Southern Trip

Specialkleen · #1 14-03-2015, 03:48 AM

As a far northerner, I have plenty of very solid gear set up for my local species. However a spontaneous trip to Canberra/Bateman's bay has prompted me to revise my gear. I've got a fair bit of an idea for what to use there but would just like a second opinion. Firstly, I'm planning on targeting: Murray Cod, Yellowbelly, Bass, Trout, Jewfish, Bream, Snapper, Kingfish, Flathead, Tailor, Salmon, Kingfish and finally a bloody squid (eluded me on lures up here).

With this in mind, which essentials of tackle should I be looking at adding to my arsenal? In particular for Bream, Jewfish, Kingfish and Squid.

FlickStick · #2 24-03-2015, 02:48 AM

Hey mate, I recently moved from north QLD to Bendigo, Victoria, and for most of your light fishing (bream, flathead, redfin, yellowbelly, snapper in ppb) a 2-4kg rod with 6-10lb braid on a 2000-2500 size reel should have you covered. For murray cod (and larger yellas) a baitcast rod around 6-8kg, a fair quality reel with a good drag and 30lb braid will have you covered for most situations. The rest I'm not sure about. Cheers, Jim

mazman · #3 24-03-2015, 03:10 AM

Are you landbased for everything or do you have a boat?
all of those species can be covered with 3 rods if boat based but you'll need some extra LB
a 1-3 for bream and trout
a 2-4/2-6 for snapper, bass, yellowbelly (no structure), flathead, salmon, tailor and squid
a 6-8/5-10 for jewfish, cod and jewfish.

Will leave the lures to someone else as i'm still not 100%
rod weights are a guide and some prefer to go heavier or lighter for each species,also they're in kilo's

Specialkleen · #4 25-03-2015, 07:16 PM

So I've been and returned on this trip already. Had no issues with rod choice down there and lure selection. Was refreshing to do some new fishing and was highlighted with half a dozen Murray cod and a 47cm Yellowbelly on the first day using mostly surface and spinnerbaits. Sadly our trip to the coast wasn't so hot as we couldn't get the Jewfish (which we managed to sound up) to bite. Still managed a 42cm TTF Bream. Got Tailor but was too windy to get into the Bay, could only stay in the Clyde so bream was mostly the species. Managed redfin and the like as well and sadly couldn't get the mud-marlin (Carp) to swallow my celta despite many strikes. Was a fun trip.

The combos I used were a Daiwa GB Pinster 2-5kg with a 2500fj Stradic with two spools - one 4lbs the other 10lbs. For my Murray Cod experience, I used a 13 Envy 6'7 10-17lbs, a 13 Concept A matched with 20lbs Sunline Super-8.