Winter snapper at Goat...

[Peter4]

Despite the early drizzle Kyle & I decided to venture to Goat Island before first light to work the reef edge with ultra light gear on the outgoing tide. The theory was that big snapper should be patrolling the drop off looking for baitfish forced into deeper water by the falling water level. It was quite wet with regular squalls coming through when we got there.

The theory seemed good though, when on my first cast the lure was smashed by by a big fish that made a long screaming run before pulling the hooks. For the next two hours we only managed a few undersize snapper (except a 36 to me) and a small trevally. Kyle made the call to ditch the spot and try a newer area to the south. We decided to sneak in under electric power, trolling our lures along the edge until we found fish...and find them we did.

In 3m of water near the reef edge the sounder lit up with a good bait school. At the same time Kyle yells "I'm on!" just as I hook-up. We hit spotlock while Kyle lands his 38cm snapper and I land my monster pike!. Next cast Kyle is on again to a more serious fish and so am I - double hook-up! Kyle's fish makes a dozen long runs taking line each time. Patiently Kyle works him to the surface where I one handedly net him a 50cm snapper before I go back to my fish which is a 39cm snap. Soon after Kyle manages another good 45cm snap and a 38. I matched his 38 but I'm getting more pike than snapper and eventually lose my lure to these vermin.

Kyle decides to drop a butterfly jig into the bait school and pulls in one moses perch after another. After a dozen or so we move on to find more snapper. I manage two chopper tailor before the Fisheries patrol comes over to inspect our gear and check our catch and boat. No dramas and they were nice guys to boot!

Soon after we called it a morning and cruised home on a glassed out bay. Final tally was around 20 snapper (7 legal) to 50cm, 15 moses perch, a dozen or so pike, a trevally, two tailor and a porcupine fish. Top morning on the bay.

Pics to follow...

Cheers

Pete & Kyle

[Snodger]

great day out fella's. It sounds like its going to be a bumber snap season.

[Peter4]

Here's the pics...

[Micko]

Well done to both you guys.Good to hear fisheries doing the rounds too.

[Peter4]

Forgot to mention that both of our first little snapper were sharked...don't swim around Peel or Goat in the early morning!!

[Didley]

What's a butterfly jig Peter, excuse the ignorance.

[spaded]

nice Pete I love snapper, they hit like a little train

[Peter4]

What's a butterfly jig Peter, excuse the ignorance.

Like a knife jig only tiny, Dids. Yanks use them on schooled up bass.

Deadly on snapper and fairly snag free on gnarly ground.

See pic below...

[BR65]

They'd be in my esky mate, fresh crispy skin cajun snapper fillets - sweet.
One day we'll get this tag a long sorted

[Didley]

You make those up yourself pete?