Bait Presentation Snapper Step By Step Guide

Investing in quality terminal tackle is crucial – it’s the one area you shouldn’t skimp on.

Consider this: You spend time and resources – fuel, bait, boating expenses, not to mention the effort – only to lose a fish due to inferior terminal tackle such as hooks, lines, and leaders. It’s nonsensical. I’ve seen fishermen with state-of-the-art boats who surprisingly own subpar tackle boxes filled with low-quality hooks. Cutting corners here, especially given that it’s the second most crucial element of bait fishing (next to bait quality – always remember, “Fresh is Best”), makes no sense.

Take a leaf from the old fishermen’s book; quality hooks and lines are more important than the rod and reel – after all, they managed with handlines back in the day. Start a good habit early: prioritise better quality terminal tackle, even if it means settling for a more affordable rod & reel.

Now, let’s talk about the best bait hook type for Snapper fishing.

We offer two types of hook styles for Snapper: the circle hook “Reedy’s Dominator,” and the suicide/octopus, also known as a beak hook, “Reedy’s 187.”

Circle hooks are advantageous if you plan on catch-and-release since they often hook the fish in the corner of the jaw. We use circle hooks in our paternoster rigs (ULTRA Rigs) – they work best for this setup.

In contrast, suicide/octopus hooks are ideal for a bottom rig like a twin Snell hook rig. However, they are not suitable for catch-and-release, as the fish often swallows the hook, causing potential internal damage.

Choosing the best hook size for Snapper depends on personal opinion and experience. Personally, I’ve caught a 20lb (9.15kg) Snapper on a size 4/0 hook and, later that day, smaller ones up to 35 centimeters on the same size. Hence, I prefer size 4/0 hooks in Reedy’s 187 suicide for their versatility.

For the Dominator circle hooks, I lean towards sizes 5/0 or 6/0 when targeting both large and small Snapper. However, if I’m aiming for smaller ones, I use sizes from 4/0 down to 1/0. Generally, 4/0 is a great all-rounder for both big and small fish.