new to snapper

[guypepper]

Hi all;

I have a holiday shack at rogues point and have been fishing there for YEARS but have only ever had a small boat (3.5m tinny) so a little to small and scary for snapper, I have recently got the OK from the wife and we are purchasing a "Qunitrex 455 Coast Runner" YAYAYAYAYAYAYA super excited, so we are going over to the house in Feb for the month same as we do every year (best fishing) but this year I REALLY REALLY want to do some snapper fishing its something I have wanted to do for YEARS now, So I have picked up some GPS locations on where to go and was told whole squid heads are the go in this area but I am still lacking in 1 important thing, rod and reel to catch them, im not looking for something super expensive to start with just something that will get me through a month of fishing to see if I can find them and if I enjoy catching them.

A little research online so far has got me at something like 10-15kg with 30lb braid, just looking for a combo I can pick up at BCS on the way through for now or something easy to setup.


when I say not too expensive I mean under about $300


TIA
Guy Pepper

[Still_Dreamin]

Are you planning on using plastics at all? If you are only planning on bait fishing, I would recommend a 4500 baitrunner and matching rod. Should be able to get a combo and braid for well under 300

[Lordspink]

Mate picked up a Abu Garcia rod and reel combo - looks pretty decent for under $300
It can do a bit of every thing, but master of none .

That said agree with Still_dreamin if your just bait fishing you cant go past a baitrunner

[guypepper]

reel
http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/p...ecommendations
rod
http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/p...ecommendations
line
http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/p...ecommendations
line 2 -- leader
http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/f...&variant2=25lb
hooks
http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/p...ecommendations
sinker
got a big enough range to sort out what I need I think

I got a pretty big selection of these rods for smaller fishing and have loved them... am I able to stick with them or am I barking up the wrong tree here?
should I go to 30lb line?

[Still_Dreamin]

You don't really need big gear for snapper. Actually you may get bigger fish on lighter gear. I know I do. In the bay in Brisbane I use 12lb braid and leader on 4000 Stradic ci4+ and 4-6kg rod. My mate keeps telling me I fish to heavy!! We are fishing in around 3m of water on fringing reef. First time i out went out there with 30lb braid on a 6500B baitrunner on a 30lb gloomis stick and caught nothing while my bagged out on good 45-60cm snapper. I was too heavy. Every time since I use lighter gear and come home with fish. We are using plastics.

[Still_Dreamin]

There is an ifish episode with merv Hughes fishing out of Arno Bay catching monster snapper on spin gear. Google ifish Arno bay. The advantage of spin gear is it is light and comfortable to use and fun when you hook up

[Still_Dreamin]

Where is Rogues Point??

[guypepper]

Where is Rogues Point??

little town on the yorke peninsula https://www.google.com.au/maps/place...033654628f1270

[guypepper]

You don't really need big gear for snapper. Actually you may get bigger fish on lighter gear. I know I do. In the bay in Brisbane I use 12lb braid and leader on 4000 Stradic ci4+ and 4-6kg rod. My mate keeps telling me I fish to heavy!! We are fishing in around 3m of water on fringing reef. First time i out went out there with 30lb braid on a 6500B baitrunner on a 30lb gloomis stick and caught nothing while my bagged out on good 45-60cm snapper. I was too heavy. Every time since I use lighter gear and come home with fish. We are using plastics.

Will that still be ok in 10-14 meter waters?

so will the rod be ok and go down to say 12 - 15lb line?

I have been catching baby snapper for years (30cm ish) on my whiting line (too small to keep) on my reef whiting grounds have tried for bigger ones there without any luck though thats around 7 meters

[airlock]

Depends how much of a fight you want and how deep you plan on fishing. Personally i find it hard to go past an alvey combo spooled with 30-40lb mono. Makes pulling them off the reef nice and simple with out worrying about being dragged in and busted off with the benefits of an indestructible reel with a super fast retrieve for when you get baited.
If you're fishing shallow water or really want to have some fun its hard to go past a baitrunner, 6000 or 8000 loaded with 15lb mono or 20lb braid. The baitrunner's make a lovely scream when they takes of and when paired with an ugly stick gold make for a great fighting combo with the benefit of working well for sweetlip and tusk fish on the bottom.

More bites at the shallow reef on lighter line, deeper water seems to narrow the gap so might as well play it safe.

[Tangles]

Others will disagree but if your using bait like squid etc go back to old school bait style rods, i.e. look at Bushies Bait snapper rod, an uglystick or a Silstar Power tip 8 foot 6-8 kilo rod ( about 80 bucks).. Then get a a 4500 bait runner or similar like a cheap Penn and load with 15 to 20 lb mono, tie hook straight on and hang on

[mitc69]

nah go old school go back to hand reel... never lets u down and never can do wrong

[Jeremy]

I am another who recommends the Shimano Baitrunner reel. 4500 size is sufficient. Rod does not have to be expensive, but I like an 8-9 foot rod for snapper.

Catching good size snapper does take some skill and knowledge. Use fresh quality bait (good enough for you to eat like fresh calamari or fresh small or strips of yakkas or slimies), a single Mustad penetrator hook in 7/0 with a small running ball sinker sitting right on the hook if required. Cast as far away from the boat as you can and let the bait slowly sink. Click the reel into baitrunner mode and keep an eye on it. Big snapper smash the baits and lots of rod and reels get pulled overboard - even baitrunners as they can over-run and backlash jamming up the spool. Sunset and sunup are the prime times and that means if you are fishing in the morning and are serious about trying to catch a snapper you launch in the dark and are anchored up and burley trail started by first light.

[guypepper]

http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/p...ecommendations

with

http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/p...ecommendations

something like this do?

[Still_Dreamin]

Looks alright.rod maybe a little heavy.Now just need braid leader and terminal tackle then it is game on