(Chrysophrysauratus) other names: Cockney, Red Bream, Squire, Pinkie, Rugger, Pink Snapper, Old Man Snapper, Reddie & Old Man Red. Snapper are regarded as nuisance bait stealers of the first order; as a "red bream" of legal size they make a good pan-fish; as a "squire" they should have been bigger; and finally, as a mature "snapper" they are prized catch. They are our course, Snapper, even though this fine fish has been given a name for its various stages of growth. What it is not, however, is a "schnapper", as so many restaurants (and others who cannot spell) would have us believe.
A Snapper is unlikely to be mistaken for any other fish. When taken fresh from the water, the body is a glowing pink or deepish red with a scattering of blue spots that tend to be less distinct in older fish. Crabs are the number one bait choice, however the snapper also seem to enjoy small yellowtail, whole or half pilchards, mulet, tuna, mackerel and sweep fillets (which should be fresh).
A nice snapper caught reef fishing on board Batemans Bay Fishing and Charters' M.V. Jean Marie. It took a squid bait on a snapper rig using 10kg line and a 4/0 hook.
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