GPS MARKS –

S38 17 350 E145 14 900

S38 18 712 E145 14 255

Western Port has become a real snapper hot spot in recent years. Anglers chasing bigger fish tend to head to the Port in search of that fish of a lifetime. When the fish are really firing there are few better places to fish than the Lysaghts area in the North Arm.

This can be dissected quite a bit. October, November and December are the three months that outshine all others. This is when good numbers of fish can be found here. Fish over a tide change, preferably a low with the last of the run out best for me in the past. In saying this, the biggest snapper I have landed here went 20lbs and was taken in February on the run in to high tide. That’s fishing for you!

Good quality fishing tackle is crucial in this area. I use a Shimano TR2000LD (Charter Special) on a Shimano IFISH Western Port rod. 30 – 50lb Fins braid will do the job on any snapper that the Port has to offer.

A running sinker rig is preferred. Use an Ezi-rig sinker clip on the main line to attach your bomb sinker. I like to use 20cm of 6kg line from the Ezi-rig to the sinker. It lifts the bait off the bottom and allows a snagged sinker to break free. The leader should be approximately 25% short of a rod length. Try of 40-60lb Instinct leader with an Owner back rolling swivel at one end and two 6/0 Owner hooks at the other. I like to tie one hook to the end of the line and snell the other about 10-15cm above it depending on the bait.

Put out a good range of baits and spend time on the water. Don’t move all over the place in search of fish. Pick a good location and sit it out for the tide.

Snapper love fresh baits at this time of year. The squid you catch in the Port are great along with couta fillets, salmon fillets and trevally. Striped tuna accounts for many good fish and don’t ever underestimate the humble old pilchard.

Wind against tide can be a nasty enemy in Western Port. Try to plan your run home so that the tide and the wind are travelling in the same or similar direction.

Fish for bait in the shallows when the tide is running too hard to target snapper in the deep water.