matt84

yep hard to go past the pen big game surf's, good value for money, have give mine a good work out over last 4 years and still going strong.

i agree, t curves are overrated don't think i would buy another one, there are a few different Samaki rods that are a nice bit of kit, berkley also have a few that would suit nicely. otherwise you step up to a G.Loomis or custom rod.

what lb line you running, what are you using it for?

shame about the flop of a charter, i also went on a dodge charter on the inlet up there, except i took my own gear and cast into the mangroves after all that's were the fish up there live, in the snags. lost some tackle but it was mine so he didn't mind, got a number of small gt's, moses perch, finger mark, small queens and a few other bits. mean while rest of the boat managed maybe a fish each if that, as he kept setting the rods for them and in the holder. a few tried to cast in the mangroves and lost some gear, but he put a stop to that saying the fish swim in the channel in this tide lol lost gear, re-rigging all too much hard work. In saying that i did go on another charter up there (same week) that encourage us to cast in the snags and was constantly retying gear, and worked his bum off. Its all about the enthusiasm of the guide. all goes pear shaped when it goes from a passion to a "job".

just though id post a pic of my 9ft st croix i built a few months ago (top) as well as a recent spin rod i finished last week for the girlfriend brother (middle) and also my new blackfish rod i finished today pac comp 3145g just in time for the weekend (bottom) st croix mtx spin pac comp 3145g

take the last guide off and bung on a new tip all you need to do. i broke the tip off my trion in the same spot, 1/2 the guides were buggered, rebuilt it good as new, just not as tippy but still works great

that what im planning on doing, heat shrink grips, was gonna go double foot for the fist 3 guides then drop to single foot for the rest. most spots are net jobs or wash out but have a few spots that require a bit of a lift to get them out, not worried about that though the rod has plenty off grunt in the bottom section. everyone had good things to say about the 3145g so looks like i will be ordering it this week will post a few pics when im done.

yes purely blackfish, both estuary/rock walls and ocean rocks. built a 9' st croix salmon/steelhead spin rod recently, if that's anything to go by the butt seems too thin and dosn't seem to have the power to lift fish out without fearing the rods gonna snap.

hi guy, have had enough of using my 9' live fibre for darkies, just too short at spots, so am planning on building up a new darkie stick 11-12' ish. just after some suggestions of blanks, want it to be as light as possible so after graphite/composite. so far have my eye on pacific comp 3145G, any others worth a look?

if you can't swim you shouldn't be fishing on the rocks full stop. just plain stupid. as for life jackets on the rock, some situation they may be handy, others dangerous, you want to be able to swim out from the rocks before the jacket inflates otherwise will just get pounded against the rocks.

angler rods are great, well great blanks, components not so much, dodgy guides, broken reel seats or more then one i've seen. i know a few who have rebuilt them because they are good blanks.

$70 on guides in aus, get guides from mudhole or acid rods set ya back for a set $30-50 for alconite's tops, cheaper for hard alloys which would probably do. can get cheaper thread $4 a spool, $15 for flex coat kit. everything else is optional. $5-10 postage. get away with costing ya anywhere from $50-100 tops including postage depending on how fancy ya wanna go

defined ledge, not very big only fishes a couple at a time, not worth the walk.

have stayed at palm cove a few times, better off making the trip to Port Douglas, plenty of boat that go out to the reef and a few inshore charter that operate out of 6m tinnies (from a small public jetty near the mouth), i went on one for 1/2 day ones went a k or 2 out the front and got small coral trout and nannys, lost a few macks and got a 30kg cod, was top fun on the lighter gear. Also went on one out of cairns, not nearly as good.

bonito/rat kings don't really need anything fancy, bigger kings and you would be looking at a completely different combo. something along the lines or an emblem pro or 4500 saltist matched to a pen big game spinfisher would be the go migh be a bit over $300 but not too many reels that have a fast retrieve that are cheap.

overhead combo definitely easier for casting big baits of break wall for jewies etc. check out the 10'6" 15kg live fibers ($200 ish)very tippy with heaps of balls i fish 40lb over mine. otherwise you go the traditional 5120 or 5120g if you want graphite, anywhere from $120-$200 depending on brand. matched up to diawa saltist/sealine, shimano torium/speenmaster, etc

i have a pen spinfisher big game surf 11' 10-30lb cast very well and take the abuse from the rocks, very light and very strong. my mate has a heartland though and i can ping a cast out much further, yes they are full graphite and very tippy though so would have to be care full lifting the tip high when lifting fish out.

ganged hooks, no weight if possible. cast out let it sink a bit then wind back slow. will out fish the guys beside you with sinker and/or bobby corks every time.

you can cast a tld25, but not far and i wouldn't be spooling it with anything more then 15kg line as they are not build for heavier line classes, which is why you see people using tld50's etc. as far as other reels mentioned go all the above would be suitable again, depends on were you are fishing and the size range you are likely to encounter and what lb line you want to run. i've caught plenty of legal kings on 15-20lb braid on 3000 size reels. for bigger kings i used to use 50lb braid on a spheros which did the job perfectly. ps my biggest king 25kg was on 15kg mono and a $160 reel.

not having fished the lake much in previous years i now have access to dads boat and wouldn't mind throwing a few sp's around for flatty's in lake macquarie, have gotten the odd one in the channel, but would anyone like to point me in the general direction of were i might be able to target a few in the lake. thanks matt

x-raps, they love em

check out the live fibre range, 7' 15-24kg should probable do the job, could go an 8' if just for the rocks but 7' might be a bit better if you wanna use it in the boat. otherwise get a 8' and a stroker for the boat.

don't get to many spots in the lake for lives, never slimes. i get livies at blakies reef out the front of blacksmith surf club. as for spots drop over or bridge is a good start for kings, need to wait for the water to warm up though

yer was gonna get a 4000, but don't really need the extra line for chuckin sps at snapper etc too opten, hence the 3000 and luvias even lighter so sounds like a winner. slinky, as for the anti-reverse, its only a daiwa exceller an has coped a beating, i pulled it apart for a complete service 3 time in the last few months, grinding gears, sticky when winding and anti reverse problems (separate), pulled the anti reverse out twice in last month, cleaned and drop of oil, cleaned not oiled (was told a few different things to try that might help). through i had fixed it last time went well for 3 weeks, then started happening again. anti revere only seems to fail at one point in a full rotation type thing. think i will just opt for a luvias, will fix the exceller and just kept it for a spare

ok so deciding on what reel to get after my anti-reverse went in my old diawa, will be loaded with 15lb brain and mainly used for chasing rats, snapper, dollies etc on plastics, i can get an older 3000 luvias (silver one not the new blue ones, see pic)for the same price as a sol/advantage/caldia. im guessing the luvias would be the pick, but being an older model not 100% sure. as have herd of problems with the luvias. on a side note, 3000 or 4000 for snapper/kings etc? thanks