Stippy

Thanks for all the replies guys, think you've sold me on the Abu. Cheers, Adam.

Hey guys looking at getting a new reel in the 3000-4000 size. Per the title I'm looking at both the Penn and the Abu, at the moment I can get the Penn for $20-$30 cheaper than the Abu - is the Abu worth the extra dosh? After a bit of searching both reels have been given fairly glowing praise (at least in the lower capacity models). Will be used primarily chasing pelagics land based, plan is to run 20-30lb braid. Also looking to match the reel to something like a Raider II Light snapper rod. I can get an Okuma Salina II cheaper again but not sure if that will be suited. Thanks for any input, Adam.

I'd call it a drummer mate (rock blackfish) - I'm sure one of the guru's will correct me if I'm wrong though. If you don't get the replies you're after you might ask the mods to have the thread moved to the Fish ID section too. Cheers, Adam.

Looks and sounds like a lot of fun... I've recently been looking into kayaks myself - how long had you been kayaking before you ventured offshore? I live in Thirroul so its nice to know the fish are out there, how far offshore did you go? Cheers, Adam.

Just to clarify - can you fish Clifton Garden jetty all day or is it a marine zone at certain times now? Thinking about heading over with some livies on the weekend see if we can tempt some kings. Cheers, Adam.

Fished right under the bridge Saturday for a few undersized bream, doesn't help that the gates closed at 6pm - you might have more luck yak based being able to reach the further pylons without snagging but even the guy in the tinnie moved on after not catching much. Might also try in and around the mangroves, looks both very snaggy and very fishy. Cheers, Adam.

I've got a 10ft Penn Spinfisher Big Game Surf which is a carbon composite (very light) blank which would probably be up to the task (managed to pull in my first jewie no sweat ) If you shop around you should find one for significantly less than the $99RRP (I got mine for $74) - rod is designed for spinning reels. Gives you a reasonable amount left to search for a reel to suit. Haven't had much experience spinning bigger lures for the species mentioned but I'd imagine something in a 3000-5000 range would be best; any larger and your arms will begin to fatigue fast because of the weight of the reel. Good luck, Adam.

Hey Raiders, Been out fishing more frequently since uni holidays rolled around and have been happy to take a few PB's... Before Thursday night my proudest fishing moment was this solid bream from a kayak on Apple Tree Bay - I hadn't planned on going fishing but when the yakking opportunity came up I couldn't turn it down even if it meant fishing with an old rear drag Shimano and mono. Put up a good fight and I was pretty stoked to get him onboard considering all the oysters and snags around. My girlfriend's Mum turned him into part of a delicious meal. Last night I decided to head to the beach to clear out my freezer full of old servo pilchards - I wasn't expecting much given the pilies were all burnt from the freezer but the beach is just across the road and you can only watch masterchef for so long. Sent out the first soggy pilchard on ganged hooks for nothing, tide was low and Thirroul beach was about as flat as she ever gets so I was thinking this was probably going to set the scene for the night. Second pilie is hooked up and sent into the drink, wasn't too long before the Penn tip is starting to dance. I'm still only new to fishing but I thought rather than yank on the rod and risk pulling the bait out of the fish's mouth I might try a couple of quick reels. Sure enough the hooks set and I'm away. Had a few headshakes which made me think I'd hooked up a decent sized flathead; got the fish onto the beach and from where I stood I thought it was a nice Tailor. But on closer inspection it was my first ever Mulloway - measured just over 50cm so I was happy enough to grab a picture and send him on his way. Caught just south of Thirroul Pool where the water pumps back into the ocean on a Spinfisher 850ssm and Penn Spinfisher Big Game Surf. Sorry about the essay but I was pretty stoked; hopefully the next time we meet he is nudging the metre mark Also sorry about the crappy picture quality; I only take a cheapy digi cam down on the beach but you get the idea. Couldn't convert the rest of the pilies into anything but hard to be disappointed with my first jew. Cheers, Adam.

I'd like to improve my technique too. Had a quick go today at Lake Illawarra with 7lb Fins braid and a 6lb fluro leader - I was primarily out chasing flathead with soft plastics but I saw the school of squid as I was heading off so quickly tied a $2 servo squid jig. Messed up my first good chance with an overzealous jig and scored a little tentacle for my trouble, my second attempt was better and I pulled in this guy. Only the second squid I've ever caught (and my first on a jig). I was hoping to catch some of the bigger ones in the school but after their mate was taken they weren't much interested in my jig. Slippery thing didn't want to lie straight for the camera. I think I may have had more luck with a smaller jig, I was using a size 4 jig in 2 metres of water. Might try my luck with something around the 2.5 mark next time. Cheers, Adam.

Awesome bream mate... I was happy with my 35cm model on Sunday (my first from a kayak).

Hey mate, Like I said I haven't caught a fish with it yet so it's difficult to say really. What I can tell you is that the rod is quite nicely balanced with my Exceller 2500 and will cast a 1.7 gram jighead plenty far. Together with FINS braid it communicates every little nibble that's happening at the other end and to cap it off looks pretty sweet too. When I do give it a proper test I'll be sure to post up the results. Adam.

Hmm... i suppose it is more of a bending movement, good to know I'm just paranoid! Thanks Scotty.

Bream go plenty hard for their size, can't wait to hook a decent tarwhine now! Cheers, Adam.

Hey Raiders, Took my Tournament Pro Dropshot out for the first time the other day in the Royal National Park (gorgeous day but not much action). Although I didn't manage to catch much... err... make that anything the rod felt great communicating all the little nibbles from the whiting however I did notice that the first guide on the rod had more play in it than any other guides on any of my other rods. Should there be any play (movement) in the guides? I can move the guide maybe a millimetre or two perpendicular to the rod, it's certainly not as firm as the guides on my (cheaper) Shimano graphite rod. It could just be a case of me being precious but I figure it's better to find out now whilst the rod is still under warranty. Cheers, Adam.

Nice work mate, How'd he taste? Cheers, Adam.

I'm pretty sure you'd be fine. Big difference between a 40cm octopus and a 5-6ft person, although all the thrashing around that ensued might attract the attention of something bigger and toothier!

Congrats mate, You spin a hell of a yarn. Adam.

Great to hear

Damn... I was hoping to pick one of these up myself. At $20 looked like a bargain.

I'll have to remember to bring a wakeboard if I ever take up GT fishing, those fish would tow me no worries. Looks like an amazing trip. Adam.

You might also consider getting together a group of like minded enthusiasts and buying some braid in bulk. Plenty of tackle stores will be happy to offer good discounts if you're purchasing in the thousands of yards. Keep your spool stored somewhere dry and cool and you should find it lasts quite a while. As an added bonus braid is thinner than the equivalent pound mono so you'll get more on your spool just in case you hook into a monster! Cheers, Adam.

Thanks guys, Eastern Kelpfish seems like a positive ID. Aside from trying to snag me under some rocks this little guy didn't put up too much struggle on my Sienna 2500, when it hit I was hoping it might be a nice drummer! Cheers, Adam.

Thanks for the tips mate! We'll be out before 9 easy. Garie is pretty exposed and I know it cops heaps when the swell is up (maybe I should bring my surfboard ) but rest assured none of us will be that keen to put ourselves in any danger. I'm quite happy to stick to wading in calm water throwing plastics! Thanks again, Adam.

Here's another pic guys. Good to know they aren't poisonous, I used the towel to pick him up just in case. Cheers, Adam.