Snapper eaten by shark dilemma

[ric]

Over the last couple of weeks snapper fishing east of moreton once hooked up to a decent snapper i have had some issues.

I am running 30lbs braid, 30lbs fluro leader and 7/0 octopus gamakatsu hooks.

Firstly - Once hooked up to a decent fish if i try and bring him up fast i end up pulling the hook!

Secondly, if i play the fish and try to bring him up slowly the sharks take it!

What options do i have to prevent loosing my bigger fish all the time?

Yes they are sharks - the bigger fish are taken deep but the smaller ones i can rush to the boat have the shark follow it to the surface.
sharks have been around 2.4m+ because the boat is 2.4 beam and most of them easily span the width of the boat!

Thanks, Ric

[Pazz01]

Over the last couple of weeks snapper fishing east of moreton once hooked up to a decent snapper i have had some issues.

I am running 30lbs braid, 30lbs fluro leader and 7/0 octopus gamakatsu hooks.

Firstly - Once hooked up to a decent fish if i try and bring him up fast i end up pulling the hook!

Secondly, if i play the fish and try to bring him up slowly the sharks take it!

What options do i have to prevent loosing my bigger fish all the time?

Yes they are sharks - the bigger fish are taken deep but the smaller ones i can rush to the boat have the shark follow it to the surface.
sharks have been around 2.4m+ because the boat is 2.4 beam and most of them easily span the width of the boat!

Thanks, Ric

Mate I have the same problem up here in Cairns with the big buggars taking me fish. Not really much you can do. If you hear of anything let me know.

Pazz

[Benno1]

skull drag it up ...doesnt work all the time...you can pull the hooks...or the men in grey suits will get it anyways...but if youre happy with loosing quality fish...cant hurt to give it a go...just my 2 cents

Mrs Benno1
Sunny

[Angla]

Pull faster or move would be the only 2 options I would think. Could you throw a burley bomb a distance from the snapper spot to attract the sharks away maybe.

Cheers
Chris

[Scott nthQld]

Not much you can do...maybe try giving the snaps a bit more line before striking, get that hook in their gut then rip em up as fast as you can....less pulled hooks maybe. Ripping a snap up fast from any sort of decent depth won't do them much good anyway, and if they're looking to go in the box, why not try and gut hook them?

[ric]

Not much you can do...maybe try giving the snaps a bit more line before striking, get that hook in their gut then rip em up as fast as you can....less pulled hooks maybe. Ripping a snap up fast from any sort of decent depth won't do them much good anyway, and if they're looking to go in the box, why not try and gut hook them?

not a bad idea. i mostly release - unless i don't think they will survive. but for a few bigger keepers i will try and gut hook them.

thanks scott nthqld

[Chanlo]

Try the tuna hooks (dont strike) and you'll hook them in the side of the mouth and you shouldnt loose any that way.

[efc]

if your just going to release them theres not much point fishing when sharks are around.
Maybe just target shallow water

[Midnight]

Gday Ric,
The circle hooks suggestion is a good one. I use circle hooks for all bait fishing these days and it couldn't be simpler. Retain your paternoster rig as it is now, but put circle hooks on your droppesr and leave the outfit on the rod holder until it loads up and peels line. Then pick it up, tighten the drag and crank em!

I use Eagle Claw circles in 2004EL and 2004G. The EL are a lighter, finer gauge wire and will be fine for your 30lb set up. Perfect for your catch and release program too.

Other than that, if getting constantly sharked, then you really just have to move.

Cheers,
Myles

[ric]

thanks for everyones replies.

theres a few ideas to keep me busy for a while

thanks again, Ric

[hsv 408]

If you have a good sound system on your boat have a Mariah carey song on pause when you hook your snaps hit the volume to flat out this scares most things off (also works well when some wacker pulls up next to ya & tries to fish in your spot

[Skusto]

we stopped bottom bashing in depths and started float lining and havent had a shark since still get plenty of snapper but no more sharks use to bottom bash and move once the sharks came in but dont need to worry anymore.

Or maybe were just lucky we fish the same area as you and since changing havent had a problem with sharks. currently using 17pound braid so light gear is great.

[Nicko_Cairns]

If you have a good sound system on your boat have a Mariah carey song on pause when you hook your snaps hit the volume to flat out this scares most things off (also works well when some wacker pulls up next to ya & tries to fish in your spot

gold lol...