Just got in from a fish out Long Reef.
Got the call at 2.00 to get my ass down the ramp.
We fished 3 up. Couldnt get any Slimeys for bait so we headed to a ground about 5 km out in about 53 metres of water.
I committed to using only plastics for the day so i had modify my rig cause the current was powering.
Managed to lose a decent Snapper, but 20 min later i was on.
I was only using 10 lb line on a light rod so i had to let the fish have a good run for 30 seconds.
Finally after about 20 min we netted him and he was in the boat.
My biggest at 4.2 kg. and 70 cm.
Pretty surprised when i cleaned him he had a whole Mado in him.
We went in close and the other 2 guys hooked into some plateys, and 1 got a 2 kg. Red.
Perfect conditions to be out there, i may have to go again tomorrow....

Very nice Salty Dont throw the fins out, smoke them.. Taste Beautiful

Very nice fishy salty

Used to get them that size & bigger in the bay once upon a long time ago

Now you've given me a stiffy, gunna have to pull my finger out & start targeting them again

Tell me bout stiffys.... I need to get back down the bay for a few days to chase them!!

No more single day trips!!

Very nice fish mate.
With all my experience with fishing over 45 years and caught just about all my targeted fish, I have never caught a Snapper with a soft plastic. I have caught 12 1/2 kilo snapper but was on smelly bait.
I got some plastic thingies off Sumo on the week end and next time I go deep water fishing I am going to try and land my first on plastic.
Do you let it sink to the bottom and then just jig/yo-yo the plastic or what technic do you use to catch them on plastics ???.

I got my first few snapper on plastic the other day frank.. I used two techniques and both seemed to work..

1. While drifting over the reef, i would flick the plastic out and let it hit the bottom, then rip it up and let it sink again and keep repeating.

2. While burlying i threw the plastic out way down the burley trail and then worked it back in as you would normally work a plastic along the bottom, bringing it up a bit and then letting it sink again, untill its at the boat and yuo reeat.

Thanks will try both and see what happens, that is if I can resist slipping a nice juicy salted slimie fillett over the side long enough to give the plastic a chance.
These plastic things I got off Sumo are about 6" long and look like a cross between a Mahi and a Hairtail only clearish greeny colour, think they look almost good enough to eat them myself, think the fish will like them.
Hope I can keep them away from the Jackets.

Depends on the depth Frank !

Much prefer SP'n for reds in the shallower water esp if you've got them in your burley trail.

A bit more work in the deeper water

Jumpy. What tactic would you employ in say 50-60 metres of water ???.
This is the main depth I fish for Snapper down at Bermi.

Ok im back from my mates woodfire shop where we smashed the Snapper.
Frank i was saying how i had to modify my rig due to the conditions.
We were fishing in about 53 m of warwe and there was a pretty strong current. There was no way i was going to get the plastic anywhere near the bottom.
I ran one of those long, narrow cylinder type sinkers to a swivel, then had about a 1 m trace which i tied my 3/8 ounce jighead to.
I always use this rig when using plastics and i want to get down deep, or if the currents powering.
The sinker sends it down while the long trace keeps things looking as natural as possible with the plastics movement.
I used a nuclear chicken 7" gulp plastic.

Great catch there. Well done.

well dune on the pb mate

I'd be using 3 - 4 inch lead jigs in that sort of depth Frank

Work just as well as SP's but neither can beat bait fushing.

Nice snapper.

Just read the Q again Frank !

Just to add if you're using baits dont be shy to feed out floaters in that depth if you're on anchor

Use as little lead as possible & although you may think there's a screaming current it'll be up on the surface only.

Many a time on the Peak fishing in 70 odd meters baits looked like they were up on the surface [using a good size ball sinker] when in actual fact we had snapper coming up off the bottom up in our burley trail hitting the baits 20 meters or so beneath the surface.

A couple of time fushing The Banks we also had snapper hitting whole pilchards intended for YFT only 10 meters beneath the surface drove us nuts cause we couldn't get baits down to the YFT

Snapper will & do come up to the surface & these are your bigger fishy's as well so dont restrict yourself to the old Padomoster Rig you need to experiment on the day to find out the best rig

Very true about the current. We discovered towards the end of our session that that was the case.
Powering on top and weak down low.

VERY SMALL ONES IN THE BAY AT PRESENT WAIST OF TIME AND BAIT IF I TRAVEL 5KM S ILL GO TO PYMONT WHERE I KNOW ILL GET A SNAPPER FOR SURE..HAHA GOOD ONE SALTY CANT TAKE THAT AWAY FROM YA MATEY