Wash fishing for snapper northern beach rocksrocks

[faker]

Is anyone well versed in how to wash fish off the rocks for snapper? I was watching alex bellissimo using just a size 2 sinker to hook rig and  a guy use a use a slow sinking rig which uses a iso float with 2 sinkers so that it slow sinks in current. 

And how do you avoid snags considering most ledges baring places like south curl curl are rocky bottom?

I know I can always try jig for the but snags make it hard

[AlbertW]

1 hour ago, faker said:

Is anyone well versed in how to wash fish off the rocks for snapper? I was watching alex bellissimo using just a size 2 sinker to hook rig and  a guy use a use a slow sinking rig which uses a iso float with 2 sinkers so that it slow sinks in current. 

And how do you avoid snags considering most ledges baring places like south curl curl are rocky bottom?

I know I can always try jig for the but snags make it hard

I'm not an expert so don't quote me but for snapper you'll need a good burley line, you can get the frozen logs of chum and put it in a berley bucket and let the waves carry the berley down the rocks. This would bring up the snapper and fish close to the ledge so you wouldn't need to fish off the bottom. Watch some of the lateral line's videos for added info.

[noelm]

You don’t need too much burley for Snapper off the rocks, (it will attract thousands of pickers) best places are deepish water with scattered rocks in sand/gravel, especially if you can find a similar spot with a gutter that water drains back into the ocean creating some whitewater with bits and pieces washed in. The best Snapper fishing is not over full on snaggy rocks and Kelp, there is a few great places on the south side of Bass Point that produce nice Snapper.

[faker]

2 hours ago, noelm said:

You don’t need too much burley for Snapper off the rocks, (it will attract thousands of pickers) best places are deepish water with scattered rocks in sand/gravel, especially if you can find a similar spot with a gutter that water drains back into the ocean creating some whitewater with bits and pieces washed in. The best Snapper fishing is not over full on snaggy rocks and Kelp, there is a few great places on the south side of Bass Point that produce nice Snapper.

Yea I just don't have equipment to distance cast. Reason I am asking for alternatives but thanks

Edited March 22 by faker

[noelm]

You don’t need big distance, you need the right location.

[bessell1955]

I have never heard of this method of burlying,  I guess as the old saying goes you learn something new every day.

[faker]

1 hour ago, bessell1955 said:

I have never heard of this method of burlying,  I guess as the old saying goes you learn something new every day.

I have been watching too much iso fishos and studying what people do

[faker]

I know one of our members are able to catch them but i am not sure what gear he uses and how far he casts

 

 

[wazatherfisherman]

Most of the Snapper we used to get were on days directly after a big swell, using 0/1 ball on the hook left to slowly sink in the wash or alternatively cast further by using a sinker running between 2 swivels about 40-45cm apart.

The big Snapper we used to get of a night, often after the Tailor had quietened down or while Tailor fishing using Gars and sometimes Pilly's. When chasing them from the rocks you get most fish before light. Striped Tuna and Bonito our preferred baits

[faker]

16 hours ago, wazatherfisherman said:

Most of the Snapper we used to get were on days directly after a big swell, using 0/1 ball on the hook left to slowly sink in the wash or alternatively cast further by using a sinker running between 2 swivels about 40-45cm apart.

The big Snapper we used to get of a night, often after the Tailor had quietened down or while Tailor fishing using Gars and sometimes Pilly's. When chasing them from the rocks you get most fish before light. Striped Tuna and Bonito our preferred baits

So say for northern beaches. How far am I casting if I tried distance fish. Not sure which headlands have short cast. What type of gear will I need?

Edited March 28 by faker

[wazatherfisherman]

9 minutes ago, faker said:

So say for northern beaches. How far am I casting if I tried distance fish. Not sure which headlands have short cast. What type of gear will I need?

This is a pretty hard question to answer as all locations are different. Most 'distance casting' spots you try to land your bait/rig on sand patches close to reef/boulders. The gear required would be able to cast a good sized bait plus enough lead to reach and hold the distance to the sand. How far? Depends on both the location and the sea conditions at the time.

