| So much misinformation about snapper fishing is | | | | The same situation applies here, to the snapper. |
| just thrown about like berley, discouraging anglers | | | | They roost around some structure during the day |
| with a picture of it being all too daunting to be | | | | to avoid the pressure of the tide and avoid |
| successful. | | | | predators like sharks. Before dusk they leave |
| As an example I quote a government PIRSA | | | | their ‘Loft’ and head for a |
| (Primary Industry and Resources South Aust.) | | | | night’s seaching where they consider they |
| article on snapper fishing by ‘One of the | | | | have their best chance of finding a meal. And |
| State’s most accomplished young | | | | while they are away, numbers of boats are sitting |
| anglers.’ (ref: | | | | patiently at the loft assuming they are not biting? |
| ‘(Name of the angler) is a firm believer that | | | | Right place, wrong time! |
| you are only as good as the people who teach | | | | More to the point, ‘Right time, wrong |
| you how to fish.’ | | | | place.’ |
| Of course, this belief presupposes there is nothing | | | | Of course an odd snapper will still be caught at |
| new to be learned - that those who teach you in | | | | the loft. Odd fish are no doubt going passed from |
| fact already know it all. That is just not true. | | | | one feeding area to another. If other factors are |
| What it highlights is why there has been such | | | | appropriate, anglers may also find they get fish if |
| small degrees of progress on how to catch | | | | they're still there at first light when snapper are |
| snapper for so many years. It has perpetuated | | | | starting to arrive back at the ‘Loft.’ |
| the wrong assumptions made by anglers of past | | | | However, the thinking angler sits inshore where |
| generations. | | | | the snapper are feeding in numbers because, |
| It has resulted in discouraging ideas such as, | | | | depending on locations being fished, most of what |
| ‘If the snapper are in a particular spot, they | | | | they feed on, crabs, scallop beds, dead razor fish |
| may only bite for one hour in twenty four, and | | | | inhabitants, small squid and fish, are inshore. |
| then perhaps only on a particular bait, and at a | | | | Why go way offshore when they come inshore |
| particular stage of the tide.’ | | | | to us under the cover of darkness? |
| What chance does any snapper angler, novice or | | | | One big problem for modern anglers is progress. |
| otherwise, think they have of getting it all right if | | | | They have this little unit called a GPS. It can give |
| they accepted that such narrow criteria really | | | | you a mark for a ‘Loft’ … |
| existed? The article was written with all good | | | | somewhere to drop your anchor. It will pinpoint a |
| intent, and genuine belief of accuracy, but that | | | | spot but not an ‘Area,’ so how do |
| doesn't make it any more correct. | | | | we know precisely where to go? |
| Unfortunately because of the impression it | | | | The reality is ‘It hardly matters.’ We |
| creates, but fortunately for anglers, that | | | | just have to think outside the GPS screen. |
| comment is incorrect on all counts. It is a legacy | | | | One common thread I find in most snapper fishing |
| of the typical way many anglers, both past and | | | | articles is how most snapper are caught around |
| present, often arrive at all sorts of conclusions, | | | | the change of tides. In most cases the |
| other than looking at their own, possibly imperfect | | | | observation is accurate but both the conclusion |
| techniques when they can’t catch their fill. | | | | and subsequent action are incorrect. The |
| The snapper is merely a simple fish. It does not | | | | conclusion is that snapper feed predominantly at |
| know from where it’s next meal is coming. | | | | that specific time and so the subsequent action |
| It simply can't afford to fast for twenty three | | | | then is to focus your efforts only at those tide |
| hours every day or be too fussy about | | | | times. |
| it’s diet. Neither can it afford to ignore a | | | | The conclusion is wrong for two reasons: |
| potential meal, and come back to it, possibly hours | | | | 1) Anglers assume the fish are feeding |
| later, when it feels the stage of the tide is | | | | predominantly at those times because most |
| ‘Right’, to see if it is still there. | | | | snapper are hooked at those times. Wrong! Most |
| Sorry, but not a reasonable assumption at all. | | | | snapper are hooked then because the vast |
| The fact is there are all manner of factors | | | | majority of anglers never work out how to |
| impacting our ability to catch snapper. | | | | counteract the effects of the tides between the |
| Having historically failed to correctly identify them, | | | | changes when the tides are running strongly. |
| sought after snapper fishing results have | | | | 2) Because anglers have become accustomed to |
| accordingly not been easily obtained. Excuses | | | | focussing their efforts around the tide changes, |
| have been formulated, published and generally | | | | they simply have to catch more snapper at that |
| accepted without challenge since readers know no | | | | time. In fact, for reasons I will not go into here, |
| better. They have then been recycled to those | | | | the change of tide, at least at night anyway, is |
| they have taught. | | | | the single most point of minimum feeding activity |
| Allow me to provide an observation of the kind | | | | by snapper. |
| of mistake many anglers make: | | | | The subsequent action of anglers concentrating all |
| We all know snapper feed at night, so many of | | | | their efforts solely around the tide changes is |
| us consider that is the best time to fish for them. | | | | incorrect because anglers are denying themselves |
| Also well known is snapper’s irrefutable | | | | the majority of productive fishing time and the |
| association with submerged structures, so | | | | opportunity to discover both how to counter the |
| naturally that is where we go, right? ... Wrong! | | | | effects of the tides, and how to use them to |
| I'll draw a parallel with another nocturnal feeder, | | | | their advantage. Do this well, and they can be |
| the owl. It is out hunting animals at night and | | | | caught right through the tides. |
| roosts in a loft, for example, during the day. If | | | | I do have to admit that the solution to that was |
| we want to catch an owl, are we going to search | | | | somewhat complex, but it is simple to deal with |
| the wide open spaces for it, or go to the loft? Of | | | | once you have the right information. If you live in |
| course the loft, obviously. But is there any point | | | | South Australia, I do run a course covering all the |
| going to the loft at night? Of course not. It's not | | | | details of how to understand snapper feeding |
| there while out hunting. | | | | habits and take full advantage of them. |