Pink Snapper

A common fish caught by anglers, not so by divers.

Quinns Rocks

A very difficult fish to spear in local Perth water (Rottnest). Up north in some locations they can be easier to spear such as Steep Point and Carnarvon etc.

Usually a wary fish that will hear you and bolt away if you’re clumsy with your gun etc or if you have squeaky ears. They can be shot occasionally at Rottnest and any Pinkie speared there is a genuine accomplishment for a free diver.

 

  • The use of bait is important generally speaking. Try Buff bream, abalone stomach lining, cray remains.
  • A good breath hold is a plus when hunting pinkies.
  • They are curious like all fish, but only up to a point.
  • When Pinkies do come up towards you head on they will flick away instantly as soon as they turn side on. Consider shooting directly head on at the fish.
  • If you can get inside a cave adjacent to a Pinkie this can help. The fish can not see you in the blackness of a cave but they know you are there, and may investigate.
  • Placing bait in a gutter where Pinkies frequent. Swim away for a few minutes returning out of sight i.e. swim along the bottom hugging the reef from well back. Try to sneak up on the fish so to speak. It is possible to approach within a couple of metres of a big Pinkie if you are quiet.
  • In open water, i.e. off the West End of Rottnest, in 20 to 25 metres of water chopping up burley may bring Pinkies in. If you are going to dive on them while they are feeding on the bottom, use the slide technique, i.e. no finning or moving any body parts with your gun outstretched ready to fire. Being able to equalise without using your fingers is an advantage. Sinking down you might get a chance for a shot.
  • Simply laying on the bottom for several minutes might bring a Pinkie within range but usually they will be just out of range.
  • Pinkies sometimes just sit on the bottom, apparently asleep. You can be lucky sometimes with these fish.
  • A gun with a quick spear is useful with this fish i.e. 7mm shafts.

 

Places where I’ve speared these fish include South Australia, New South Wales, New Zealand and Western Australia.

 

Western Australia- a few places to try:

  • Rottnest Island
  • Quinns Rocks
  • Two Rocks
  • Cervantes
  • African Reef
  • Abrolhos Islands
  • Kalbarri
  • Steep Point
  • Carnarvon Islands

 

Pinkies are best eaten fresh. I don’t recommend freezing them.

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