AS the cooler months arrive, it’s time to get out the fleecy tracksuit and woolly headgear because Moreton Bay can get quite chilly early in the morning and evening.
It’s also the time to do some Snapper Fishing: To get the best chance at a good catch set off early for evening or early morning tides and make your way to Mud Island’s eastern contours, Green Island, Wellington Point drop-off, and Peel Island (especially on a rising tide).
Use a berley trail and consider floating rigs with minimal weight. Snapper take to live bait, so target poddy mullet, herring, prawns or squid. However, there’s plenty of debate over whether bait or lures are more effective for catching snapper. Proponents of using bait argue that natural bait such as pilchards, squid, and prawns are more enticing to snapper due to their scent and texture. These baits can be particularly effective when snapper is in a less aggressive feeding mood or when fishing in deeper waters where the natural scent trails can attract fish over a greater distance.
On the other hand, lure enthusiasts highlight the advantages of artificial lures, including soft plastics, jigs, and hard-bodied lures. They argue that lures can be more effective in stimulating a snapper’s predatory instincts, especially when used with techniques that mimic the erratic movement of distressed prey. Lures also offer practical benefits, such as being reusable and less messy compared to natural bait.
Environmental factors and personal preferences play a significant role in this debate. Tidal conditions, water clarity, and the presence of natural bait fish can influence the success of either method. Ultimately, both bait and lures have proven successful for catching snapper in Moreton Bay.
FACTS ABOUT SNAPPER
interesting facts about snapper in Moreton Bay:
- Size Variation: The size of snapper in Moreton Bay can vary significantly. On some days, every fish you catch will be squire-size, around the 25-30 cm mark. However, on other days, the fish can be larger, measuring 35 cm or more.
- Habitat and Behavior: Snapper numbers increase as offshore fish enter the bay.
You can often distinguish between resident bay snapper and offshore ones based on their coloration.
Offshore snappers tend to be brighter, with pink and blue spots that stand out. - Trophy-Sized Snapper: If you’re after those elusive trophy-sized snapper (65-80 cm or even larger consider fishing the shallows around the Moreton Bay islands in depths of 6 meters or less.
You don’t necessarily need a big boat or to travel long distances to achieve great results.
Info: Fisheries | Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland (daf.qld.gov.au)
