will_l

Nice! Also, what add-ons are you guys buying. After the $27 I paid I already have sonar chart and other things you guys are calling 'extras'? Thanks a lot, Will

Would the x-rap magnum 30 be too big for Sydney Kings around the heads? And how do the magnums compare to the normal x-rap

Just realised that they don't make 250's. Will check out the 200's

Let him know all the reccomendations. Re the t-curve does the 200 fit well with an 8000 shimano size as he also has one of those or would a 250 t-curve fit better with an 8000? They are big reels. Re the demon bloods - for a 4500 size reel and 40lb braid what model would be matched best? I guess not having an overkill rod for 40lb braid would allow him to have more fun on the average size Sydney Kings, but still have a slight chance at some hoodlums

Hi, So a family friend of mine is getting into inshore reef jigging for kings and is unsure about which rod to go with? He has a mid range 4500 Daiwa reel (cant remember exact name) with 40lb braid and would be willing to spend up to $350-$400 for a good quality rod. He also will use it as a another trolling and general bottom bashing, live baiting, downrigging etc rod. After a bit of looking I think 150g vertical jigs will be the go. However, I was trying to a bit of research for him and was looking into rods with a parabolic action vs fast action. What is the most common type of jigging rod used around sydney for vertical jigging for kings? Thanks a lot, Will

Ok, well I went ahead with it and all I can say is wow. I've never seen a chartplotter before thats probably why I'm so excited but it has too be one of the best $27 I've spent. Amazing how you enter in your draft etc and it shows the fastest (and safest) way to get too places. Changes too tides etc. I can also now see the reef drop offs and many other features to pinpoint places too fish. Really happy with how it looks and can't wait to properly use it. I would of just paid the 27$ for it too show speed limits and also for it too tell my speed haha. My only question is, is there a way for it too show off shore reefs such as the peak and 12 mile or are they too deep too show up. I wouldn't go out there but it would be a cool feature to be able to see where those reefs are. Thanks a lot, Will

Cheers guys, thats good to know that I could handle a few average dollies. Save's me from being tempted to buy an outfit id use once or twice. Thats pretty amazing you could stay on a marlin on 15lb line. I guess thicker line's then say 30lb? main benefit (unless your specifcally aiming for marlin, sharks etc) is really only worthwhile for trying not to get cut off in reefs?

Hi, I'm going out on a fishing charter soon and we are chasing dollies so I'm thinking about possibly bringing my light king setup but wondering if it would be too light for mahi mahi? It's a raider SP 6-8kg with a stradic 4000 and 15lb braid mainline. Would I stand a chance against any dollies? Sorry I don't know much about them. Thanks a lot, Will

Nice, detailed report, very interesting read. Thanks mate. Can I ask what you were using for burley and bait seeing as you didn't get any livies?

That sounds good then, Would any of you actually replace normal chart plotter with the phone app?

Hi, Just wondering if anybody use's their Ipad or Iphone as a chartplotter using the $27 Navonics+ app? Aside from the cons of waterproofing and possibly not having sufficient charge how does the app compare to the real thing? Thanks a lot, Will

I bought a 4000 stradic fk with 15lb braid with a raider 'soft plastic' 5-8kg. Will test it out soon.

Hi, I'm looking at the patriarch XTR rods by Pflueger but wondering what the cast rating would be for the 1-3kg 6'10" 2 piece model would be? This brings me to another question, what would be a pretty typical jighead weight to be used on the zman 3" shrimpz and 3.5" grubz when targeting flatties in Sydney harbour? Thanks a lot, Will

Alright, ordered a raider soft plastic 742 4-8kg 2 piece for a light spin for kings. Got it on special for $79 (PM me if you want to know where, 1 left) and also got a stradic 4000 with 15lb braid. Decided I'm going to keep my T-curve 15-24kg for some large, self action stick baits and also a general rod. Hopefully this setup is the goods.

I have mainly just heard of people's rods coming apart. I don't really travel with my rods and just fish off my boat so the convenience factor isn't as appealing for me.

OK will go with the 1 piece Raider Soft Plastic or the Raider MF2

Hi, For a rod that is pretty much purely for casting (SP's etc) would you be at a disadvantage from using a 2 piece rod with a centre join (not at the handle)? Looking at picking up a raider but wondering if the 2 piece model is ok? Thanks a lot, Will

Hi, Sorry to ask another question but I'm mainly wondering what weight jigs would most people be using on reefs such as long reefs for kings? I'm tweaking my setup a little and downgrading 60lb braid to something I can have more fun on so I will adjust the braid to the size of the jigs. Any help on the common weights used around the inshore reefs and the weight of braid to go with it would be great. Thanks a lot, Will

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I hope it's a bike

Sorry for posting again but I thought I'd post one last update. I think it might be better to just go with a Raider MF II 5-10kg with 20lb braid and a 3000 reel. This will be much cheaper and if in the end I do need to upgrade after a year or so it won't hurt the bank too much. And then possibly a Daiwa Exceler DX 3000 as a reel? They can be had for around $135

Alright, so I've done more looking around. Now my current choices are based on the idea I should be able to handle most fish in the harbour and the inshore reefs with 3-3.5kg drag, thus with the ratio that drag should be set, 1/3 of rod and line breaking strain, I've been looking at 25lb with a 10-11kg rod. So, Braid: Sunline 25lb Super PE ($50 for 300m) Rod: Samurai Elevate 213cm 15-25lb - http://products.samurairods.com.au/products/product/ELE-25-F70?(posting link as frogleys is the distributor of these and a site sponsor. Let me know if I need to delete it) For the reel I'm liking daiwa but not sure on size. I dont think I will be able to get enough 25lb line on a 3000 but I'm scared that a 4000 will be too big. Thanks a lot, Will

Just having a look around, would 20lb braid mainline be too light for most harbour kings? I'm looking at either a 10kg rod with 20lb line or a 15kg rod with 30lb line. I'm not sure wether the 15kg rod will be small enough though to flick and get action effectively?

Thanks for that^ I'm located in gladesville area however can really travel anywhere.

So I've used the rod 3 time's now and I'm starting to get a little worried that I've gone to big. The rod and reel are balance but it just feels like a bulky setup for throwing plastics and its hard to get short, quick whips into the soft plastic. Do you think I should bite the bullet and lose about 75-100 and downsize to the 10-15kg size? I'm using 40lb braid so would I go down in that as well. Realistically I think the largest fish I would ever attempt to catch on this setup would be a decent size king or jew around the inshore reefs of Sydney or in the harbour itself. Let me know your opinions, Will EDIT: I could also possibly buy my final outfit for soft plastics which could be a 8-10kg rod 20-30lb braid and a reel to fit however I need to then justify keeping my t-curve bluewater. Are the SP's that require no action through the rod and that you can just retrieve with no flicks?