We used to rig in the following manner: hooks on a 10kg leader of about 40-45cm, swivel, bead (to reduce 'impact' on knot and prevent it wedging on), ball or barrel sinker, swivel. The sinker runs between the 2 swivels which are 40-50cm apart. The higher swivel enables more distance cast-wise, as the sinker movement is obviously restricted and is also necessary when using the type of reels we used, which were sidecast reels (Alvey's) to negate line twist. The barrel sinker was used when there was a decent sea running, more to get distance than anchor the bait, as it barely anchors the bait when the sea is rough.

Fishing at one of the well known Snapper spots in the Royal National Park, we simply use a large running ball sinker above the bead and swivel, which means dealing with line twist as well, however, fishing high (at this spot about 15-17 meters above the water) you aren't constantly casting, so it doesn't become too much of an issue for the first hour or so.

[faker]

58 minutes ago, wazatherfisherman said:

This is a pretty hard question to answer as all locations are different. Most 'distance casting' spots you try to land your bait/rig on sand patches close to reef/boulders. The gear required would be able to cast a good sized bait plus enough lead to reach and hold the distance to the sand. How far? Depends on both the location and the sea conditions at the time.

We used to rig in the following manner: hooks on a 10kg leader of about 40-45cm, swivel, bead (to reduce 'impact' on knot and prevent it wedging on), ball or barrel sinker, swivel. The sinker runs between the 2 swivels which are 40-50cm apart. The higher swivel enables more distance cast-wise, as the sinker movement is obviously restricted and is also necessary when using the type of reels we used, which were sidecast reels (Alvey's) to negate line twist. The barrel sinker was used when there was a decent sea running, more to get distance than anchor the bait, as it barely anchors the bait when the sea is rough.

Fishing at one of the well known Snapper spots in the Royal National Park, we simply use a large running ball sinker above the bead and swivel, which means dealing with line twist as well, however, fishing high (at this spot about 15-17 meters above the water) you aren't constantly casting, so it doesn't become too much of an issue for the first hour or so.

Thanks waza. My gear can only cast 60 g tops for sinkers

[wazatherfisherman]

6 minutes ago, faker said:

Thanks waza. My gear can only cast 60 g tops for sinkers

What is your set up mate?

[faker]

41 minutes ago, wazatherfisherman said:

What is your set up mate?

I run 9 foot 6 rod that cast 20-80 g jigs and 60g lures. This runs 49lb braid on daiwa freams 6000

I next have a 11ft rod that casts up to 48 jigs and 40g lures with shimano nasci 4000 and 20lb braid 

The reason I have been exploring wash fishing is that my 11 foot rod can do the job

[wazatherfisherman]

4 minutes ago, faker said:

I run 9 foot 6 rod that cast 20-80 g jigs and 60g lures. This runs 49lb braid on daiwa freams 6000

I next have a 11ft rod that casts up to 48 jigs and 40g lures with shimano nasci 4000 and 20lb braid 

The reason I have been exploring wash fishing is that my 11 foot rod can do the job

My suggestion would be to fish for them without lead or only the smallest sizes of ball sinker between a swivel and your hook/s during the low light periods especially into the dark. Be VERY careful when fishing the rocks at these times- many fishers use the 'distance' method that can be utilised from safer locations than the 'wash' style.

Your rod would be capable of getting enough distance for the longer casting method if you use nice neat smaller baits and balance the casting weight of sinker/bait.

Stay safe and remember that the peak times for these fish are AFTER times of big seas- not during.

[faker]

38 minutes ago, wazatherfisherman said:

My suggestion would be to fish for them without lead or only the smallest sizes of ball sinker between a swivel and your hook/s during the low light periods especially into the dark. Be VERY careful when fishing the rocks at these times- many fishers use the 'distance' method that can be utilised from safer locations than the 'wash' style.

Your rod would be capable of getting enough distance for the longer casting method if you use nice neat smaller baits and balance the casting weight of sinker/bait.

Stay safe and remember that the peak times for these fish are AFTER times of big seas- not during.

Which rod should I use and sinker?

