How to Catch Snapper In Port Phillip bay | Video Series
How to Catch Snapper: Complete Video Guide (Port Phillip Bay)
This page is your complete guide on how to catch snapper in Port Phillip Bay — a video series that’s taken us more than a decade to film, covering different parts of the bay across the whole season. Watch the chapters in order below, or view the entire series as a playlist on YouTube. We film these in a relaxed, jovial spirit with plenty of jokes, so enjoy them and don’t take them too seriously. The series keeps growing each year (Whiting and Squid content is on the way), so bookmark the page and check back. If anything’s unclear, drop a comment at the bottom — cheers!
Updated for the 2026 season. In Port Phillip Bay the snapper run generally fires up from around September as the reds move in to spawn, then fishes right through to autumn.
The Snapper Season: When and Where to Fish
For us, snapper season starts in September. In Chapter 1 we fish the shallows as the snapper first push into Port Phillip Bay — early and late in the season they’ll often hold tight to shallow reef.
Key lesson: early and late in the season, fish shallow reef as the reds enter the bay.
Chapter 5 flips this around for the deeper bite. Each year the snapper enter the bay differently — some seasons they run wide and deep, others super shallow. In more than 15 years of fishing the bay all year round, the trick has been to work out what they’re doing for the current season and then capitalise on it. This deep-water approach is my go-to for September/October and April/May.
Key lesson: read each season — fish wide and deep when they’re not in the shallows.
Finding Snapper: Sounders and Side Imaging
Sounding up fish is one of the best ways to locate snapper. In Chapter 3 I show how I use my sounder and electronics to find the reefs and grounds that hold reds.
Key lesson: learn to read your sounder — finding the right ground is half the battle.
Chapter 6 takes it further with Lowrance side imaging, which makes spotting reef and structure off to the sides of the boat much easier.
Key lesson: side imaging helps you find and sit right on top of productive structure.
Best Snapper Rigs for Port Phillip Bay
Hi, I’m Brett, the owner of Reedy’s Rigs — knowing what rigs work best in Port Phillip Bay is literally my job, and it’s what I’ve done targeting snapper year-round for more than 15 years. The honest truth is there’s no single “best” snapper rig for the bay. It comes down to conditions. Here are the three rigs I reach for most. For a deeper breakdown, see our guide to the best snapper rigs for Port Phillip Bay.
Unweighted Fly Rig
The first rig I use is an unweighted fly on a Reedy’s single circle hook in 4/0. Port Phillip Bay has lots of shallow, snaggy reef, so twin hooks aren’t ideal there — I prefer a circle hook because it doesn’t seem to snag as much. The unweighted fly adds that extra 10% of attracting power, and you can even hook a red with no bait at all. It shines early in the season when the fish are shallow. I run 20–40lb leader and connect to the mainline with a double uni knot, or a swivel if I plan to head deeper later. Great spots include Black Rock, Altona, Elwood, Frankston, Brighton, Sandringham, Mornington and Mount Eliza — basically anywhere with heavy reef.
Snell Twin-Hook Rig
The snell rig is probably the most-used rig in Port Phillip Bay and works across most of it. I run size 4/0 187 octopus hooks — you can land big fish on small hooks, but it’s much harder to catch small fish on big hooks. Not every snapper is a monster; a solid 2–3kg fish is better suited to a 4/0. I like fixed hooks on my snell rigs to help with penetration on the strike. There’s always debate about weighted vs unweighted — if you can get away with unweighted, do it. But I’m usually fishing four to eight rods, so a size 1 ball sinker keeps the spread tidy and stops tangles. This rig is perfect for full baits like pilchards, silver whiting and squid heads. Watch Chapter 4 for the step-by-step tie:
Tip I forgot in the video: keep your hooks close together and half-hitch the ball sinker to the bait to prevent line twist when the wind blows against the current. The fixed top hook is why I prefer this over a sliding snell — it penetrates better.
