Maverick1

Well done Rick - I've been waiting for this type of post to come from you - its been a while And what a way to return - smashing (pun intended) fish !! Cheers, Paul

Well done guys - you are certainly the snapper champs. So if I've got this right you caught these in the middle of the day in a full moon period and possibly between tide changes ...

Well done Scratchie and team - enjoy the time with the kids while you can. My son was a gun fisho and deckie until he hit 17 and girls arrived on the scene....can't really blame him but hoping he makes a return before I'm past it -hahaha

Nice fish Rick

Thanks guys, really appreciate the help and advice. Will be trying a few new things in both gear and locations. Next time we go to PS will give you a ping.

There is one more question I had (actually I have lots :)..) I was under the illusion that mature snapper headed out to deeper water 40+ during the summer months and were only in shallow water during the winter months to breed and eat cuttlefish. You have obviously blown that myth out of the water - are these resident PS snapper? Any thoughts on this?

normally 7" gulp jerk shads in assorted colours, normally start with pearl white and go from there. 3/8 and 1/2 oz TT jigheads depending on depth and current. 2500 size reels with variety of spools with 10, 15, 20 lb braid and same fluro leaders. 6'6" rods. normal SP gear you must be fishing first light and dusk for that depth? I'm talking 20-40m in the daylight hours light "the V's" at PS And I imagine Port Stephens has lots more options for SP's around the islands etc than the central coast and Sydney? What type of fishing locations do you look for? when fishing shallow water we normally try to find reef peaks with 2-3m drop-offs and throw plastics around searching for fish or anchor up current and float baits back towards to peak This a typical catch, doesn't happen all that often and not complaining but we would miss 3-4 XOS during a session.

Thanks Jeff and Rick, your advice is very much appreciated and we will be changing a few things to our setup - circle hooks will be dusted. The rest comes down to being on the water and patience Bird Island is one of our favourite haunts that's where we lose them... Jeff, we use plastics extensively as well and again get some good fish but don't seem to get the same numbers when they turn on in a burley trail. We normally use plastics in deeper water during the day and finish with floaters in the evening... Would definitely be interested in a meet greet fish session so will keep an eye out. Thanks again gents

Rick/Jeff, firstly congratulations on a great days fishing - doesn't happen all that often so you have to live and breathe it when it does!! I'm a new member and first post so what I'm not what I do next follows right etiquette or is in the correct area of the forum. We also do a fair amount of float lining for snapper, mainly out of Norah head (but have done the Bay and Broughton Is) and do ok but we have major problems landing the size of snapper you seem to boat on a regular basis. And we are fishing 18-20m and what I read you are in 13-14m?? We use 4000 size reels, combination of straight through 20lb mono and braid with 20lb leader, snelled 4/0 circle and J hooks, and whole pillies and squid for bait. We have tried lighter lines but that just doesn't work. We can land good size pennies but the XOS just beat us everytime, by reefing us or just break the line due to the drag we try to use. What are we doing wrong??? Any advice would be really appreciated as it is really frustrating the hell out of to know they are there, you can hook them but no chance to landing them get them... Again apologies if I'm pushing my luck asking for advice but I had to give it a go. Cheers Paul