Soft Plastics and Snapper

[Livey]

Hi,

I have been fishing offshore for years and always been the traditional pillies and flesh baiter. Lately (the last 4/5 years) I have ventured to live baiting and seen awsome results. But as most of you live baiters know bait is sometimes hard to come by (especially in mackeral season).

I have been toying with the idea of trying soft plastics but dont know the first thing about them especially in an offshore application.

Can anyone give me some tips on fishing in depths of 45m plus using SP's.

Jig type? Action at rod? using in current? Do I need a sinker? Rig?

Cheers

[Phoenix]

The reports section should give you some good clues. Berkley Gulps are pretty good, as are Snap Backs. For that depth try the 5 inch jerk shads or squids.

The size of the jig head will depend on current - but hook size I'd go 3/0-5/0 and probably 1/2oz weight plus.

But I am no expert.

[trueblue]

Whats the best rod for use with SP's at depth for snapper?

Cheers

Mick

[jm82]

Hey guys,

have been doing my fair share on the 80m line east of the barwon banks with soft plastics. I have been using a 5-10kg shimano t-curve with a stradic 6000, 30lb bionic braid and 40-80lb leaders. 1ounce to 2 ounce jig heads and 7inch berkely gulps in white and 6inch atomic paddletail plastics have been doing the damage. if you want some more info just PM me

Josh

[Poodroo]

The key is to select the appropriate jighead weight for depth and tidal flow. If there is a lot of run then I normally use a 3/8 jighead and always cast ahead of the boat in the direction of travel whilst drifting. This will get the jighead to the bottom. If the water is 60-80 metres in depth then the trick is to cast ahead of the boat and leave the bail arm open to allow as much line to peel off as fast as you can let it so it will reach the bottom. If snapper are on the chew they will hit almost any placcie you toss at them but the trick is to get it down to where they are. Mud island snapper normally in about 7-8 metres I use up to a 3/8 jighead, the shallows of wello I use 1/8 or lighter and offshore I use 1 ounce generally. When fishing with plastics my brother and I always drift and if the wind kicks up enough we drop a sea anchor over the edge to slow down the drift. Hope this helps.

Poodroo

[Phoenix]

I use a 7ft Penn Powerstick 8-10kg with a BR3500. Main line is 25lb braid and 50lb leader. Invest in quality jig heads like Nitro or TT and see what colours and styles of plastic people are having success with in the area you want to fish. It can make a bigger difference than you might think.

[Livey]

Do you need to use braid or will mono do the trick?

If there is run could you rig a sliding ball above the leader to help you get and stay at the bottom or would this interupt the action of the SP.

Cheers

[Jeremy]

Do you need to use braid or will mono do the trick?

If there is run could you rig a sliding ball above the leader to help you get and stay at the bottom or would this interupt the action of the SP.

Cheers

Mono is suitable and has its advocates .

Remember that the larger snapper are rarely on the bottom, so don't think that the plastics need to reach the bottom.

Jeremy

[yakka]

what happens next, do you let it out till it hits bottom if not taken before and wind in? or do you troll it for a short time or is there some other technique?

chris

[jm82]

selecting the correct jig head is correct , i found that making the slightest touch of the bottom while bouncing soft plastics a must but i did catch alot of our big snapper almost 20m off the bottom. we started off by making reasonable sized cast in front of our drift line, keepping the bail open on our spin gear and allowing our plastic to sink wheh we felt that we had enough line out we would shut the bail arm and lift the rod tip high and fast a few times and pick up the slack. On most occasions our plastic was getting slammed on the drop and all we did was set the hook. Found the snapper to be very aggressive and fight alot harder than they would on our overhead gear.

Josh

[Poodroo]

selecting the correct jig head is correct , i found that making the slightest touch of the bottom while bouncing soft plastics a must but i did catch alot of our big snapper almost 20m off the bottom. we started off by making reasonable sized cast in front of our drift line, keepping the bail open on our spin gear and allowing our plastic to sink wheh we felt that we had enough line out we would shut the bail arm and lift the rod tip high and fast a few times and pick up the slack. On most occasions our plastic was getting slammed on the drop and all we did was set the hook. Found the snapper to be very aggressive and fight alot harder than they would on our overhead gear.

Josh

In the deeper water(60-80 metres) I was finding that the snapper were hitting the plastic even before the bail arm was closed. If they are there they will hit it pretty fast as do the peal perch.

Poodroo

[Pistol_P]

Dont agree with using Mono for plastic fishing.
The advantages Braid has over mono for this sort of fishing are worth the $$$.
The braid has no stretch and therefore VERy sensitve and you will feel every tap and knock.This is even more important in the deeper water.
Dont get me wrong I know mono works but the braid has huge advantages over it.

Cheers
Pete

[Scalem]

selecting the correct jig head is correct , i found that making the slightest touch of the bottom while bouncing soft plastics a must but i did catch alot of our big snapper almost 20m off the bottom. we started off by making reasonable sized cast in front of our drift line, keepping the bail open on our spin gear and allowing our plastic to sink wheh we felt that we had enough line out we would shut the bail arm and lift the rod tip high and fast a few times and pick up the slack. On most occasions our plastic was getting slammed on the drop and all we did was set the hook. Found the snapper to be very aggressive and fight alot harder than they would on our overhead gear.

Josh

Josh, I have seen your replies about using SP's out wide in other threads, and I don't need to repeat anything you have said, so Livey, stick to this man like glue, he knows what he's talking about!! My expierience with SP's out wide are not as often as I fish in the bay with them, but I would certainly not waste time trying for live bait, especially if they are not around. The Pic is of a mate who came out with us, stayed with a 1 ounce JH and a pearl white gulp minow ALL DAY. Not a bad way to open the account, he had never fished plastics before. I didn't do half as well, but I know where I went wrong if you are interested.

Scalem

[Livey]

Does anyone know where I can buy large jigheads and SP's on the net (i dont get out much)

can you make your own heads and if so how?

Cheers

[yakka]

thanks for that info, will get some of those sp's today and try over the weekend
regards chris