Soft Plastics and Snapper

[Frank OO]

Hi Murf,

I am glad you found the photos useful. You are most welcome. I hope I keep learning more about fishing every day.

Frank OO

[DALEPRICE]

thanks frank, those pics are great.
just need some decent weather over the
easter break.
cheers dale

[5cougarsthanx]

Frankoo
Thanks for all the advise and the pics.I hope to see you on the water someday.
Cheers
Peter

[jm82]

Frankoo , thanks for the photos Iam sure those pics will be a great help for those guys wanting to get into the deep water soft plastics scene . I my self have notice the same result in having a plastic swimming correctly than one that does not . I have been looking at upgrading the old Stradic 6000 to a daiwa capricorn 4500j what are your thoughts on this reel.

Josh

[Frank OO]

Hi Josh,

I am currently using the Capricorn 4500 as well as the 4000 series. I also have the Stradic series from the 2500 to the 8000.

Although the Capricorn is still a mid priced reel it is a much stronger reel and has coped with a lot more and bigger fish than the 6000 or 8000 Stradic.

I have actually asked Dunphy Sports (Shimano Dealer)to upgrade the 8000 to a Twin Power internal and although the reel is now a lot better it still does not rate compared to the Capricorn 4500.........Ofcourse there are always better and more expensive models.???

Frank OO

[jm82]

Thanks FrankOO,

I looked into the Twin power internals early last year but they had not finalized any thing for the stradic 6000 up grade, I was going through standard drags and carrier bearings on the main shaft in one session, So i got it redone by Jack Erskine .Its doing really well but i am after a little more grunt . Would it be possible for you to pm me with what they did to the internals of your stradic and drag

THANKS in advance Josh

[Spaniard_King]

Great info, thanks guys. Looks like I am off to spend another pay down the tackle shop

Garry

[3Vs]

Great info, thanks guys. Looks like I am off to spend another pay down the tackle shop

Garry

Like youv'e never done that before

[Spaniard_King]

Some bloke left me a fancy inflateable life jacket which I hocked down at cashies so I am all cqashed up now

Garry

[3Vs]

Some bloke left me a fancy inflateable life jacket which I hocked down at cashies so I am all cqashed up now

Garry

Doh!!

[Tony_N]

I've been using white snapbacks for about 3 years. I set them on the top hook of a 3 hook paternoster rig when bottom bashing, I've caught a lot of good fish on them including coral trout and other reef fish, jew, and a PB snapper of just over 6kg.

Last thursday I thought I'd give Franks casting ahead on the drift with a big white Gulp a go. I caught only two fish - one was a 3kg Pearl Perch and the other was a little Mac Tuna of about 4kg. After that we decided to anchor/berley for a while, but I had to pull all the lines in for 2 hours while my mate did battle with what turned out to be a Grey Nurse shark somewhere between 7 and 8 ft long. He got it to the boat on 30lb braid and broke him off after we'd had a good long look at him. Magnificent animal. And great angling skills by my mate, I reckon, though the shark just circled under the boat - he didn't go for any long runs. Neverthless my mate was pretty weary on Friday.

So thanks Frank for the info on how to use the big plastics. I was in 30 - 35 metres of water and using a 3/4 oz TT jig head and casting about the depth of water ahead of the boat on the drift . It worked out that I never actually had any line peeling off the reel as we drifted.

I'm sure I've still got a lot to learn but it was more producrtive on the day (except for the shark) than bait.

cheers

Tony

[Scalem]

I've been using white snapbacks for about 3 years. I set them on the top hook of a 3 hook paternoster rig when bottom bashing, I've caught a lot of good fish on them including coral trout and other reef fish, jew, and a PB snapper of just over 6kg.

Last thursday I thought I'd give Franks casting ahead on the drift with a big white Gulp a go. I caught only two fish - one was a 3kg Pearl Perch and the other was a little Mac Tuna of about 4kg. After that we decided to anchor/berley for a while, but I had to pull all the lines in for 2 hours while my mate did battle with what turned out to be a Grey Nurse shark somewhere between 7 and 8 ft long. He got it to the boat on 30lb braid and broke him off after we'd had a good long look at him. Magnificent animal. And great angling skills by my mate, I reckon, though the shark just circled under the boat - he didn't go for any long runs. Neverthless my mate was pretty weary on Friday.

So thanks Frank for the info on how to use the big plastics. I was in 30 - 35 metres of water and using a 3/4 oz TT jig head and casting about the depth of water ahead of the boat on the drift . It worked out that I never actually had any line peeling off the reel as we drifted.

I'm sure I've still got a lot to learn but it was more producrtive on the day (except for the shark) than bait.

cheers

Tony

Hey Tony,

I am a fan of the snapbacks to a degree in Moreton bay, I've caught some nice snapper on the electric chicken 4". From your description, I think there is still a possibility you are not getting to the bottom, both fish you caught are mid water fish. When you cast ahead of the boat, leave the bail arm open for a while until you are absolutely certain you have reached the bottom. Try that, and resist the temptation of anchoring up. But I guess your tussle with the grey suit would have been fun anyhow!

Scalem

[Tony_N]

Thanks for the feedback Scalem. You could be right about not reaching the bottom. We were in 5-10kt winds with no drogue out the back so perhaps we were moving too fast for the 3/4 TT to reach the bottom. I'll put a 1 and 1/2 oz head on next time and see if it makes a difference.

I picked up both fish when the line was vertical from the boat. When I thought I'd reached bottom I gave the line a jerk and the pearlie was on with the lure right down his throat - so no skill there, and the tuna grabbed it on my fast retrieve as I was bringing it up to cast again. So I have to put both fish down to pure ring. Anyway I'll persevere for a while to see if I can get the feel for it.

cheers

Tony

[Jeremy]

As far as the rods and reels go, We are all on budgets but nothing will replace quality. Egrell rods and the best in Diawa.

My Stradic 2500, 4000,5000,and 8000 have all been stripped because the size of the offshore fish are too big for the cheaper reels.

Frank,

I know you have the runs on the board with snapper and other species offshore, as does Eric, but I think your comments re the reels should be qualified.

The reason the Stradics have been stripped is due to the fact that you are using 30 lb braid with high drag settings. The stradics (and even cheaper reels) work perfectly well with lighter drag settings.

Each to their own, but I prefer to use lighter line and enjoy the fight and accept that occasionally I will lose. Maybe because I have not been brought up on AJs and kingies like some people . Anyway, that is my preferance. My best fish is an 8.8 kg snapper on 6 kg pretest mono, but that was on a metal jig, not a SP. I have also taken a few other good snapper on lures using 3 kg mono. And I can't ever recall actually being reefed lure fishing offshore (have been numerous times bait fishing with mono).

The gear you are advocating is top of the line and the outfit would be well in excess of $1000. That is great is you have the cash and want a dedicated outfit for SP fishing offshore, but not all do.

Also (Scalem?), I would not advocate using the Mustad aberdeen hooks. They are not strong enough for snapper IMHO. You spend enough money on your boat and fuel to get offshore, and time is valuable also. Spend the few extra $ to get the TT or gamakatsu heavy wire jig heads or there is a strong chance you will lose any decent snapper you hook. They have bony mouths and their jaw is very strong.

Like I said, each to their own. It's all good

Jeremy

[BilgeBoy]

Hey Thanks Frank OO

Thanks to your pictures I now realize I have been putting the plastics on upside down!! Dooohhh!!! Thanks to you my strike rate may now increase somewhat.

BilgeBoy