Bream and drummer rig - rock fishing

[snagsbream]

Gents, I'm chasing some drummer and bream off the rocks on Friday-Saturday and need some advice. This is my proposed tackle. I basically have two options, and some questions.

Option 1: 10'6 4-8kg TCurve Inshore rod + Sienna 4000FD spooled with 15lb Sunline Super PE. I generally use this as a light beach outfit and I love it.

I'll use a running sinker (as little as the conditions allow) straight to the hook, but my question is whether I should tie 15lb fluoro leader using a slim beauty or similar, OR use a swivel in between the mainline and the leader, with the sinker running on the trace? How long should my leader be? I wonder about this, as I obviously can't wind the leader on if I use a swivel, but if I tie it to the mainline using a slim beauty or albright I could.

Also, am I better off using some 20lb Schneider mono as the leader so it slows the sink rate a bit?

The other option is a cheap no-name 12ft 5-10kg surf rod and a cheap Penn 6000 spooled with 20lb Schneider. With this one, I would probably just use the mainline, with a running sinker to the hook. Much simpler but potentially less fun.

Thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated.

[dirvin21]

20lb mono, sinker straight to the hook, 15lb PE will get cut to pieces on the rocks if you hook a drummer, the 20lb will give you some hope you just have to lock up and brace yourself
drummer have a very delicate bite and a very nasty attitude
good luck
Dave

[timk1111]

You would only need to go for braid if you were fishing an area where you need some distance, I use a 30lb braid for this but targetting snapper off the stones. I also have a similar 10lb braid setup and casts a mile off the beach. If straight through mono is an option for you, this is the better way to go. You WILL be rerigging if you're fishing in the right spots, and continuesly tying on leader after leader is not only a pain it's time wasted when the fish could be there for you.

If you had to go braid for some reason, use a swivel for the reasons above, unless you like tying leaders all day

Not sure why you'd say straight through is less fun? You'll spend more time fishing. Yes braid makes everything feel bigger but there's no reason you can't use all the gear in option 1 with mono instead of braid. My setup is 9 foot but it suits where im fishing. If a 10foot rod casts far enough and can lift the fish out of the water run with that

[snagsbream]

Originally Posted by timk1111

Not sure why you'd say straight through is less fun? You'll spend more time fishing. Yes braid makes everything feel bigger but there's no reason you can't use all the gear in option 1 with mono instead of braid. My setup is 9 foot but it suits where im fishing. If a 10foot rod casts far enough and can lift the fish out of the water run with that

Yeah, I just thought it might be overgunned for bream and drummer but you're probably right! At least I'll be able to lift them out on the mono rig. Will they be spooked by 20lb mono at all? Cheers

[snagsbream]

Originally Posted by dirvin21

20lb mono, sinker straight to the hook, 15lb PE will get cut to pieces on the rocks if you hook a drummer, the 20lb will give you some hope you just have to lock up and brace yourself
drummer have a very delicate bite and a very nasty attitude
good luck
Dave

Yeah cheers mate, I'll have to strike hard when they bite then? I'll let you know how I go.

[Normoh]

I wouldn't worry about them getting spooked too much. I use 30lb braid and 40lb mono in case I have to stop a groper and it doesn't seem to bother the drummer

[timk1111]

20lb will not spook bream or drummer off the stones when using bait. You cant go much lighter anyway due to bust ups. Fishing like this is not about breaking strain, its about diameter and abrasion resistance. You need something that wont get cut up too easily, and 20lb is the go, 25 is even better.

Yes strike hard when setting thos hooks

As per normahs quote, if there's groper potential and you want to actually land them, 20lb will only cut it in fairly forgiving country. You really need 30-60lb for these, and it just depends on thr terrain and how far you need to cast, but thats a different game really

[snagsbream]

Originally Posted by timk1111

20lb will not spook bream or drummer off the stones when using bait. You cant go much lighter anyway due to bust ups. Fishing like this is not about breaking strain, its about diameter and abrasion resistance. You need something that wont get cut up too easily, and 20lb is the go, 25 is even better.

Yes strike hard when setting thos hooks

As per normahs quote, if there's groper potential and you want to actually land them, 20lb will only cut it in fairly forgiving country. You really need 30-60lb for these, and it just depends on thr terrain and how far you need to cast, but thats a different game really

I've got some 30lb fluoro leader, could I use that for groper if it gets slow and the seas are calm? Under a swivel I guess, or I'll still get snapped on the rocks with the 20lb mainline?

But as you say - different ballgame. Looking forward to it. I'll burley with a bread, sand and seawater mix. Maybe some prawn heads+shells in there too.

