Stippy

Most of your bread and butter species (I'm assuming salt) will take a lure that size and larger, some (flathead/jew/trevs) more readily than others (bream/whiting) - having said that I've had some pretty keen bream hit some fairly large lures intended for bigger species. If I'm actively targeting bream (for example) I'll use hardbody lures from 35mm-65mm, but with soft plastics happily get away with 80mm Squidgies and some people even prefer the larger (100mm+) models. If you're not getting any hits try downsizing, or using a lighter jighead. Cheers, Adam.

Great report Stan, I'm sure I'll look much the same when I get my first... I've been itching to go find my own bass country but exams are keeping me indoors! Well done champ. Adam.

Shallow diving minnow - Ecogear SX40LC (long cast) in 307, 343. Deep diving crank - Jackall Chubby deep in Brown Suji Shrimp Sinking stick bait - Tiemco stick minnow (if you can find em) otherwise look for the Zipbaits. Surface lure - Lucky Craft Sammy 65 in Impact yellow. All the above will catch bream, flathead and whiting... if there's chopper tailor around you might consider upping your leader

I'd say the primary difference is size and application. Baitcaster reels are just small overheads (i.e. the reel sits above the rod, unlike a threadline reel which hangs below) with smaller line capacities and are designed to be cast with accuracy. A good baitcaster will just about fit in the palm of your hand and as suggested above will often have a button to engage free-spool rather than a lever which would be more cumbersome with multiple casts. On the other hand overhead reels can be very large (think game reels) and some are not designed to be cast at all (given the inertia required to get the spool spinning) and are used to troll lures and baits.

Hi Shane For $250 you can't really go wrong. It will get you on the water and give you a chance to decide whether you enjoy yak fishing enough to upgrade to something else down the track (if necessary). Without having paddled one I reckon it looks like a pretty good bass fishing platform and plenty of opportunities to pimp it out. If you remain unconvinced you can always keep an eye out for second hand Viking Espri's or Pacers which should be available for around the same price and have a proven track record. Without wishing to step on any toes here I can recommend at least a couple of dedicated kayak fishing forums with all the information you could ever need about kayak fishing; the Australian Kayak Fishing Forum and Kayak Fishing Down Under. Good luck, Adam.

Bit of an update. Sat down tonight to pull the reel apart again to clean up the anti-reverse bearing, however I was having difficulty getting the screw that attaches the anti-reverse "switch". While attempting to loosen the screw I realised the anti-reverse was now engaging as per normal. Perhaps the problem was that I'd over-tensioned the screw during the last service? For the moment I shall hold off stripping the reel down again and just hope the problem doesn't return. Thanks again for all the advice, Adam.

Thanks for the speedy replies lads, Here's hoping it's just a case of over-lubricating, a quick look at the Daiwa schematic tells me that no particular bearing is designated at the 'anti-reverse bearing' but hopefully it will all become clearer once I crack it open. Shall let you know what I find. Thanks again, Adam.

Hi Raiders, The title explains it all really, my trusty 2500 Exceller has been put out of commission by a faulty anti-reverse. Initially the problem was intermittent, stripped it down for a looksee and a service and now the anti-reverse fails to engage at all Returning it to Daiwa isn't really an option because it's out of warranty and i'd rather not spend any more money on it. Is this something I can fix myself? Is it possible to lock the anti-reverse? Cheers, Adam.

Love your work Mako, I tried around Wollongong Harbour for a donut on Saturday... looks like I should have stayed local. Cheers, Adam.

Great report Mitch, Looks like you had a far more productive day out on the lake than I managed earlier this month, probably didn't help that I was out in the kayak either I'll be back when it's warmer to bother the resident cod and yellas. Adam.

Senator Wrasse?

Nice trevor.. I was at Grey's Point trying to escape the wind this afternoon as well. Nothing to show for a few hours out on the water but I'm determined to crack the bream on plastics code sooner rather than later. The wind eased off late in the arvo but I don't fancy being out on the water in the kayak when the light is failing. Adam.

