Tackle Junkie

Hi Guys, It's been a while between posts - have been really flat out working (which fortunately involves travelling). I had not had a day off in a while so in Darwin a couple of weeks ago i took some time out for myself. I have to say that this was some of the best fishing that I have had - I planned for the trip and brought my own gear which made it all the more fun. I really had fun on this trip as I decided to go bait free and try out some of the things that I waste all my money on. First drop - drop day one 30 seconds into the start of fishing (snip!!) - lost a shimano jig to mackeral - oh well $25 gone but at least the lure got hit. I have never really used soft plastics and persisted with them - I am so glad I did!! I tied on a plastic and cast out into a dead flat ocean 120miles offshore from Darwin - it felt fishy so I thought what the hell. 30 seconds later I thought that i snagged the bottom.....?......no cant be the lure is not deep enough....?....a few more tugs and then all hell broke loose - he realised he was hooked - 50minutes later I was satified - shaking but satisfied!!! I will let the pictures speak for themselves - lets just say that i won't be rushing to use big heavy gear and big lumps of bait in the future. All the fish were caught on soft plastics .... I am now converted. I brought three rods to the trip. and I ended up fishing the lightest rod all trip - the very first fish I caught within the first two drops was a cracker - i figured that if i can catch that why go heavier. I was using a shimano saragosa 5000 on a 5kg Shimano tournament 7' foot rod + 20lb Braid. The fishing was from Darwin down towards the Peron Islands and i won't forget it in a hurry as conditions were better than perfect all trip (even if it was a bit hot). These are some of the highlights!!

I have 2 monster mesh rods (an overhead + Spinning) these new reels will go on perfectly. """""Now....With black rods and black and blue reels do you spoil that with yellow braid or put blue on just to complete the look of the whole outfit?""""".............. Being serious though i would really like to know what they are like ... i will visit a tackle store soon. Cheers Josh

Thanks Guys, This is Great............. Now I am going to own a new lever drag Saltist overhead as well as a Saltist Spinning reel. Jeez I am lucky my still believes all lures are $8; all reels are $50; and all rods are $40. I wonder how long this state of bliss will last before I get found out!! Cheers, Josh

Hi Guys, I was looking on Daiwas website the other night and came across some new spinning reels. I have been looking for a new jigging reel and the new saltist spinning reel comes in a 6500 size with 30kg of drag. I would be interested to see if anyone has seen one "in the flesh" or actually used one. I am actually not even sure if they have hit the stores yet. Cheers, Josh

Good on you mate well done

Good on you mate!!. Great report - welcome to the Kingy club - now you will spend many days and nights researching, planning, hoping & learning how to catch the next one. Enjoy & Cheers, Josh

Thanks for all the help guys, I ended up going out and having some awesome fun. Got to the FAD early Friday and had it to ourselves for a while at least. I ended up catching my first ever dolphinfish (we caught 4) they were all undersize and went back but great fun all the same. We also caught 6 striped tuna and I am positive that we would have caught more had we stayed. It was great day - easy enough to get too and caught my first ever dollie and tuna. All were caught tolling and the biggest tuna went 5kg. Great fun on light gear. Bring on the next day off!! Cheers, Josh

Thanks for your help guys, It is really appreciated. It may be wise to head elsewhere. I have never caught a Dolphinfish and damn I want to add it to the list. Cheers, Josh

Hi Guys, Have just had a huge month at work and have not been out for a while. I am hoping to head out early tomorrow. Does any one know if the FAD off Sydney is in place? Conditions look good and my boat is not that big i don't want to venture out if its not there. If anyone has any idea if its holding Fish it would be appreciated. These are the details taken straight off the DPI website. Sydney Harbour 33° 47.021' 151° 22.700' Port Jackson – 8.5 kms from shore / 50m water Thanks, Josh

In my opinion they are one of the best bait casters around. It is a bonus that they are not too expensive. I have 4 of them two revo sx, one stx and one revo inshore. The revo inshore is actually in my pic and is one of my favourites for king fishing. I fish 20lb on this one (its a bit bigger) on a 10-17lb rod. Its light the revos have 20+lb drag for under $300 dollars. The revos have caught lots and lots of kings go buy one and enjoy. Cheers Josh

Hi Mate, I go away every year with a prerequisite of nice place to relax for both of us and great fishing for me when is relaxing or getting a massage etc. I am extremely lucky as my partner is very happy to let me off fishing for a while so she can shop / read relax etc. I would very highly recommend staying at Palm Cove. It is just north of Cairns - very easy to get too, beautiful and not over done and your wife will love it. For you there is a huge jetty off the beach - sharks, barra and spaniards etc can be found regularly just depends on what time of year. You can get transfers to heaps of charters that leave in from cairns and heaps that leave from Port Douglas. Palm Cove is half way between Cairns and Port Douglas. Look at Peppers Palm Cove as a guide this is where I always stay but there are several fantastic locations. I always look forward to going up there for an estuary fish from cairns, a deep sea bottom bash off port douglas and a relaxing fish off the jetty at night. It is important to go somewhere that you both enjoy (especially on a honeynmoon). Cheers Josh

