The Best Soft Baits For Snapper in Your Tackle Box

Snapper, Flathead, Bream, Mulloway (Jewfish) and Kingfish are my most favourable to get after. If you too love chasing saltwater species either offshore or in the estuary like me, stick around for two tips I find most important when targeting Snapper, but can be applied to almost any other species too - colour selection and jig head size.

When targeting Snapper, I heavily rely on Berkley Gulp! Why? It consistently produces bites when other lures won't. I've been using Berkley Gulp! for as long as I can remember and have always referred to them as the 'gun soft bait'.

The Best Soft Bait Colours To Catch Snapper

Snapper are one of my favourite species to target on lures. There are so many soft bait profiles, jig heads, lures and techniques to use, but finding what works for your local waterways is an important piece of the puzzle. However, what works one day, may not work the next and having the ability to adapt to changing conditions is a great skill to have.

Selecting the correct soft bait for Snapper can be easy, yet difficult at the same time. Some days, your natural colours such as Pearl White or Pilchard work really well where other days super bright colours like Nuclear Chicken or Fire Tiger seem to be what they want. My favourite colours to use are often those that 'match the hatch'.

This means if I notice slimy Mackerel around the boat or on the sounder, I will opt for a green coloured soft bait that resembles what's in the water below me. In recent times I've had great success with the new translucent colours in the Gulp! range such as Better Oil and Flamingo Flash .

Selecting The Right Soft Bait Size & Jig Head For Snapper

Once you've selected a colour, you need to consider the size of your soft bait. Your most common sizes are between 4" to 9". When targeting 70 cm+ fish, it's worth starting with a larger soft bait around the 7" to 9" size, especially during low light periods. It never hurts to mix it up and throw a smaller size soft bait or have one in the rod holder out the back of the boat.

The last piece of the puzzle is your jig head. There are lots of variants to think about when choosing a jig head such as water depth, current, wind and the hook size of your jig head. When fishing soft baits in the shallows (5 to 25 m) I find a 1/4oz jig head is best suited in most conditions. When fishing slightly deeper water (30 to 50 m) I tend to go to a 1/2oz jig head to make sure the soft bait is getting towards the bottom where the fish are generally feeding. When choosing a jig head hook size, it's important that your bait has a good amount of hook exposure but isn't too big to impede on any of the action. As an example, I find a 3/0 Nitro Pro Offshore Jig Head to be an ideal fit for a 5" Jerk shad, and a 5" Nitro Pro Offshore to best suit the 7" Jerk Shad.

Don't forget, patience and practice are key, but Berkley Gulp! soft baits rigged with Nitro Jig Heads will get you out of trouble!

Get All Your Soft Bait Gear & Fishing Essentials At Anaconda Today

We have an amazing range of soft plastic baits that are perfect for catching a range of fish species, perfect for every type of angler. Make sure you also check out our Adventure Centre for more helpful fishing tips and exciting fishing destinations that you can visit with your friends, loved ones and family. And don't forget to check out the entire range of Snapper fishing gear to elevate your chances of the next big catch.

Shop Soft Plastic Baits

If you liked our The Versatility of Soft Baits in Your Tackle Box article, then you might also like some of our other articles such as:

• Fishing Clothing & Accessories Buying Guide
• The Enduring Legacy of Ugly Stik Fishing Rods in Australian Fisheries - Smith Bros
• Everything you need to know about Estuary Fishing with Hard-Body Lures
• The Best Techniques For Salmon Season

Find your local Anaconda store and check out our extensive soft bait range for your next outdoor adventure!