Mooching About

FEBUARY MOOCHING ABOUT:
Mid winter is moocher time. Big snapper take up residence in the kelp from now until early spring when they begin to get frisky and embark on their annual reproductive frolic. Some suggest that big fish stay in the harbour because their extra body mass can cope with the colder water. And further more, like cats, they bask in the warming rays of the rare winter sun. Most other more sensible snapper are reputedly in warmer waters, well offshore. However, the temperature theory doesn't explain why plagues of undersize snapper, with very little body mass remain behind. And certainly the palm-size snapper of last season's spawn have even less body mass than the throw-backs that are the bane of mid-winter in-shore fishing. So what's really going on? Based on my own under-water observations and the stories of experienced east coast divers, the more plausible moocher theory suggests that big snapper have moved in to feast on crayfish. Between June and September, the crayfish family move into very shallow water. They do this both to lay their eggs and to discard out-grown shells. During this period, crayfish are particularly vulnerable to predation. Both crayfish eggs and crayfish flesh appear to be well up on the menu of the mature and experienced noddy. And they have to have big enough gobs to swallow a soft-shell crayfish. So the ability to eat whole soft-shell crayfish determines that the size of the moocher is quite substantial. WHEN TO CATCH MOOCHERS:
Catching moochers is the winter pre-occupation of most serious snapper fishos. Interestingly, in the low light conditions that characterise winter, moochers can be caught at any time of the day and at any stage of the tide. Generally speaking though, more tide is better than less and change of light remains the most reliable bite time. However, the change of light feeding pattern is much less pronounced than in the bright light conditions between mid spring and mid- autumn. WHERE TO CATCH MOOCHERS:
Near the rocky foreshore, more especially ocean-side than harbour-side. Water depths between five and twenty metres tend to very favourable. Adjacent shellfish beds with deep water and some tidal flow nearby are other qualities of habitat to look out for. Swirling and broken white-water is much better than dead calm. HOW TO CATCH MOOCHERS:
Big baits, especially whole but mangled mackerel are the most effective. Never under-estimate the value of a good berley trail! Big sharp hooks [7-10/0] on the end of a lead-free 80lb abrasion leader may also be required. The 20lb moocher I caught the other day was well up the water column and it took a headless blue mackerel to do the job. Tight lines!