Finally got a Good Bay Snapper!

[matt fraser]

I've been dead keen on nailing a good snapper this year, but work, boat rebuilding and barra trips have gotten in the way a bit, Oh, and baby No.3 as well. Still I've fished Mooloolaba, the Gold Coast and close to a dozen trips on the bay at least for nothing too special in the snapper department. That all changed this morning.

I've got a party on this weekend, and I wanted to stock up on sandies and maybe snapper. So in-between setting and checking crab pots, around Green, I was doing a bit of snapper fishing, and couldn't even get a bite. After a couple of hours, I said stuff it, I'm going to check out Mud, so headed up there into 10knots plus of Northerlies.

First drift, nailed an 80cm snapper on a 4" Gulp minnow in watermelon pearl, 1/4 Oz #1/0 Nitro Jighead, 14lb fluro leader and Fireline.

It bit quite tentatively, but when I struck, it burnt off with at least 70 - 80m of line! Slowly worked it in steadily, no second run, just a bit of headshaking and dogging it out. I was pretty stoked when I got it in the net, much bigger than I would have dared hope. A new Bay PB and only 2cm off my Snapper PB.

I spend another hour or two there, and got one more 37cm snap, and about half a dozen undersized.

Checked pots on the way home, nine sandies all up. Should all go down well with a few beers!

Happy Days!

Matt

[Stonkered]

Nice feed there!

[tropicrows]

Well done matt, that's a nice bay snapper and a good feed for to have at the party.

[netmaker]

nice fish. well done. they certainly make the just legals look small.
cheers

[Te Whiti]

Great Snapper Matt....Persistence paid off...

[Mike Delisser]

Good one Matt

[rosco1974]

good fish matt well done

[Millsydude]

Great Bay Snap Matt, reward for effort mate. That first brag mat shot is enough to have anyone's mouth watering, well done. What depth did you get the sandies in out of curiousity? Have been trying for the muddies but have been a fair bit quieter than this time last year.
Cheers Millsy

[Giveitacrack]

Good fish Matt.Sounds familiar I got my best Snapper of 80cm at Mud Xmas eve 2 yrs ago with also a great feed of sandies for xmas lunch.

[Why-ting]

great feed Matty, and a nice bay snapp on that gear. Ive booked my snapp in with Glen, his work is awesome. thanks for reffering him. he's just too busy to get it back before chrissy so ill have to wait. im out lookin for them again tomorrow hope theres still a few around.

Cheers Whytey

[Mossy247]

Great fish mate, Well done.

Leave some for me Whytey! LoL

Tight lines - MossY

[OODIES]

Well done Matt you gotta be happy with that mate, then to add the sandies to the haul, Awesome stuff.
Mate for forgot to mention what time the BBQ starts...lol

Cheers
Bingo

[simool-awiad]

Congrats on your PB bay snapper Matt! they can be a bit far and few between at times but persistence does pay..... Good fish mate well done !

[matt fraser]

Thanks for all the replies! Still stoked! I think if they came too easy they would be under appreciated. I went back out for a dawn assault this morning, but only scored undersized.....

Netmaker, it certainly makes the 37cm snapper and 50cm flathead look small.

Millsy, putting pots in 22 - 30 feet, I seem to be doing better deeper, need to put some longer ropes on some of my pots too. The sandies have been hard work though. Getting no legals in two overnight soaks is a little disheartening, might have something to do with a certain boat who beat me out there both mornings.........

Giveitacrack, I'm sure I'll be remembering this fish well too. I'm looking forward to serving it up with the crabs!

Whytey, great to hear Glenn's doing your big snap for you. Trophy Fish!

Bingo, Barbies at 3pm! I better not invite all of Ausfish, the missus is stressing enough already.

Simool, cheers mate, not enough time on the water these days, so I'm feeling pretty lucky to have nailed that fish.

Cheers,

Matt

[fisho8]

Well done Matt good feed that lot mate well worth the trip over.