Ultra Rig on a Paternoster
Reedy’s Ultra Rig is the best pre-tied paternoster on the market — no expense spared, and every component is high quality. I run a paternoster any time I’m fishing snell rigs, which is most of the time, and honestly it’s probably my favourite. My biggest fish of the year usually comes on this rig. Fresh squid strips or rings are fantastic, but I love a silver whiting head pinned through the nose. One thing with circle hooks: go up a size from what you’d normally use — if you’d usually run a 4/0, use a 5/0; if 6/0, go 7/0, and so on. Grab a 10-pack of Scallop Ultra Rigs here.
Best Baits and Bait Presentation
Bait presentation is a hugely important part of catching snapper. In Chapter 2, young Zac shows the correct way to bait your hooks so your offering looks natural and stays on through the cast.
Key lesson: the best snapper baits are fresh squid, silver whiting and pilchards — and how you pin them on matters as much as what you use.
Putting in the Work: Fishing the Peak Times
There’s no shortcut here. To catch these fish consistently you have to put in the work — getting up early and fishing the peak bite windows is one of the biggest keys to success.
Key lesson: fish the dawn and dusk peaks, and put in the hours — effort gets rewarded.
The Best Hooks: Reedy’s 187
For leader, anywhere from 30–60lb works; on snell rigs I use 40lb with Reedy’s 187 octopus hooks, a fishing swivel and lumo beads. The 187 is a seriously high-quality hook:
- Chemically sharpened: these Japanese-made hooks are chemically treated to stay sharper for longer, allowing a smaller barb and a thinner, more tapered point for better hook-ups.
- Hand-ground point: reduces piercing resistance for faster penetration, and the hook resists wearing and bending over time.
- Teflon coating: less friction means less force needed for a fish to take the hook home, and it slows corrosion in saltwater.
Designed by fishos who know their game, the 187 holds up to professional standards in both circle and octopus patterns with a straight shank — a trusted, reliable choice for snapper and kingfish, and a must-have in any tackle box.
Landing Your Snapper
When you’re on circle hooks, resist the urge to strike — circle hooks set themselves in the corner of the mouth as the fish takes the bait and turns away. Striking hard usually just pulls them out. Instead, let the rod load up, then give a slow, sweeping lift and a few turns of the reel. Set a sensible drag and let big fish run every few turns; the goal is to tire them out, not winch them straight up. Be patient — your rig will hold, but braid or a rod can give out if you horse them too hard.
More Reading and Gear
Want to go deeper? Check out our guides on catching snapper in winter and autumn and the best snapper rigs for the bay. Chasing other species? See our King George Whiting guide and our Tinganoster® Whiting Rig, or browse the full whiting rig range.
Snapper Fishing FAQ
When is the best time to catch snapper in Port Phillip Bay?
The run typically starts around September as snapper move in to spawn and continues into autumn. Dawn and dusk are the standout bite windows, and a high, stable barometer usually fishes best.
What’s the best rig for snapper?
There’s no single best rig — it depends on conditions. An unweighted fly suits shallow, snaggy reef early season; a snell twin-hook rig handles full baits across most of the bay; and a pre-tied Ultra Rig on a paternoster is the all-round workhorse that lands plenty of big reds.
What’s the best bait for snapper?
Fresh squid (strips, rings or heads), silver whiting and pilchards are hard to beat. Presentation matters — a neatly pinned bait that moves naturally gets far more bites.
What size hook should I use?
A 4/0 187 hook covers most snapper. When switching to circle hooks, go up one size from your normal beak/octopus size for the best hook-up rate.
Should I strike when a snapper bites?
Not on circle hooks. Let the rod load, then lift slowly and wind — striking tends to pull the hook free.
Get Set Up With Reedy’s Rigs
Every rig and hook in our range is hand-tied and tested in real Port Phillip Bay conditions — high-quality gear, no shortcuts. Stock up before your next session: grab pre-tied Ultra Rigs, sharp 187 hooks, and everything else in the Reedy’s Rigs shop.