THE countdown to the 2010 snapper migration into Port Phillip Bay and Western Port has begun.
During September, snapper will begin trickling into the bays in small numbers.
Towards the end of the month or in early October, the red flood will be on in earnest.
The snapper run is the most anticipated migratory event on the Victorian saltwater calendar.
Everyone from anglers through to boat and tackle retailers want a good season.
Melbourne tackle stores say snapper-related sales account for 35-40 per cent of annual turnover.
When the snapper come on the bite, tackle and bait sales surge, boat ramps become crowded and business booms for charter operators.
Reports of snapper being caught will increase from now on.
Chances are the fish will be in small numbers although size is another matter.
Early season snapper, the vanguard, are often large fish.
At the peak of the snapper season, around Melbourne Cup weekend, snapper average closer to 3kg than 5kg, but early season reds are often in the 5-7kg classes.
The angler who wants to catch snapper has two choices, wait until hearing of snapper catches or go out and find the fish.
Anglers who follow the news rarely catch as many fish as those who make the news because the best results are had early when the fish are fresh and not hook shy.
OUTFIT
If you haven't already done so, now is the time to service your tackle or gear up with new tackle.
If you decide a new outfit or two - I always buy in pairs - is needed then optimise your chances and spend the extra dollars to buy proven brands.
This applies to all tackle from rods and reels to lines and hooks because it is worthless paying out for a top of the range outfit and using suspect hooks or lines.
Snapper fishing isn't rocket science.
New models of rods and reels were released last month at the Australian Fishing Tackle Association trade show in Queensland but the basics remain the same.
To catch snapper you will require a balanced outfit of about 6-8kg.
Solid-tip rods are a popular choice as the softness in the tip helps when casting light, fragile baits such as pilchards.
There is a wide range of rods to choose from and it is important the rod you decide on has quality guides and fittings.
When choosing a reel make sure it has a smooth drag system and a spool capacity of about 250m of monofilament line.
If you prefer braid then you can use a smaller reel to achieve the same line capacity.
Threadline reels are the most popular and my preference is for a size 50 or 5000, depending on manufacture's designation, spooled with braid, or a 6500 spooled with monofilament.
Free spool reels are popular but have minimal practical application.
More snapper are caught fishing in gear with a drag tension of about 1-1.5kg than out of gear.
LINES
Braid is difficult to use when fishing at anchor in any sort of current.
In this scenario, monofilament is the easier option.
Braid is less forgiving than mono so you may experience more pulled hooks and because this line material floats and it is more likely to drift back around your outboard leg.
TERMINAL TACKLE
Experienced snapper anglers employ 15-24kg leaders as standard to avoid them being bitten off.
Chemically sharpened Suicide pattern hooks are the best bet for snapper.
Hook size is controlled by bait size and you should have at least two hook sizes, 4/0 and 6/0.
For big snapper use two hooks on the same leader, the second hook either fixed or sliding and keep the hook points exposed as you only get one chance to bury the hook.
Many anglers still prefer to employ a running sinker rig, either the running paternoster where the sinker is on a leader and allowed to run along the line or the more conventional style with the main line running through a bean sinker and a swivel acts as a stopper.
If you are in a situation where minimal lead is possible, run a pea-size ball sinker straight to the bait to ensure it sinks immediately.
This is especially important during daylight as sea birds are attracted to slow sinking baits.
