SNAPPER PLASTICS STARTER GUIDE

Who would have thought the introduction of soft plastics would so profoundly influence the way we chase many of our most highly sought-after species here in OZ. When it comes to snapper the typical gear packed for a session has now changed considerably compared to what you'd carry going back 15 years or so ago. In nearly all water depths and corners of the country you'll likely find anglers twitching around soft lures for these fish, and given reds belt them so darn hard it's easy to see why these lures have cemented their place in the arsenal of snapper fishos! So if you're yet to jump on the 'soft for snapper' bandwagon, or are looking for a few pointers to take on board, check out the whirlwind overview of the gear and method below. Why So Effective? The use of soft plastics on snapper has, if anything, reaffirmed just how aggressive these fish are, and their willingness to chase down and slam a lure. Just before writing this I drifted a soft plastic down through a school of slimy mackerel and was unexpectedly belted by a 5kg red on the drop hardly a quarter of the way to the bottom. If I was using a typically large sinker and bait setup it's likely this fish would never have been caught, so these lures have opened up options. Soft plastics also play on the reaction bite, which is a huge positive for snapper, which can be as fickle as any fish swimming when conditions aren't right for them. We see it so often, where static baits are being ignored, yet the guy actively working a lure will catch the first and often the most snapper. Further to this it's this active approach and covering ground which also makes the lure approach deadly. Lure Selection Snapper are a surprisingly predatory fish. The oldest trick in the book to fool a lock jawed monster red is to lower down a live slimy mackerel or other fish, and with this logic in mind it's easy to see why large soft plastics get inhaled regularly. Down south we tend to fish larger 7-9 inch soft plastics mostly when chasing better snapper, but often even a 2kg fish will not hesitate to attack these large lures, and when it comes to the 10kg plus giants we want, plastics of this size are an easy snack, often engulfed in a single bite sending a jolting 'CLUNK' up your braid. The Squidgy Flick Bait has always been a firm favourite with snapper anglers, and has been there since the start of the soft revolution for these fish. The Pilly and Slimey colours have been long-time favourites of mine, but others like the Yakka allow you to mimic local baitfish well. Other profiles like Whipbait and larger Wrigglers are also proving their worth and give you options to try on the day. The Squidgy 145mm Flick Bait rigged on a heavy-duty head like the 40grm 6/0 Weapon Jighead represents a great snapper setup when there's a bit of tide running and you're chasing bigger fish. Of course you can downsize lure and head selection for shallower areas, and when you're not battling tide and wind etc. Where possible I like to keep leaders on the lighter and more stealthy side, with 20-25lb Ocea Fluorocarbon a great place to start for chasing larger snapper. If you're suffering bust-offs then look to step things up. Soft Plastic Outfits Like any soft plastic situation you don't want to use 'overkill gear' for this fishing or you begin to lose sensitivity and reduce your ability to properly work your lure. Also the fun factor is reduced significantly, getting smoked on sporty gear is large part of the buzz and satisfaction of taking the soft approach on snapper! Threadline tackle has become mainstream for this type of fishing. This is not to say a small overhead is going to offer any noteworthy disadvantages. A 3000 to 4000 sized threadline is ideal as you get the capacity and drag system to dish out punishment to these fish, I'm currently using a 4000 Stradic CI4 spooled with 15lb Power Pro matched to a T-Curve TK3G Saltwater Spin 722 3-6kg rod. For the uninitiated this may seem like a whiting outfit, but it actually packs a big punch and we've caught 30lb plus snapper on this gear. Technique One of the keys to soft success with snapper is backing your lure to get eaten and sticking with it. Try and work as much of the immediate area around your boat as possible, casting forward and to the sides, and using the tide to hop your lure over as much bottom as possible. Constant 'flicks' of your lure to bring it to life will be needed and try to keep in touch with the bottom as much as possible, maximising time in the likely feeding zone. Snapper hit soft lures like a freight train and usually you'll feel the jolt travel up your braid, and this is the time to set the hooks hard. Most good snapper are lost through pulled hooks, or jigheads that are simply spat out by these hard mouthed fish. I believe that initial hook-up is the most important part of the fight, and without a solid hook-set there's every chance these fish will shake your jighead free, or it'll tear out during the fight. Soft plastic snapper is some of the most addictive sportfishing in the country, and given it's a relatively simple system of tackle, and there's nothing overly elaborate with the technique, this fishing is more than doable by anglers of all skill levels.