Victoria’s snapper fishery is world class. Aggregations in Port Phillip Bay and elsewhere in the state have been substantial in recent years. Multiple hook ups are common when a feeding school is located. Sometimes this means that fishers targeting mature snapper reach their bag limit of 3 snapper per person over 40 cm in a short space of time.
If a full day’s fishing had been planned, many fishers are reluctant to leave if the bag limit has been reached quickly;
preferring to continue to catch and release snapper. However this is a risky business as there are a number of identifiable causes of reduced survival of released snapper.
You can help increase the survival of snapper you release by following the key points below:
- *Fish shallow water to avoid barotrauma
*Leave snapper in the water for release
*Minimise handling and netting
*Use circle hooks or lures
*Release snapper quickly
VRFish has developed a "
Snapper Survival" brochure designed to inform and educate recreational fishers on what they can do to ensure maximum survival rate. Click this link
http://www.vrfish.com.au/#!fishing-in-victoria/c1mu7 to go to the VRFish website and download the brochure.