Reef fishing holds so many opportunities to target a range of gamefish, from ultra light tackle species to absolute donkeys that will damn near rip your arms off. One of the more unusual fish we discovered on our journey to Rowley Shoals is the sailfin snapper. This little fish is an ultra light weight beast. It is their massive tail section and squatty shape that gives this gamefish so much power. They pull hard, are tons of fun and make for great eats. Sailfin snapper fishing does require a bit of first hand knowledge, as they are hard to locate with their perfect coloration for the environment. Aqua blue, whitish silver and gold blend with the sand and water to make them ghostlike. You really have to know where to look for sailfin snapper and then spot them. Ross Newton and Chris Rushford are highly skilled at the light tackle fishing needed on the reef to catch these little donkeys. If you are not familiar with sailfin snapper or blue-lined sea bream, you really should get out and have a go with this impressive fish. They are native to the Indo/Pacific waters, roaming the sandy areas around coral reefs. This beautiful gem of a fish has to be one of the coolest fish that we have ever filmed. Pound for pound the sporting quality of this fish ranks among the best. The guys on Reel Teaser Fishing Adventures spend a load of time reef fishing. They are targeting pelagic fish, reef fish and backcountry fish constantly. Their keen insight and skill derive from fishing, testing, failing, succeeding and rethinking what they are doing to fine tune the fishing program they run to be at the top of the game. All of this translates into outstanding reef fishing knowledge. Fishing with these guys at Reef Donkey Village, which is the name I coined for the atolls that comprise Rowley Shoals, is a never ending learning experience. That knowledge is what we are sharing with you in this In The Spread fishing video. You are going to see how to catch sailfin snapper on ultra light weight tackle. Learn about the sturdy rods and reels they use. See how to rig jigs with tiny soft plastics. Because this little fish pulls like a flipping bull dozer, you need extra strong jig hooks that are well oversized for the soft plastics. They will explain why this combination works. When you gear yourself with the proper light weight rod and reel, this fish is not easy to catch. We will show you all the tackle and angling techniques the Reel Teaser guys utilize to get on with sailfin snapper fishing. They will show you a range of soft plastics that work, how they feed the small soft plastics on the oversized jig heads, the knots used, the line and the leaders required to put the breaks on this mighty fish. You will be surprised with the leaders they run. You will need every bit of extra strength from your line and leader to stop the fish from getting into the reef. Sailfin snapper fishing is not complicated. Having the right knowledge and tackle gives you the edge to come out ahead. Ross and Chris are two of the best fishermen in Western Australia. Learning from guys like this will put you on a course for fishing success.
Sailfin Snapper Fishing
(00:24:59)Reef fishing holds some of the most unexpected surprises. You never know what you are going to get yourself into, until you are there and the full glory of the moment presents itself. In the Indo/Pacific Oceans, there await some of the fiercest gamefish you can image. Your tackle and your skill will be put to full measure. Many a dalliance will end in dismay. The ones you best will forever live in your memories as full hearted conquests. On the reefs out at the Rowley Shoals, off the west coast of Australia, you better come with the knowledge that derives from the experience of battling powerful fish. Among the many mysteries that await you when reef fishing deep water atolls are some of the most amazing gamefish you will ever have the pleasure of engaging. The sailfin snapper, also known as the Threadfin Snapper or Bluelined Sea Bream, inhabits the sand substrates that lay between the bommies or coral heads that make up the flats atop the massive atolls that make up the Rowley Shoals. This beautiful fish is damn near invisible, with its perfect reef coloration. They are ghost like, similar to bonefish. Out on the reef they roam in small bands, requiring quick reaction sight casting. While not a big fish, the sailfin snapper presents serious challenges on ultra light tackle. Their stumpy shape with thick tail and huge caudal fin make the sailfin snapper extreme in power. As quick as they pick up your jig, the line starts peeling off your reel. It is not a matter of whether you will get broken off, it's a matter of how quickly. I ventured out with Ross Newton and Chris Rushford, from Reel Teaser Fishing Adventures, to explore the reef fishing techniques and tactics they employ to catch this explosive fish. These guys target the badass sailfin snapper on a regular basis. What you will discover in this In The Spread fishing video is a heap of knowledge that will help you put a stack of these fish in your boat. On a side note, the sailfin snapper is excellent in the pan. If the pursuit of fighting prowess and good eats is on your radar, watch and learn a few tricks of the trade from two of the finest fishermen in the eastern Indian Ocean. Given the power of these fish, you have to use a larger jig, to prevent getting straightened out. At the same time, you are using a small plastic paddle prawn or similar presentation. So, you have a small soft plastic to get the bite on a mismatched souped up jig with a stronger hook to withstand the onslaught. Chris Rushford gives a great breakdown of the size jig head he likes and an assortment of soft plastics that produce fish for him. The angling technique is not complicated. He and Ross give some excellent fishing tips for how the fish likes to eat and the requisite action they give the jig to triggers bites. They will show you the exact jig fishing technique that is the winning formula, for them. Chris Rushford is very precise is presenting the tackle and rigs used for this sailfin snapper fishing video. Even though this is ultra light weight fishing, your tackle still needs enough strength to stop the fish from getting in the reef and cutting you off. He will talk about the power required from your fishing rod and reel setup. Light weight doesn't mean weak. His outfit is quite sturdy. You will be surprised at the line and leader he and Ross are using to battle these beasts. Your leader needs to be able to handle the pulling power and the reef. With a key component being the jig, Chris will go into a little more detail on how to rig jigs with the small soft plastics. Since he is using a fast sink jig head that is oversized for the bait, you will see what the end product should look like. [Wreck and Reef Fishing Videos](https://inthespread.com/reef-fishing-videos) Check out [Reel Teaser Fishing Adventures](https://www.reelteaserfishingadventures.com/)
