Sailboat Rides

Serious anglers use both the GPS and a depth sounder when snapper fishing Port Phillip Bay. The GPS allows the boat to be positioned precisely over the target area. Prudent boaters carry a copy of their target areas independent of the GPS system in case it fails.

Another tip is to carry two or more landing nets. When the Big Red are running, it is common to have one fish wrapped in one net with others queued to be netted. Fish in the two to five kilogram range are frequently bagged by both boat and land-based anglers.

Snapper fight a hook in a distinctive way. When it is first snagged, the fish swims hard along the seabed. Once it tires, the fish begins to shake its head. This shaking is perceived by the angler through the rod as a distinctive up-down nodding.

The two main hooking strategies are used. Free spooling (zero tension) is perhaps most common but fishing the reel in-gear is also used with a preset drag of about 1 kilogram. Free spooling allows the angler to snag timid fish that might otherwise be spooked by the resistance of an in-gear reel.

One other reason for targeting snapper with the reel out of gear is that gummy sharks are a frequent by-catch. Gummies play with bait in their mouth before swallowing and are easily frightened by resistance.

Typical gear used for the Big Red is a two three meter rod with overhead reel. Overhead reels are preferred since they are less likely to result in a twisted line. This is important when fishing in tidal waters with large baits, as is common when snapper fishing Port Phillip Bay. But at the end of the day, it is a matter of choice. Plenty of fish have been caught using all kinds of equipment. snapper fishing port phillip bay