The Month For Solid Snapper

By Marcus Braid on October 22, 2015 in

With everything that is happening at the hands of politicians and governments in Sydney, across Australia and around the world, it can be easy to become disenchanted with the present and the future. It is a sad state of affairs when the world we grew up in seems to be crumpling before our eyes at the hands of the people who are supposed to be watching out for all of us.

Fortunately for so many of us, we can stop and take stock of how lucky we are and celebrate just how great spring is in this magical part of the world that we get to call home.

October off Sydney is traditionally the month for solid snapper, the last of the run of deep-water kingfish, plus early catches of bull mahi mahi, striped marlin and possibly a late run of yellowfin tuna. On our doorstep, where the salty suds of the Tasman lap the sand and oceanic rocks, there’s plenty worth fishing for too. Australian salmon should show in good numbers, whilst southern calamari squid will be abundant for the dawn and dusk fisherman.

In the harbour, the winter water will take a while to dissipate, meaning spring and the abundance it brings is a while off yet. For now, the bream, trevally and leatherjacket will have to keep wharf-based anglers satiated as they wait for the more salubrious summer species, which should be just around the corner.

Snapper are without any doubt my favourite local fish to target and eat. The challenge in finding, tempting, hooking and landing a serious Sydney snapper is up there near the top of the list of piscatorial milestones. Fortunately for all of us the chance to do this is still relatively high, thanks largely to rigorous fisheries management and an angling community that mostly respects the oceans.

Sadly, I’ve been hearing that a large bunch of less-than-respectful Sydney fishos have been slaying the reds down at Bellambi, with many boats taking multiple bag limits whenever the opportunity presents itself. Depressingly, with idiots like this around the future might not be so bright.

To catch big red, you’ll have to do the hard yards and figure out the wheres and whens yourself. However, it’s well worth the effort as catching the fish of a season or a lifetime is a real possibility.

With spring fully sprung, it’s time to make the effort to get up early or fish the late sessions and spend some quality time doing what you love, making the most of the life and times we are all so fortunate to have the opportunity to experience. Blessed are we; don’t forget it!