[timk1111]

Originally Posted by snagsbream

I've got some 30lb fluoro leader, could I use that for groper if it gets slow and the seas are calm? Under a swivel I guess, or I'll still get snapped on the rocks with the 20lb mainline?

But as you say - different ballgame. Looking forward to it. I'll burley with a bread, sand and seawater mix. Maybe some prawn heads+shells in there too.

Yes you can tie a leader on, that works. The first time I targeted groper I used 50lb trace tied onto 30lb main for casting, all mono. Got my first blue like that. Trick is, make your leader long. Like 3-5m. This is to keep your main line away from rocks as best you can. This also means a joining knot rather than swivel, I personally tie doubpe loop double uni and it doesn't let me down. As for using 30lb fluro, only trial and error will determine if thats enough, id look more toward something in 40-60lb range, and you can stick with the 'leader material' mono lines. Cheaper, takes a beating and groper dont get spooked by anything when you dangle a crab in front on them. People get em on 100lb handlines no worries

This is the kinda stuff im talking about, your local should have something similar,

http://www.tackleworldtownsville.com...der-tough.html

[Normoh]

If you are solely targeting drummer 20lb should be ok.... Just. My intention of mentioning my rig is so you can rest assured they won't get spooked. I wouldn't stress over making the rig complicated to accommodate a heavier leader. The truth is you will still get popped. The simpler the rig the less you have to carry and the quicker you can re rig and get back in. If you are constantly getting busted consider a change but otherwise stick to the k.I.S.S. principle

[Normoh]

As for targeting groper good luck on 30lb.... I still get pumped regularly on 40

[timk1111]

Originally Posted by Normoh

As for targeting groper good luck on 30lb.... I still get pumped regularly on 40

I kinda left it open as it depends where you're fishing. I know of a single spot where 20lb and cut crab pulls plenty of fish, including groper and it's the kind of spot where it's possible. But that's the only one and you're not really targeting them, they're just bycatch :P Everywhere else when I target them I use 60lb. That's at the very limit of line I can break by hand if snagged

Also, it didn't sound like he was targeting them as such, just a backup plan if the water is calm and the fishing is slow. Still I'd go higher than 30, may as well as they don't get line spooked.

[snagsbream]

Originally Posted by timk1111

I kinda left it open as it depends where you're fishing. I know of a single spot where 20lb and cut crab pulls plenty of fish, including groper and it's the kind of spot where it's possible. But that's the only one and you're not really targeting them, they're just bycatch :P Everywhere else when I target them I use 60lb. That's at the very limit of line I can break by hand if snagged

Also, it didn't sound like he was targeting them as such, just a backup plan if the water is calm and the fishing is slow. Still I'd go higher than 30, may as well as they don't get line spooked.

You're pretty spot on the way you read it mate, just a thought as a backup plan. No worries, if I go after them one day I'll gear right up.

I'll go for the simple 20lb mono rig. Keen!

Thanks to Normoh as well.

Going off my own topic, but keeping on the theme of keeping it simple: 6lb mono straight through for mullet, with a float? Or do I need a fluoro leader say 4lb?

[timk1111]

Originally Posted by snagsbream

Going off my own topic, but keeping on the theme of keeping it simple: 6lb mono straight through for mullet, with a float? Or do I need a fluoro leader say 4lb?

6lb straight through is fine, you won't spook them with that. Where are you talking, estuary? I'm assuming bread under a float? I usually use my blackfish rig (so blackfish float with split shots etc) or more commonly use a pre weighted float then a weightless hook under with the bread moulded on, let it just slowly sink in front of their faces. This is the one I use:

http://www.getprice.com.au/surecatch...--47900687.htm

If you're not talking about estuary mullet, then ignore what I said as that's the only place I've targeted them :P

If you don't mind me getting slightly back on topic Have you done much of this kind of fishing (drummer)? Any idea about bait? And how to put it on?

[snagsbream]

Originally Posted by timk1111

6lb straight through is fine, you won't spook them with that. Where are you talking, estuary? I'm assuming bread under a float? I usually use my blackfish rig (so blackfish float with split shots etc) or more commonly use a pre weighted float then a weightless hook under with the bread moulded on, let it just slowly sink in front of their faces. This is the one I use:

http://www.getprice.com.au/surecatch...--47900687.htm

If you're not talking about estuary mullet, then ignore what I said as that's the only place I've targeted them :P

If you don't mind me getting slightly back on topic Have you done much of this kind of fishing (drummer)? Any idea about bait? And how to put it on?

Definitely talking about estuary mullet. I might buy a bobby cork or two.

Mate if I catch a drummer it'll be my first. Not a rock fisho, I cut my teeth in the estuary and on the sand. I've caught many, many bream but never from the stones!