For most Kiwi snapper fishing, Black Magic Snatchers® are the go to flasher rig. They are hand rigged in New Zealand on Tough Trace with KL recurve hooks, lumo beads and UV skirts. Fish them with a small triangle of bait from the boat, beach, rocks or wharf.

Recurve (KL) hooks are what most Snatchers® use. The recurve gape is made to self hook when a fish swims off with the bait. Hook ups usually land in the corner of the mouth. A steady lift is often enough. A hard strike can bounce the hook out on a circle style pattern.

J style or suicide hooks suit straylining and large baits where you set the hook yourself. Recurve rigs shine in deeper water, heavy current or when bites are hard to detect on stretchy mono.

Super Lumo and UV colourways help in deep water, low light and night sessions. Snatchers® also catch kingfish, gurnard, tarakihi, kahawai and reef species, not just snapper.

Choose leader by species, water clarity and structure. Black Magic offers two main trace lines:

Supple Trace has more stretch and is easy to tie. Use it over sand, for surf shock leaders, or with J style and suicide hooks. Great for snelling hooks for snapper. Common sizes 20 to 200lb.

Tough Trace is ultra clear with high abrasion resistance. It is the leader on premade Snatchers® rigs. Ideal around reef, pylons and long fights. Popular for snapper and kingfish at 40 to 100lb, heavier for tuna and game.

Quick guide: reef snapper often 60 to 80lb Tough Trace on a rig. Clear water strayline 40 to 60lb Tough Trace. Surf or kayak add a Supple Trace shock section with a Tough Trace bite leader.

KL recurve hooks are the standard on Snatchers® and many bait rigs. Sizes 4/0 to 6/0 cover most snapper. They self hook and suit paternoster and flasher fishing.

KS hooks are the original chemically sharpened Black Magic hook. A strong all rounder for bait fishing and general terminal tackle.

KLT hooks suit kingfish and hard fighting species when you need extra strength. Match hook size to bait so the gape stays open.

Run a Jetsetter skirted lure short corner at high troll speeds for tuna and kingfish. Bright contrast colours stay visible in changing light. Darker patterns work in low light or murky water. Pair with the Equalizer® gimbal and harness system for large game fish.

Single hook rigs give cleaner releases and better bait presentation. Twin hook rigs improve hook ups on short biting fish and when running larger baits. Pick based on conditions and target species.

Check after every fish and any contact with structure. The hook sharpener we stock is the Rapala Hook Sharpener 36. A sharp point dramatically improves hook up rates on tough mouths like snapper and kingfish.

Rinse rigs and lures in fresh water after every trip. Dry thoroughly and store in a dedicated tackle wallet. Keeping salt off hooks, skirts and trace extends life on Snatchers®, leaders and game lures.

Black Magic Tackle is sold through specialist retailers across New Zealand and Australia. Shop the full range at Burnsco online or visit your local Burnsco store for hooks, Snatchers® rigs, leaders, lures and tools.