Guide to catching red emperor

Well, it’s been a bit of a wait but we are finally getting some of the very nice weather patterns that winter is known for.

Unfortunately, between work and family commitments, I haven’t had the opportunity to head wide for a proper offshore mission, but the boat is set up and ready for when the chance does pop its head up.

Most anglers who headed out wide have had some great success on red emperor.

It amazes me still the number of times I see the topic of ‘how do I catch reds’ on social media.

It’s generally written about in the same terms, with no update of what has been researched or tried.

I’ve got no problem with helping anyone chasing their dreams, yet wanting to succeed at anything requires a certain amount of effort from the individual.

A vague statement on a social media platform will generally receive limited useful responses, while a few anglers will take pleasure in showing that they can catch the target species you’re chasing information on.

 

It’s basically an excuse for them to show off and offer no help whatsoever.

If you’re wanting to develop any skill, then you need to put the time in.

No reward comes gift wrapped, you will need to earn it.

Start by doing some online research, including YouTube videos and informative articles written by reliable anglers.

Start following on social media platforms the specialists who are guns at catching the target species.

Look for any tips and techniques and start making a folder with the information that may be useful.

Once you have exhausted all research possibilities, set all your gear up to the best of your ability, get out on the briny and put it into practice.

It might happen on your first attempt or it might not happen for months.

Stick with it and learn as you go.

 

During the learning period, if you can jump onboard with someone who knows how to catch what you’re after, these trips are absolute gold.

When I was learning how to target and catch red emperor, I was able to score a sortie with Greg Lamprecht from Wicked Fishing.

I learned so much on that trip, which included catching a personal best that still stands today.

If you’re keen on targeting a few reds, I have a very basic blueprint for you to follow.

Get the gear basics right.

Get a reliable spin or overhead reel.

I like the Shimano Saragosa as an all-rounder.

Spool with a 50lb braid such as Sufix 832.

 

Use a good quality leader material, such as Schneider for monofilament or Sunline for fluorocarbon in the 50-100lb class.

All the swivels I use are Shogun and the hooks I prefer are Tru-Turn 7/0 or 8/0 ganged.

Once your gear is set up correctly, it then comes down to finding the right ground.

Small isolated structure in the middle of nowhere is one of the best places to find quality reds.

You might not get cricket scores, however the quality will be a lot better and these are the best places to crack one over 10kg.

The next best areas to target are fern patches.

These can be a little tricky due to their size and everything looking the same on the sounder.

 

If you’re zoomed in on the bottom 20m, you might see some bluey greeny stuff that comes up 2-3m.

This is usually a giveaway that you’re on fern country.

You might have to do a few big long drifts to find where the action is, as reds can hide down in the fern and be hard to see.

If you do hook a good fish, hit ‘mark’ on the sounder and try another drift through that same area.

Sometimes you may see bait being pushed out of the fern on the sounder screen by predators, another great sign that reds could be in the area.

The next topic I would like to cover is bait and its presentation.

Fresh is always number one.

If you can get fresh slab bait or jig up some live yakka, this is a big step in the right direction.

 

I keep the heads of all the tiger squid I catch at the islands and use them for red emperor bait.

I’ve caught more of this species off Yeppoon on squid heads than any other bait.

Make sure you use big bait for reds.

Occasionally, pickers such as hussar will drive you absolutely mad.

Before a predator can get a go at it, they clean the bait off your hooks quick smart.

Using hardy options such as fresh slab bait and squid heads will allow the pickers to go nuts while alerting red emperor of an easy meal.

And the reds will muscle their way in for a feed.

 

 

If you’re not accustomed to targeting red emperor, this next piece of advice will be the hardest technique to get right.

Don’t strike at the pickers!

You’re using big bait, so don’t strike at the little fish picking at it.

You want to wait for weight to come on the rod.

I then like to let a bit of slack line out, so the fish can get it down.

Once that’s occurred and the weight is still on, strike hard and go hard.

If you’re keen on chasing a red emperor, I hope these tips will be of some help.

I may even get a shot at those tasty emperors of the deep.