[wazatherfisherman]

18 minutes ago, faker said:

Which rod should I use and sinker?

You should get far more distance with the longer rod- however, I'd try the 9'6" rod with 56gm lead and nice aerodynamic bait.

[faker]

1 hour ago, wazatherfisherman said:

You should get far more distance with the longer rod- however, I'd try the 9'6" rod with 56gm lead and nice aerodynamic bait.

Thanks waza

[faker]

2 hours ago, wazatherfisherman said:

You should get far more distance with the longer rod- however, I'd try the 9'6" rod with 56gm lead and nice aerodynamic bait.

How would you incorporate braid into this rig?

[wazatherfisherman]

33 minutes ago, faker said:

How would you incorporate braid into this rig?

My suggestion would be to make a few short sinker leaders at home with a couple of different size leads run between about 40cm of leader on the 2 swivels. Same idea for your hook leaders so you are ready and utilising the low light periods fishing rather than rigging. Although these type rigs don't lend themselves for fish running with the bait, if you can't get it out to where they are, you aren't in the game- just strike straight away, they usually swallow the bait pretty well straight away anyway

[faker]

1 hour ago, wazatherfisherman said:

My suggestion would be to make a few short sinker leaders at home with a couple of different size leads run between about 40cm of leader on the 2 swivels. Same idea for your hook leaders so you are ready and utilising the low light periods fishing rather than rigging. Although these type rigs don't lend themselves for fish running with the bait, if you can't get it out to where they are, you aren't in the game- just strike straight away, they usually swallow the bait pretty well straight away anyway

I mean will this rig be alright with braided line?

[wazatherfisherman]

1 hour ago, faker said:

I mean will this rig be alright with braided line?

Yes but don't use braid for the sinker leader or hook leader.

We used to use 18+half pound  'Tortue Supercontrol' mono for that style of fishing or 23+half pound if up higher. I personally only use braid for spinning and never rock work. You don't need that heavy a line, but if that's what you have by all means use it- wouldn't want to attempt breaking any snags with it though.

If you enjoy this style of fishing, save up for another outfit and put mono on it- you don't need heavier line than about 25lb (11kg) for just about any rock fishing bar live-baiting for big stuff.

My old line classes for the rocks were as follows-  Bream and Luderick 3kg line on both sidecast and centrepin reels, Spinning lures 6,10 and 11.5kg (the latter only for Kingfish really) on all 3 types of reel (Spin, O/H and Alvey) Tailor/Salmon/Snapper 8 and 10kg, Drummer 6,10,15kg depending on area, Live baiting 10,15,18,25kg again area dependant. Cliff fishing 6kg for Bream, Luderick, 10-12kg for everything else- all mono, usually Tortue, Weiss(no longer available I think) or Schneider (it was cheaper but marginally thicker) all three brands were great for the rocks

[faker]

5 hours ago, wazatherfisherman said:

Yes but don't use braid for the sinker leader or hook leader.

We used to use 18+half pound  'Tortue Supercontrol' mono for that style of fishing or 23+half pound if up higher. I personally only use braid for spinning and never rock work. You don't need that heavy a line, but if that's what you have by all means use it- wouldn't want to attempt breaking any snags with it though.

If you enjoy this style of fishing, save up for another outfit and put mono on it- you don't need heavier line than about 25lb (11kg) for just about any rock fishing bar live-baiting for big stuff.

My old line classes for the rocks were as follows-  Bream and Luderick 3kg line on both sidecast and centrepin reels, Spinning lures 6,10 and 11.5kg (the latter only for Kingfish really) on all 3 types of reel (Spin, O/H and Alvey) Tailor/Salmon/Snapper 8 and 10kg, Drummer 6,10,15kg depending on area, Live baiting 10,15,18,25kg again area dependant. Cliff fishing 6kg for Bream, Luderick, 10-12kg for everything else- all mono, usually Tortue, Weiss(no longer available I think) or Schneider (it was cheaper but marginally thicker) all three brands were great for the rocks

Thanks waza

Will a old 14 foot jarvis walker rod fit the bill?