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Good stuff mate, crazy looking fish though!

Stonkers mate well done!

Quochuy the 650A5 reel I have is at least 34 years old (older than me) and is my standard go to reel for beach and rocks, super reliable and handled some good fish. Like you I run around 6kg line and like mono as that extra bit of stretch helps bring a fish through the shore break. Your right the 650GTS is a quality and convenient rod.

Nice one mate, how big was it?

Mate squid are beaut! Did you get it on a jig?

Yeah sure is good fun! The bloke fishing next to me scored a nice flattie on his last cast.

I was using a 10'6 Alvey 555TE telescopic rod, 3-5kg light surf/estuary rod... usually I use a big old butterworth or 2 piece 14' and 13'6 rods. This rod performed much better for this species hahaha.

Thanks mate, 1st time taking a light approach to the surf, just as fun as wrestling salmon and a lot more taste bud friendly... hahaha.

Cheers mate, will lightly beer batter a few for some quality fish and chips.

Definitely go the Alvey mate! As fishingphase suggested the 600b is is great all round reel. If rods are a problem I can vouch for the Alvey telescopic models, just tested them this arvo and was very impressed. Also the 625L or the 600 light surf/estuary are excellent rods that aren't to big to store or transport. You can get the 600b reel and 600 rod as a combo around the $135 mark.

Just a quick up date on the rods. They perform really well, especially the 555te. I had it matched to 625b reel and with a size 1 bean and bait was casting easily 30m. When the swell picked up it even cast a size 3 star sinker effortlessly. Has a really sensitive tip as well so you feel every bite, landed a stack of whiting and a few dart on it this arvo. Didn't catch anything on the 650gts but it also cast very well. Wouldn't hesitate to buy these rods again and feel pretty confident using them for serious fishing. Cheers for all the advice and feedback guys!

The whiting have been firing the last few days off the beach. Needed to test out my Alvey 555te light rod matched to my 625b reel. What a top combo these have turned out to be! Started off with 2 small dart and undersized whiting before it really picked up! Used fresh beach worms and almost as every cast hit the water I was reeling back in with a fish on. The guy next to me (thanks for the worms Bryce!) Was absolutely smashing it! Threw back a few smaller ones, biggest went 39cm, very happy! Hope you all have a great weekend! Edited the size the plastic ruler I used had snapped the 1st couple of centimeters off, didn't realise till this morning, anyway still stoked!

Hard luck mate, but as you say sand between the toes beats a day work hands down!

Nice vid mate, well done on the snapper as well!

Well done mate that's perseverance, better thank the ex for that extra motivation hahaha...

Cracker HT mate well done on light gear!

Yeah that's my favourite time for my local beach as well, all my best catches have come from that time period. Not sure if the pizza shops still there, but sounds awesome after a spell on the rocks, also like the flattie tails and chips from the little fish & chip shop near the harbour (almost as good as self caught! Hahaha).

Both rods turned up to day, amazed at how small the collapsed rods are and big the rods are extended! I know the sizes and what to expect as most of my rods are over 12' but I just couldn't believe a 4.1m rod was hiding in the 1.2m collapsed state hahaha! Anyway only had a short time this arvo before having to pick up the kids so took the 555te 10'6 for a quick cast at the lagoon. Matched it to my Alvey 625b and a super light whiting rig and it cast very well, so happy about that. Will take both rods for serious bash Friday arvo off the beach.

Cheers Geoff, I know the spot your talking about at Bermi south of the harbour. It makes me think of a few other spots between there and Blue Pool that I've walked past but never fished, I'll definitely try around there. I've fished the warf at Tarthra but as you say gets very busy, I'll give the lookout a crack it sounds promising. Thanks for the info!

Thanks mate will hit Cuttagee up for sure! When I was down last time in July there was good tailor coming in off that beach.

Nice Jewie mate, well done!

G'day All, I'm heading south for Christmas and will be spending a fair whack of time at Bermagui. I'll have a few keen rock fishos with me and while I'm pretty familiar with Morshead Beach, Bermi River and the harbour break wall, I have very little knowledge of any good spots for rock fishing. Personally I'm hoping to spin a few bonito and tailor, but would secretly love to score a kingie. Will be spinning metals, squid skirts, live baiting, soaking pilchards, squid and using beach worms for whiting (beach and river), tailor, bream, trevally, jewies and flathead (beach and river). However I've never targeted bonito or kingfish from the rocks and would love to score some over Christmas. Will be stopping for a night at Jervis Bay on the way home and I know a few spots around there, but most of our time will be spent at Bermi, happy to travel to Narooma or around Tathra as well. I'll have a chat to Scotty at the Bait and Tackle shop while down there but would like to plan a few spots out before we get there. Any advice on safe, easily accessible ledgers and tackle/baits would be greatly appreciated!!! Cheers, Phil.

I've used mustad, gama and black magic and I preferred the black magic ones, however, I've only used them in 8/0 and bigger. Each have different shapes, the mustad and gamas are more rounded closer to a circle shape while the black magic are flatter along the bottom.

Circle hooks should be ok, I've used them for jewies and sharks but never for the species you're after. The idea is to set the drag and let the fish hook themselves, so you don't strike when you feel the bite. I use them mainly when fishing a set rod in a holder to stop my natural instinct to strike. I guess if you can get the bait your using on the hook than go for it. They give a better rate of jaw/lip hook ups which is a plus if dealing with toothy critters or for catch and release. I tend to use a slightly smaller size than what I would with suicide hooks, but that's only my preference and there's no reason behind it apart from how the hook looks to me. Have a crack and let us know how you go.

Don't worry about the dropped fish on the livie mate, just means it'll be bigger next time you hit that spot up! Hahaha...