JOIN THE GANG!

How to catch Snapper on Tru-Turn gang hooks using floaters.

 

With all the hoo-haa about catching snapper on soft plastics it's good to know that the tried and tested old methods are still working. Here are some details about how to catch snapper on Tru Turn gang hooks and some great photos of fish caught recently off Bundaberg.

Floaters have been around since day dot. The technique is simple, anchor the boat in 20-50 metres of water up current of a reef feature such as a pinnacle, gutter, drop off or reef edge. Create a burley trail leading back to the reef and fish lightly weighted baits back in the trail.

The depth of water you are fishing on any given day is determined by a couple of factors. Try to find somewhere that the current is moving, but not tearing through. Better results will come from shallow waters when the light is low such as in the evening or early morning and fish deep throughout the day when the sun is high in the sky.

Burley works to draw the better reef fish up and away from the less desirable species that inhabit the same areas. By burleying you make quality fish come to you, rather than putting up with all the associated rubbish fish like seargent bakers and rock cod that hang in the reef. I find a good burley is the same as you are using for bait, such as pilchards cut into about four pieces and dropped into the water. The best speed for depositing burley is one more cube when the last one drifts out of sight. When I find my chosen spot I will also drop a burley bomb at about mid water, just to start things happening.

Set up your lines with either no sinker or just enough weight to get your baited hook to sink at the same rate as the burley. Once you have some burley happening its time to rig a pilchard on Tru-Turn gang hooks. These gangs have two added advantages. One, the Tru Turn hook itself is better at hooking fish, it turns to point the sharp end at the jaw of the fish, two, the swivel that separates each hook allows this turning action to happen. Tru Turn gang hooks will tear out of a pilchard bait as the fish bites and set themselves in the mouth of the fish.

The swivel between each hook allows the Tru Turn gangs to work so well!

I like to use simple threadline reels for this style of fishing. Once I have set my burley trail and put baits in the water it's just a matter of putting the rod in the holder and letting the line freely come off the spool. Some anglers like baitrunner style reels for this but I find they introduce excessive line twist and so i dont use them. A good quality aluminium bodied spinning reel such as the Pioneer Perfect Cast 4000 is perfect. Watch your lines closely and when a snapper hits grab the rod and turn the handle to set the hooks. Hang on as snapper dont stop till they hit the reef or you get them to the boat!

I like to fish three rods out of the back of my 5 metre centre console at one time. This allows me to manage them and burley off the bait board at the same time. I will also fish one or two rods up the front of the boat with either bait on the bottom or a live bait suspended under the surface on a float. These extra lines just increase your chances of catching more fish and having more fun.

Tru trun gang hooks are available at all good tackle stores in packs of five sets for about $12. Alternatively you can make your own by purchasing Tru Turn 711 Permasteel hooks and the corresponding Tru Turn Ganging Swivels and follwing the instructions on our fishing tips page.

Below are some photos of snapper caught on Tru Turn gangs, the last one form Sydney. This technique will work right around the country on reefs and will produce many species of fish. Give it a try, you might have a ball!

Reds like this look and taste great!

Another nice Snapper hooked perfectly

A little GT turned up in the trail, the Tru Turn gangs stood up easily!

Nice bump

Perfect hook up. A Tru Turn Trademark!

Barry with a good eating size snapper

A nice daylight Sydney snapper, notice the set up for fishing floaters and burleying behind the angler.