As the cooler months approach, it's the perfect time to get your snapper gear ready and chase those big winter reds in the shallows! The east coast of Australia is renowned for excellent snapper fishing year-round, but it's during winter, when the east coast current shifts offshore and lowers sea temperatures, that the big trophy snapper really come alive in the shallows. This makes it the ideal season to target them.
There are various techniques to target snapper along the east coast. Whether it's floating baits back in a burley trail or slow-pitch jigging in deeper reefs, snapper are a thrilling sport fish pursued by many anglers across Australia, and they also make for a delicious meal. My personal favourite method to catch trophy reds is using soft plastics on light tackle in the rugged shallow reefs scattered up and down the coast!
Finding where snapper live is generally straightforward, but getting past the smaller fish to the bigger ones can sometimes be challenging. Here are a few key factors I consider when targeting snapper, which generally improve my odds of finding those big ones.
Key Bite Times
Snapper tend to bite best at dawn and dusk, as these times offer good cover and attract baitfish to the shallows, hiding from predators. Pay attention to tide changes throughout the day as well. Snapper do feed at night, but with the first light, baitfish move off the reefs to deeper waters, presenting a perfect ambush opportunity for snapper. I usually start fishing within 10 metres of water at first light and gradually move towards deeper reefs as daylight progresses. For an afternoon bite, I reverse this method, starting in deeper water and moving into the shallows. This technique has consistently increased my catch rate over the years!
Moon Phases
Moon phases significantly influence snapper behaviour in the shallows. Snapper tend to bite better around a new moon due to less light, providing more cover for hunting around bait schools on the reefs. During a new moon, I fish heavier since the fish are less spooked by leader sizes. I start with a 30lb setup at dawn and switch to 20lb once the sun rises. Around the full moon, I fish lighter, starting with 20lb at first light and switching to 16lb if the bite is slow. I also use lighter jig heads to slow the sink rate of my lure, which can trigger bites in slow conditions.
Fishing Different Depths and Conditions
The depth and conditions determine the lures and weights I use to maximise bite times. In the washes, snapper push up against the rocks to feed on shellfish and barnacles. I use lures as light as possible, with weights ranging from 1/8 oz to 1/4 oz, to keep the lure in the strike zone longer. In shallow reefs, snapper are found around bait schools, leading to multiple trophy catches in one session and the possibility of exciting by-catches like pearl perch, kingfish, and even cobia. Setting up the right drift is crucial, so knowing wind and current directions helps plan the boat’s drift. Minimising boat and engine noise is also important, as unnatural sounds can alert fish to danger, reducing bites.
Using a Good Sounder
A good sounder is invaluable for fishing shallow reefs. I use a Lowrance HDS 12 Pro with an Active Imaging HD transducer, which has been a game-changer for snapper fishing. I set my screen to a split view, with traditional sonar on one side and a map chart on the other, to line up perfect drifts over reefs. A map card with relief shading helps when exploring new grounds, revealing steep ledges that are prime areas for big snapper. Fine-tuning sounder settings can help differentiate fish from bait schools, so don’t hesitate to adjust gain and sensitivity for the best picture.
Choosing the Right Lures
The variety in the soft plastic market can be overwhelming, but I prefer matching the hatch by selecting lure sizes and profiles that mimic local baitfish. Big snapper aren’t afraid to eat large baits, so I use soft plastics around 7 to 9 inches. In dirty water, I choose darker colours like reds, browns, and blacks for a solid silhouette, while in clean water, I opt for bright colours like whites, pinks, and yellows for their attractive glow.
Recommended Rod and Reel Setups
For chasing big snapper, I recommend two setups:
Heavy: Stradic SW 4000, Grappler PE 3 braid and a T-Curve 7’10 15-25lb rod.
Light: Stradic SW 4000, Grappler PE 2 braid and a Zodias 7’4 X Heavy Spin rod.
These setups cover all shallow water snapper fishing along the east coast and provide enough power to handle trophy reds.
Snapper are excellent table fish, so preserving their meat is important. A brain spike instantly kills the fish and calms its nerves before placing it in the esky, ensuring the best eating quality. Many anglers practise catch and release for big snapper, taking only what they need. To release snapper safely, I use a large container of sea water to revive the fish before setting up for photos. After photos, I quickly return the fish to the water for a strong release.
