colours in the 5” StreakZ Curly TailZ, 5” Scented PaddlerZ and 7” Scented Jerk ShadZ. I usually reach for the larger Jerk ShadZ when I suspect big fish are around or I need the longest possible cast, whilst the smaller lures are great for prospecting new grounds and trying to maximise the number of bites. All these lures work well on a TT lures HeadlockZ HD jighead in a 6/0 and I will carry a range of weights from 1/6oz for under 10 metres, up to 3/8oz for turbulent wash areas in larger swell.

So, there you have it, a quick guide on how to tempt some summer snapper from the shallows. Whilst I’ll be the first to admit that snapper seem to be a little easier to find in the cooler months, this should not deter anyone from heading out to get their snapper fix over the summer… and I would highly encourage anyone to get out there and give it a go!

Cheers, Cameron

Gearing Up:

Platypus Bionic X9 Braid - 20lb
Platypus Pulse X8 Braid - 20lb
Platypus Hard Armour FC Fluorocarbon Leader - 30lb
TT Lures HeadlockZ HD Jigheads - 1/6oz - 3/8oz 6/0
ZMan 5" StreakZ Curly TailZ
ZMan 5" Scented PaddlerZ
ZMan 7" Scented Jerk ShadZ