Early season snapper report (Port Phillip Bay, Victoria)
So me and my best mate Ben went out for our first bash on the snapper this season in Melbourne. Its still pretty early in the season and the fish dont usually fire up till early november when the water temp hits about 17 degrees, we had heard reports of a few fish getting around so we were pretty confident heading out. We had decided to only use light gear this year to have abit more fun so we packed all our bream and whiting gear and hit the water around 5 30am ready for the 7am tide change.. it was going to be a good day!
The first fish of the 2011 season was a PB for Ben (would of beat mine too) taken on a big pilchard on a 2000 size real and 6lb braid. Weighed in a 6.7kg, unfortunatley was gut hooked so we had to keep it. We ended up getting 5 during this tide change, weighing in from 2.8 to 6.7kg Very good start considering how early in the season it was, the water was only 14.5 degres.
Got my first fish on my new Caldia 2000 combo, great fun on 4lb braid!
Now what happened next is one of the most amazing things I have ever witnessed out fishing. Ben had a strike and somehow the fish managed to pull the rod out of the racks before either of us could get to it. Anyway, we were both shattered and our great morning had been ruined. Anyway, Ben didnt give up.. He spent the next 5 minutes casting out and retriving slowly along the bottom and sure enough he brought back some line and his rod, he got the fish too... here is the culprit! Unbelievable.
We ended up getting 9 fish ranging from 2kg to 6.7kg, kept 3 and realesed the rest. Was a cracking day out on the water and a huge result considering the time of year. Think this season is going to be the best yet and im really looking forward to battling some more reds on the lighter gear.
Ended up with a good feed as well...
Cheers
hlokk
Posts: 4292
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Nice haul there. Gotta be fun
Nice haul there. Gotta be fun on the light gear. Where you fish for them, does there tend to be much structure for them to bust you off on?
Also, dont bleed your fish?
PattyT
Posts: 1025
Date Joined: 15/08/10
Not really any structure at
Not really any structure at all in PPB mate, definitely makes it easier to get them with light gear. At the moment they are in close along the rubble patches in about 5-8m of water but as the season moves on they'll head out deaper on the edge of the channels. There are heaps of spots to get them, if you spend some time you can find your own marks that will keep producing year after year. Never really bleed my snapper, I probably should though as im sure it would enhance the taste.
hlokk
Posts: 4292
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Try bleeding and slurrying
Try bleeding and slurrying one, then another the same as you do atm, and once you see the difference you wont go back ;)
nev
Posts: 193
Date Joined: 04/02/09
Nice Fish
there Patty. Have to be happy with a start like that! As hlokk stated they are lots better bled, slurried in fresh water ice. Flesh looks great with minimal blood in it. Have you tried Panko bread crumbs ? Very tasty with fresh Snapper! Cheers nev
soupster51
Posts: 2724
Date Joined: 29/11/06
Snapper
A top result and great write up. Cheers for sharing.
The best reason for doing what's right today is tomorrow.
wazzbat
Posts: 977
Date Joined: 19/01/10
Good report Patty and a good
Good report Patty and a good start to the season for you guys.
How far out and how long does it take to get to your spots in PPB? It's amazing you can catch such quality fish when you look so close to the city.
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
mako magic
Posts: 5785
Date Joined: 03/08/05
Out of willi hey ? Always
Out of willi hey ? Always produces early season snapper ! The big one is s good size too and it's only going to keep getting better in the bay
Markie
Posts: 2154
Date Joined: 06/08/10
Good report and fish buddy.
Good report and fish buddy. Il be over there in the next month or so to head out on my cousins boat to try and get some victorian snapper for the first time :)
sea-kem
Posts: 15031
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Nice work fellas. Coming to
Nice work fellas. Coming to Melbourne tomorrow for three days of eating, drinking and shopping. I'l be looking at the water knowing what's out there now :(
Love the West!
PattyT
Posts: 1025
Date Joined: 15/08/10
Thanks guys.. Spot on Mako
Thanks guys.. Spot on Mako Magic, first drop was just off Willie then we headed out to P2. How'd you know? haha
Hookt, let me know the weekend you come down and Ill get you some marks where they are biting.
Going out again on sunday, just for fun and not for the freezer though :)
mako magic
Posts: 5785
Date Joined: 03/08/05
lived in melbourne for 30
lived in melbourne for 30 years and done alot of fishing out in that area, P2, point cook etc etc, heard from my brother today and hes killing the pig atm down off frankston way
PattyT
Posts: 1025
Date Joined: 15/08/10
Went out again this
Went out again this morning... fished a tide change at 4.30am and first light in glassy conditions. Didnt get a look in on the tide change so headed deaper and got 12 up to 4.7kg on first light. On the water at 3.00 am and off it by 7.30am, great start to the day. Cant believe home many fish are around early this season, soooooooooooo many boats out as well... at a mark called P2 where the blind lead the blind there were atleast 200 boats clumped together, what a joke. Doubt they would of got anything!
