Finding reds, what's your 2cents?

[Robbo76]

Hi guys,

Just interested in learning more about the almighty reds. Where do you find them, meaning what depth, bait used and ground bottom you look for.

One of mine is 52m depth, a small patch of fern, using whole pillie. They are not always there, but usually get a few passing through, mainly nannies. I found this by just drifting past one day.

With some extra info from you guys, i will know what to look for in future

Rob

[STUIE63]

sea snakes are usually a good sign there is some structure around in my experience

[Pazz01]

Hey Robbo

Generally, for us, we fishing in anything from 45 - 75 metres when looking for emperor and big mouth. We've found that the red emperor are usually caught in the shallie bottoms (mix of sand/coral), they don't really like muddy bottoms. Big mouth on the other hand like mud, shail and and a combination. So that's why you'll get big mouth mixed in with the reds somewhere close to the reef or where the bottoms is described as above.

Usually we look for a slight change in depth, the bottoms only has to rise a metre and if there is bait on the sounder it's a good indicator. I've also caught them on bumps that raise 10 metres in 70 metres of water that look like furn/soft coral. Never been down to have a look though. Most marks we've found by driving around out in the middle between the reef in channels etc, and they are by accident. Had a go and bang your on. Other's we have traded etc and some a good others are sh*t.

Best bait, fresh is best, I like slabs of trevally/tuna that are bloody. Tip them with squid and hope for the best. Big baits equal big fish - well my thoughts anyway.

Should be interesting to hear others thoughts too.

Pazz

[Robbo76]

Good info pazz, I have been given a wonky hole mark for Cairns, close in too! Will have to give that a go when i'm back.

I have tried some spots where the bait was a plenty in 50m+ with no luck? Keep looking i guess.

Rob

[Pazz01]

I've heard wonky holes are very good, the couple I used to have are all in the green zones. One I had off port douglas was from a pro boat and he caught 700kg of big mouth off it apparently. Caught the first one when trawling for mackeral on a lure. Don't know how true tho?

Fishing is all about luck, some days are awesome, others are better than being at work. ha.

Pazz

[Robbo76]

Ah, this mark is pretty much off port area also, not far out at all..

I have other wonky marks, but they appear to be a fair distance out. I have never tried them, always end up fishing the usual grounds.

[trueblue]

for nanies, half a pillie shoved up a whole squids hood (squid head and tentacles intact) and a single big hook through the top of the squid hood and securing the pillie

[marto78]

I'm definetly no expert when it comes to catching reds and have only got a handful of red marks where most of them are a bump out in the middle of nowhere ranging from a metre to 7m high in about the 60-70m depth. I'm also a big believer of big baits equals big fish and will usually use a single 7/0 suicide or a 10/0 circle hook with a bit of everything on it ie. mullet or hussar fillet threaded through a couple of times, a whole calamari squid and as many pillies as will fit onto the last bit of exposed hook. Have also found that butterflied hussar work well.
As I said I'm no expert but this is what I have found to work for me.

[Robbo76]

Yeah Marto, i use a 10/0 on a dropper rig i make out of 80lb line then twisted to the hook. Seems to be the same sort of depth for most, 50-70 metres. 7/0 is a bit small isn't it?

Thanks for the post mate

[marto78]

Thats what I thought too but I've been on a couple of outings now using 10/0 circles and getting baited while mates have been using 7/0 suicides and pulling em in.

[Robbo76]

I find with the hooks under 9/0, the fish tend to swollow the hook down. Have not tried the circle hooks, i just use the octopus 10/0. They seem to hook everything big or small usually in the mouth only.

[Scott79]

When specifically chasing Red Emporer, does anyone have a preference on Paternoster rig vs Running Ball Sinker straight to the bait ? Or is that splitting hairs ?

Scott.

[supa29]

hey scott i hve just moved to yeppoon and am looking for the same gound as you, have you had any luck finding ground for the reds. i have been given few marks about 50km out but was hoping to find something a bit closer any luck i will let u know mate

supa

[Scott79]

Cheers mate. I have got a few in the past - but going reasonably wide in another boat, 80km plus. That's not to say that they aren't closer, I am sure they are, but I just haven't done a whole lot of looking yet in my current set-up, and in the bigger boat we tend to go wider to begin with. We have had better luck on the red jew and grunter in the 'closer' grounds.
I probably expect to be heading 50km out to be in with a good shot, it may partly be a mis-conception on my part, but I have been dealt my share of disappointment fishing closer. The area does cop a bit of a hiding and I think you either need to know the area well or just simply get off the beaten track to get good results.
Good luck mate, look forward to seeing some results in the "Reports" section.
Scott.

[Nicko_Cairns]

When specifically chasing Red Emporer, does anyone have a preference on Paternoster rig vs Running Ball Sinker straight to the bait ? Or is that splitting hairs ?

Scott.

i've always been told to use a paternoster when drifting or in rough country and to use a running ball at anchor... but i'm lazy and always use a paternoster to good effect. paternoster lets you have two baits out easily too (except in yellow zones of course!)