Land Based in Cairns: General Newbie + Rod & Reel Advice

[Bennno]

As some of you know I'm new to soft plastics and loving it. I just bought a reely (get it) cheap rod and reel 2500 and 6ft light tip estuary rod. I'm moving to Cairns in Dec/Jan and I'm in two minds as to what outfit to get. My current set up would snap quite easily as I have already nearly found out with big flattys and as yet unknown monsters.

I will be landbased and try and get out on the reef as much as I can (somehow). So I'm thinking there are two ways to go and was wondering what others think (especially guys up North).

a. Get a small reel and rod and cheap one for big stuff
b. Medium size that caters to shallow reef and SP flicking
c. Big mumma and just keep the cheap outfit for estuary light plastics
d. Wait until I can afford tinny and get two good setups

I guess the main question is a quality 2500 too small for the reef in close. Or should I really be thinking about two outfits? A reel with two spools say 2500 and 3000 size and two rods an option?

Are there land based options around Cairns or are crocs a hazard? I will have access to a good kayak too :D

[Funchy]

As some of you know I'm new to soft plastics and loving it. I just bought a reely (get it) cheap rod and reel 2500 and 6ft light tip estuary rod. I'm moving to Cairns in Dec/Jan and I'm in two minds as to what outfit to get. My current set up would snap quite easily as I have already nearly found out with big flattys and as yet unknown monsters.

I will be landbased and try and get out on the reef as much as I can (somehow). So I'm thinking there are two ways to go and was wondering what others think (especially guys up North).

a. Get a small reel and rod and cheap one for big stuff
b. Medium size that caters to shallow reef and SP flicking
c. Big mumma and just keep the cheap outfit for estuary light plastics
d. Wait until I can afford tinny and get two good setups

I guess the main question is a quality 2500 too small for the reef in close. Or should I really be thinking about two outfits? A reel with two spools say 2500 and 3000 size and two rods an option?

Are there land based options around Cairns or are crocs a hazard? I will have access to a good kayak too :D

my 2cents worth............ go with C

[scuttlebutt]

A 2500 size reel is way too small for anything on the reef. Don't waste your time.

I'd suggest option D. Then to start with get a baitcaster that will hold 30lb braid (Chronarch/Curado) and an overhead for 50lb braid (TLD 20/Tyrnos 20). Rods to personal taste of course.

Next will be an eggbeater with 30lb braid and 7 or 8ft rod for casting at tuna.

Your 2500 will come in handy for flicking little poppers at Sooties/JP's and also Jacks and Barra if you don't mind getting busted off a bit.

Oh and as for landbased:

Plenty of spots for Sooties and JP's.

Estuary not so much, though there are a few.

[Moffy]

So many options - so little time (and $$$)...Kayak, landbased, inshore, reef - very hard to cover all those options with two outfits...

My thoughts are you might need to narrow down what you want to achieve with the outfits you are chasing (or more correctly prioritise). How often do you see yourself getting out the reef and what will you target on rod and reel out there (using rod and reel to bottom fish or only for trolling etc for pelagics is the first decision here - ideally you'd have two different outfits for this - but a tld20 with 50lb braid and suitable rod could do both jobs - though the 50lb braid would be undergunned for bottom fishing some of the time. (i personally still prefer mono for trolling and floaters - but braid is a must for the bottom (unless you are old schooling it handline style!!)

If you are a lure caster - you will want a bait caster such as Scuttlebutt has recommended - but this will depend on access to a boat - personally i wouldn't bother with a baitcaster unless you had the tinny. (be buggered if i went up the creeks in a kayak - though you could have a ball at tinaroo)

A 4000 size reel (shimano 4000 which is slightly smaller than the daiwa 4000 equivalent) is a fair compromise for a lot of things - particularly if you get 2 spools with it. I have a shimano symetre 4000 with 20lb braid that i use for both tuna out the front and estuary fishing/soft plastics. I have a spare spool that i'm going to put (much) lighter braid on for sooties etc. The trick here is the rod - as a relatively small reel the symetre 400 will double for both these uses - but if you go one rod it will either be undergunned on the tuna/estuary or overgunned on the sooties - i've gone for the undergunned rod - which makes it all the more fun when i still pull my tuna in twice as quick as Daintree boy with his heavier outfits (tighten your drag DB;D........) You've got the ideal setup by the sounds for the sooties/jps - so i'd go the heavier rod (or even step up to a 4500 reel and rod with 30lb braid and you're laughing for all but the reef (mind you i use a 4500 with 30lb for some of my red fishing with no issues) - and this would provide a decent soft plastic rod for most applications as well (the GTs on the wrecks will smash you up but!!)

I'd probably wait and see what you make of up here and what you decide you will concentrate on fishing wise - that way you can get the best outfits for your budget.

Moffy.