Where ever you fish in the world, the tackle you use should be relative to the area you fish. The saying, “lures catch more fisherman than fish” may be fair, however using tackle that’s proven to work over and over again, will definitely increase your hook-up rate. Listed below are a few suggestions that work for me.
Experienced anglers will have their own preferences, particularly using lighter gear. This is no problem, and the following is simply meant as a guide to assist you in your choice of tackle.
I use and recommend www.motackle.com.au and Erskins Tackle Cairns (erskines@bigpond.com)
Every Kit should include:
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Bluewater Tackle/Lures
Estuary Tackle/Lures
Bluewater Tackle/Lures:
Bluewater trolling and spinning can produce big fish in
the Torres Strait. For this reason, it is essential that
the gear you bring is of good quality, and is in good
working order.
Trolling:
For trolling, rods should be in the 15 - 24 kg line
class, such as Shimano Backbone and T-Curve rods, Ugly
Stick (SU56H), Silstar Powertips, and Penn Powerstick.
These rods should be matched to 24kg mono, such as Black
Magic, Platypus or Maxima. Braid is fine, however it
does not have the stretch of mono, and can be less
forgiving when drags are not correctly adjusted.
I use Shimano TLD 15 and TLD 25 reels. Similar overheads
such as Penn Senators, Abu Garcia 7000, Okuma Titus, and
Daiwa Sealine are also good. An adjustable lever drag is
recommended.
Spinning:
Spinning slices and casting poppers can produce great
GTs, Trout, and Tuna. A rod/reel combo around the 10kg
mark is appropriate. Rods should be approx. 6.5 ft, with
a soft tip, so that slices weighing as little as 20g can
be cast. Reels should have a line capacity of approx.
250 - 300 metres and should be loaded with 30-50lb
braid. Reels with a high ratio, fast retrieve action are
preferred. Penn Spinfishers (750, 850), and Shimano
Stradic/Sustain, or better are appropriate. These
spinning outfits can also be used for bait fishing.
If you are unsure about a rod/reel combo you already
have, or something a salesman has told you will work,
please don’t hesitate to
contact me.
Hardware:
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Lures:
‘Fish jewellery’ options are infinite. A look at any
tackle store lure display can leave the angler confused
and then possibly broke! The following list is gear I
use, and it works. It should be looked at as a guide
only, you are welcome to try your own ideas. Deep diving
lures are highly recommended.
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Estuary Tackle/Lures:
The most important factor when selecting a rod/reel
combo for the estuary, is what YOU feel comfortable
with. Baitcasting overhead reels are no good if you have
never used one. Threadlines are just as effective, and
are less likely to ‘bird nest’ when casting. Whatever
your choice, being able to flick a lure into a snag is
going to get you more fish, so familiarity with your
gear is paramount (practice prior to getting here isn’t
a waste of time!!) Mono is ok, though I recommend braid
around the 25-30lb mark.
Hardware:
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Lures:
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As I said, the options are endless, and the lists
here are meant as a guide only. Don’t hesitate to
contact
me if you have any questions.
