  AKA:
cockney bream, squire (juveniles), old man snapper, pinkies, pink
snapper, red bream, reddies, knobbies, reds, schnapper (incorrect),
tamure (NZ), red snapper, reef snapper, school snapper, black snapper.
Most of these names relate either to the various ages of fish or to the
various environments in which they live, over time effecting the actual
colour of the fish.
MINIMUM LEGAL SIZE: 28cm.
BAG/POSSESSION LIMIT: 10 (of which no more than 3 fish may be equal to or exceed 40cm in length), landed whole or as a carcass.
Note: a total bag/possession limit of 40 fish applies to all scale fish species.
 One
of the best known and most highly prized species of saltwater fish in
southern Australian waters, the snapper is a popular light tackle
gamefish with fine table qualities. Many boating anglers are known to
concentrate almost exclusively on snapper, a fish which gained its name
from Captain James Cook in 1770 who mistook it for a member of the true
snapper family with which he had become familiar in American waters.
Australian snapper actually belong to the family of breams or porgies and its closest relative in Victoria is the black bream.
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| DID YOU KNOW:
Data from studies carried out by the Central Ageing Facility at the
Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute, Queenscliff, show the age
structure of snapper as follows:
1 year - 12-25cm, average 16cm
2 years - 15-25cm, average 21cm
3 years - 25-36cm, average 28cm
28cm - Minimum Legal Size
4 years - 29-44cm, average 35cm
5 years - 32-44cm, average 37cm
6 years - 27-47cm, average 42cm
7 years - 33-56cm, average 49cm
8 years - 46-63cm, average 54cm
10 years - 46-66cm, average 57cm
12 years - 52-71cm, average 61cm
14 years - 57-72cm, average 63cm
16 years - 59-80cm, average 68cm
18 years - 69-71cm, average 70cm
20-years - 72cm
24-years - 75cm
ABOUT TAGGED SNAPPER:
If you catch a tagged snapper record the date, fork length and
location. Keep the tag, some scales and the fish or frame frozen, and
contact the Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute on 1800 652 598
or VICTAG on 1800 677 620.
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SIZE: In Victoria, snapper can grow to 1 metre and more than 13kg.
WHERE:
Coastal waters around Victoria. Juveniles remain in nursery grounds
around shallow reefs, bays and estuaries for the first few years and
then are likely to move into deeper waters. Most catches are made from
October to March in Port Phillip Bay, Westernport Bay and various other
coastal locations. Wilsons Promontory is the dividing line between two
separate stocks of snapper in Victoria with the western stock shared
with South Australia and the eastern stock with New South Wales.
TACKLE: Sharp hooks from 2/0 to 6/0 with 4-8kg line and a running sinker rig with the lightest sinker weight for the conditions.
BAIT:
Fresh cut or live fish baits such as slimy mackerel and garfish, WA
pilchards, squid, flathead fillets, octopus, bonito, mullet, mussels,
the more gory and bait the better. Berley will help.
BITE: A strong biter, it is preferable to let the snapper free run for a short distance before attempting to set the hook.
EATING: A quality and popular table fish |
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