From the months of mid-November till late-January, fishermen make the pilgrimage to Cape Jervis, to land the big Snapper. Boating/Ramp facilities at the Cape are excellent, making it an ideal, if not convenient place to launch the boat.

Line up both the lighthouse and the shack to get the direction of traverse. Head out about 4.82 km from this line of sight. A dodge tide is ideal as far as water conditions are concerned, or fish 1 hr before the turn of the tide. The water depth will vary to about 110 metres, and when the tide moves, millions of tonnes of water races thru Backstairs Passage.

You will definitely need a heavy anchor as well as about 210 metres of anchor rope.

When fishing this area, use two heavy sinkers to get to the bottom, 15 kg main line with a 30 kg trace using a Paternoster Rig, single 3/0 - 5/0 hooks with squid or fish fillets as bait. When you strike, make sure you strike well. See Quick & Easy Tips - Striking for more info and when you hook a big one, it is very hard work hauling up a snapper from these depths.

Be wary of the weather and ocean conditions in this area, as swells off Cape Jervis can reach up to 10 metres if the weather flairs up. This spot is NOT ideal for small boats, and an auxiliary motor is definitely an advantage.

Big Sharks and Tuna can be caught in this area as well.