That brings the total to 21 in two trips, with 16 succesfully realesed.
mako magic
Posts: 5785
Date Joined: 03/08/05
yeah my brother sent me a pic
yeah my brother sent me a pic of a heap of boats, assuming maybe arount ansetts or the hospital area of a massive amount of boats, and yeah amazing to hear so many fish so early in the season, my brother in 2 trips has got over double your total so theres heapssss out there. shows how much stopping the scallop dredging in the bay has improved the system
snappermiles
Posts: 2100
Date Joined: 05/11/10
great effort
glad to see its not just cockburn sound that every one turns silly during snapper season! or as i call it silly season
ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS EXCEPT YOU AND ME! AND IM NOT SO SURE ABOUT YOU!
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
nice work
it's always good to downsize the gear and sportfish
we had cold water the other day when we went for a dip, it was only 25oC
PattyT
Posts: 1025
Date Joined: 15/08/10
haha, yes! its a little bit
haha, yes! its a little bit to cold for a dip down here in melbourne. @mako - the big clumpes were around P2 and the faulkner beacon, and even as we drove past more and more boats were going in to brave the mess... outrageous! I thought our numbers were impressive, your bro is KILLING it, agree 100% on the scallop dredging.. seems to be going from strength to strength now.
The silly season has defintitley started now, all the mugs are out on the water. One guys today thought it wise to verbally abuse anyone who came within 75 metres of him even though he pinged us for the spot he was in. He didnt catch anything but flathead though so karmas a bitch!
mako magic
Posts: 5785
Date Joined: 03/08/05
haha, yeah it will always be
haha, yeah it will always be the same over there thats for sure, though alot more area to fish so its not as bad as over here in the sound .
yeah years ago it was an acheivement to crack 100 snapper for a season now you can do that in a handfull of trips, one thing i have noticed too is alot of fish in the 4-8kg mark , cant complain there
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
I must be getting old.......
When I was a teenager in Melb it was considered a good haul if you caught a handull of Pinkies in a season......
But Scallop baots were in fashion then.......
Mind you we used to pull hundreds of bream from the Yarra in the Docklands area and people thought we were crazy (we even got soapies and the odd brown trout). Back then we were heavily into 'Match Fishing"
PattyT
Posts: 1025
Date Joined: 15/08/10
Yep, the size class of 2011
Yep, the size class of 2011 is definitely bigger. Average size seems to be improving by about a kg every year which is exciting, hopefully in a few years time the average size will be around the 7-8kg mark.. Think I might have the soft placcy rod ready to go next time :)
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Looks pretty good, specially
Looks pretty good, specially seeing as the dmersal ban is running here!
Often wondered about getting an ironing board for a fillet station myself, looks pretty handy!
PattyT
Posts: 1025
Date Joined: 15/08/10
haha, it is pretty handy.
haha, it is pretty handy. There was talk of turning it into a bait board at some stage (when we didnt have the snapper racks) but im glad that didnt eventuate :)
PattyT
Posts: 1025
Date Joined: 15/08/10
Heard some reports
Heard some reports the victorian record got beaten this morning out at carrum, 15.6kg snapper boated!! That is an unbelievable fish for down here... would be interesting getting one of them of 6lb tackle.
streaker boy
Posts: 527
Date Joined: 23/05/09
matt that pic i sent u of all
matt that pic i sent u of all the boats was at the outta art reef.
nice report there patty and now thats an awesome fish to get there was one caught last week around seaford which went 13kgs
all i need is 1 that big on friday for teatree.
well im out in westernport tomorrow again soooo good 2 be on holidays with 3 weeks off
wazzbat
Posts: 977
Date Joined: 19/01/10
I was gonna take a trip over
I was gonna take a trip over to Melbourne for 3 or 4 weeks to watch a few games of footy next year but I might forget about the footy and go over for the Snapper season instead???
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
PattyT
Posts: 1025
Date Joined: 15/08/10
I would definitely do that
I would definitely do that mate.. You got us for size in WA, but for sheer numbers PPB and Westerport are pretty damm good.. I'd be happy to take you out as Im sure streaker boy would.
wazzbat
Posts: 977
Date Joined: 19/01/10
I think I would rather be
I think I would rather be catching decent fish all day then just one big one? Thanks for the invite. I will let you know when I know when I'm heading over and might just have to take you up on that. Cheers Patty.
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!