What an awesome trip! Would love to try fly fishing one of these days but I seem to spend more than enough on gear already.

I should have been more specific. No doubt the contract of sale is exists as b/w consumer and retailer, what I was getting at is that the guarantees are present either expressly (unlikely given the nature of most contract of sale for consumer products) or else impliedly by operation of law. mtcolah had already been in touch with the manufacturer and seemingly had his beef with them hence I explained his options to take it up with them. But as I alluded to (and you've picked up on) he is well within his rights to go against the retailer also. But we digress! Onya rockfisherman, what a nice gesture! Adam.

I guess it all turns on how you interpret what's happened here. The way I read it mtcolah hadn't dunked his reel in the salt he'd just been using it as it was intended to be used. Where he may have some trouble is with his chosen method of maintenance... specifically rinsing 'in' freshwater. I chose to take this as meaning he used fresh water to rinse the reel (arguably not the best way to do it but shouldn't void any guarantee), if he's actually gone ahead and dunked it in a bucket of fresh water then he may have some dramas. In future I'd stick to the soapy rag method. Have to agree with purefishing service being good though, last time I had a drama they were only too happy to help and I had the part I needed within a few days.

To be honest these are the kind of stories that make me quite content to forgo the warranty on Australian bought products and buy online. At least if something does go wrong I've only got myself to blame. However if you are prepared to kick up a stink you might just get a decent result. There are statutory warranties to protect you as a consumer. These guarantees are set out in the Australian Consumer Law (Located in Schedule 2 of Volume 3 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010) - bit of a mouthful I know! If you were to draft Daiwa a letter explaining when you purchased the reel, your maintenance routine and then specifically drew attention to the statutory guarantees contained within provisions 54 (Guarantee as to acceptable quality) and 55 (Guarantee as to fitness for any disclosed purpose) you might just scare them into giving you the service you deserved in the first place. Link to relevant provisions. Alternatively you could take it back to the place you bought it and seek your remedy through them as you also have an implied contract with them as supplier (as much as they might like to deny it). ACCC Guide to writing letter of complaint Hope you get it sorted, Adam.

Awesome Mako! I haven't put the time into perfecting my surf re-entries yet but when I have I'd love to tee up for a fish around Austi. Meanwhile where's the best place to launch when hitting Wollongong Harbour? Cheers, Adam.

Had a similar experience in Brooklyn.. awesome light show as something was chasing the schools of mullet around, but only a couple of undersized flathead for a couple of hours worth of bait fishing.

Excellent jewie.. but where do you go from here?

Sounds like a good night out. Definitely reads like a bull shark story but in the back of your mind I bet you're wondering if it was a mammoth jew. Certainly a nice part of the world to be fishing. Cheers, Adam.

Sorry to hear this Dave, as you know I was looking forward to reading your review of the new Twin Power. I'd suggest hunting around for the best price to send the reel back to Japan, it's sure to be more cost effective than having Shimano Aus look at it and charge you for the privilege and I reckon you'll still be in front. Hardest part will be waiting for the reel to arrive all over again. Adam.

Congrats on blooding the yak... us yakkers are slowly taking over As boat ramps become ever more congested and the price of fuel continues to climb I can see why this is becoming such a popular way to fish. Would love to upgrade to a pedal Hobie (got a nice Quest at the moment), but I'm developing an unhealthy (for my wallet) curiosity for South African fishing skis! Have to organise a Fishraider yaking trip soon. Cheers, Adam.

Agree with Mike, I rinse off my jigheads/lures in fresh water and store them when dry in a tacklebox. Instead of rice I tend to keep those little packets of silica gel beads that come with new shoes etc. Seems to work for me.. I lose far more jigs to snag monsters than I do to rust.

I reckon I would have sawed me finger off if I used braid on my beach rod casting 2-3oz sinkers, I seem to get enough cuts with mono (maybe I've just got dainty hands ) I also seem to have more dramas with weed fouling the line whenever I use braid off the beach. Platypus lo-stretch seems to do well enough for me.

Any one of those fish would have made the trip worthwhile, but to land a bag of them