I also think it looks like a bronze whaler. Bull sharks are much more stocky / fatter looking in the middle. Cheers Josh

Hi Mate, $250 for a budget hey!! I would suggest that a good no fuss overhead combo will keep you going for a while. I am assuming you are fishing from a boat if you are setting up a bait tank. Look at a shimano charter special. These are a lever drag with level wind for no fuss. Can be picked up for under $150 new. Match it with a 20lb 7" rod for the $80 - $100 dollar mark. There are heaps of cheaper brands that should be tough enough - i don't know them too well but i think pioneer rods or a silstar power tip may do. I would get the reel right as a rod can be upgraded later if neccessary. Now you have an overhead combo that will handle kings, the lever drag will ensure you don't break anything (just set it properly). The beauty with the overhead is you can troll all day with it as well or bottom fish - look for a rod with a gimble fitting at the butt if you plan to troll a bit (it helps). 30lb mono with some 30 pound braid on top - 50lb leader and your away. This can be set up for $250. I am sure there are 1000's of combinations available but this will last and will fit budget. Cheers,

Well done mate!!! Great Fish - One day i will get one that big - I HOPE!! Cheers, Josh

Hi Slinky, Being a confirmed Tacklejunkie as are you I have a couple. We caught a Kingfish in middle harbour on one by leaving it in the rod holder and letting the boat movement do the rest. For the record it was the second time we have ever used one and it caught a fish so in my books that's a great result especially seeing i had no real hopes inside the harbour. I am going to head outside and have a play with them - but i think they are a great invention to simply let down and see what happens whilst you are actively jigging, casting something else. The skirts are so soft and the action seems to be best when left alone in a rod holder - the slow up and down works better then a jig retrieve. Therefore they are a great device as a bonus rod in my books. Let us know how you go Cheers Josh

Awesome fish!!! Congratulations to all concerned

Done !!!!!

Hi Ted, Fan &^*%KING tastic Mate Well Done!!!!!!! I only lost my Kingy Virginity last Year - and it must be true what they say. Once you start you won't look back - All fish similar in length seem so weak by comparison. Just wait till you get a legal one and enjoy the fresh fillets with some lemon juice and a beer!! Keep us up to date on future catches. Cheers, Josh

Well Done Mate!! I have never caught a flathead anywhere near that size!! Cheers, Josh

Hi Guys, Myself and took a week off work and headed north last week, we got home last night. We were greated by perfect weather for the whole 9 days that we were away. We were staying at Palm Cove just north of Cairns. I am lucky that my partner loves to enjoy some sunshine by the pool and she lets me get away for a fish when on holidays (I just can't spend all day relaxing by a pool - i go insane). I went fishing on several occasions:- I fished in Cairns inlet for Barra, Jack, trevally etc and caught only small fish and other undesirables (Still a great day out and the phone was off and I was out of the office). I then stumbled onto a great charter off Port Douglas - these guys get into some serious fish and I was rewarded with some great fish. I caught several species that I had not caught before and the best part was I brought my own gear, which made everything so much more enjoyable. All of these fish were caught on a 10kg 7 foot saltist rod and shimano Calcutta 700b with 30lb braid and 60lb Jinkai Leader. The guys said I was fishing too light for the reef. I definately got smoked heaps of times, but that is half the fun (it feels great to be hanging onto something that you have simply no chance of stopping). I went out for two full days and I spend the money but enjoyed every bit of it. Unfortunately I did not get a photo of the coral trout fresh as it was a bit blowy and I did not want to risk destroying my partners new camera with salt spray so this photo was taken after a day on ice, it gives a rough idea. I caught heaps of fish and kept a Coral Trout (estimated 3-4 kg), a long nosed emporer (2 kgs ish) and a Cobia (at least 6 + Kgs) for the table. We had ample fish for some great meals. Its funny that you can go out and spend $40 to buy a fish dinner at the restaurant but its not as good as what we had at home. I hope this shows a little of what Far North Queensland has to offer - I will definately be back with some mates and maybe some heavier gear. Cheers Josh

That's an awesome specimen - especially solo. Well done, Cheers Josh,

Well done Boys, I reckon that I was sitting right next to you and got to watch the whole show. It was a great fish and a great fight. Congratulations. We were the two guys in the white boat that had a chat after you had it nailed. Cheers, Josh & FishyPete

An absolute Cracker!!!!!!! Congratulations - Well Done. Cheers, Josh

Hi Jason, You are spot on - I honestly did not know alot about Northbank before i purchased the boat. Many things were taken into consideration for the purchase and this is the outcome. The boat is built just south of Adelaide. I can't speak long term yet - but I am very pleased with the rig. I took it offshore recently and it performed superbly in sloppy conditions. Cheers Josh

Saturday was just a great day all round. Mission: Run in New boat, Test out New Combo & Catch Kingfish if Lucky. Outcome: Boat Runs superb, Caught 72cm Kingfish on New Calcutta 400 on 7" Graphite Daiwa Rod. Catching a fish was a bonus - i upgraded from a ski style boat to a decent fishing rig, with all the rod holders in the right places, Live tanks, GPS, Radio etc. - Bring on Summer. Cheers, Josh