mackeral set up for the bay

[610]

hey guys just chasing some advice on a good rod and reel set up for chasing mackeral and tuna in moreton bay casting lures. I want a rod with good casting range when chasing schools of fish.
thanks in advance

[Dan5]

Spinning gear is they way to go..........Have a look at the Penn Spinfishers for a budget set up....BCF had em on sale last week for $119 with a crappy rod but you could do an ugly stick/similar upgrade.

Bit more cash you could end up with a Saragosa on T-Curve..............bit more again........Catalina 4500 on something,
better tell us your budget.

Dan

[610]

thanks dan probably looking to spend up to $500 but happy to spend less if i can get a good outfit for less

[tunaticer]

Stradic 4000 on a Berkley dropshot 4-8kg 7' spin. $350ish including braid if you look around.

[timddo]

You need a fast reel. Saltist 6500h and 7'6 rod should do the trick

[Horse]

You can go one of two ways. The first is to put together a reasonably heavy spin outfit. Traditionally this was a TSS4/Penn 850 etc type reel matched to a 7' Spin Stick. Mono in the 15lb-20lb class would be used along with lead slugs around 40gm. LiveFibre 7' and 8' are populat chaices of rods for this sort of work. Today you could replace the TSS4 with a Stradic 8000 or Saltist 4500 (The Saltist 6500 is a beast of a reel:o and I feel is too big for even this heavy end of spinning in the Bay). If you want to chase big Longtails then this sort of outfit works fine
Another option (my preferred one:D) is to look at using a lighter approach such as a Stradic 4000 matched to a 4-6kg rod and 6-8kg braid. This knocks over any Spotty in a few minutes and still lets you use slugs as small as 10gms which can be very effective when they are feeding on small baitfish (match the hatch;)). I use a Starlo Max Spin 7' 4-7kg rod for this work but Shimano have dropped the quality of components on their 2010 onwards models of these rods and you can have some guide corrosion with them:P
In your price bracket I would be looking at a T-Curve Snapper Spin or Saltwater Spin 5-10kg. If you can handle something longer the T-Curve Barra Flats 782 could be worth a look but at nearly 8' it may be a bit long for most boats.
There are also a mile of great imported blanks for this style of fishing and if you look through the rod building forum you can pull out a couple with great potential

[Tangles]

a 7'6" 8-15kg ugly stick with a 6000 Stradic throws a 30gm slug a surprising fair way and you dont have to worry so much about weights either like you do with newer generation graphite rods... just an option

[Dan5]

a 7'6" 8-15kg ugly stick with a 6000 Stradic throws a 30gm slug a surprising fair way and you dont have to worry so much about weights either like you do with newer generation graphite rods... just an option

Have to agree there mate.....you don't need to be carefull using the good old Ugly Stik........Good choice for a Knockabout bluewater set up.....drop em stand on em high stick em.......... whatever they usually pull through without a mark on em!

Dan

[theoldlegend]

I was thinking of using that new Stradic 6000 spooled with 20lb braid with the Berkley Dropshot 7-9kg rod. Got some chrome slugs on Friday; 15, 20 & 25 gms. Do you recommend a short fluoro leader to the slug?

Then I could use the TSS4 with 20lb mono on the Ugly Stik.

Don't know what would be the better option really.


TOL

[610]

can you still get parts for the tss4 as i have one of these thats had litlle use but is missing the drag adjustment on the top, also does anyone know of a good place to get your reels serviced on the western side of brisbane / ipswich area. it might work out better to get this reel back up and running for cheap and spend extra on the rod. thanks for all your helpful replies so far.

[Horse]

can you still get parts for the tss4 as i have one of these thats had litlle use but is missing the drag adjustment on the top, also does anyone know of a good place to get your reels serviced on the western side of brisbane / ipswich area. it might work out better to get this reel back up and running for cheap and spend extra on the rod. thanks for all your helpful replies so far.
Try Charltons Tackle or ring Shimano Aust directly

[Dan5]

can you still get parts for the tss4 as i have one of these thats had litlle use but is missing the drag adjustment on the top, also does anyone know of a good place to get your reels serviced on the western side of brisbane / ipswich area. it might work out better to get this reel back up and running for cheap and spend extra on the rod. thanks for all your helpful replies so far.

Hey mate ..........they were well known for the drag knob falling off...........usually into the piss aswell....LOL,I have Tss4 which has had little use due to this problem......I did'nt wanna lose it so i never really used it!

Dan

[TimD]

Hey mate ..........they were well known for the drag knob falling off...........usually into the piss aswell....LOL,I have Tss4 which has had little use due to this problem......I did'nt wanna lose it so i never really used it!

Dan


Timddo knows all about this problem ;D;D;D


cheers tim :)

[timddo]

Timddo knows all about this problem ;D;D;D


cheers tim :)

Nice one.. I only lost two

[Plasticin]

2500 or 3000 sized spinning reel, stradic or caldia kix and a 6-12lbs/8-17lbs TFO 7ft. Will get in on your budget if you go o/s. Anyone using penn ss and TSS4's these days are living in the dark ages...

[Tangles]

I was thinking of using that new Stradic 6000 spooled with 20lb braid with the Berkley Dropshot 7-9kg rod. Got some chrome slugs on Friday; 15, 20 & 25 gms. Do you recommend a short fluoro leader to the slug?

Then I could use the TSS4 with 20lb mono on the Ugly Stik.

Don't know what would be the better option really.


TOL

TOL, if you want, you can simply use your normal 20lb mono trace with a short 6" 60lb fluro trace to the slug, just join them with a 3 turn surgeons knot like this http://www.animatedknots.com/surgeonsjoin/index.php

you wont lose a lot of casting distance with this and the fluro will be tougher than just the 20lb trace... or dont worry about fluro, if you lose some slugs you will have an excuse to buy some more;D

mike

[mattooty]

TOL, i've got a handful of 3inch single strand wire traces on a bunch of my small chromies. It's nice to have that little bit of insurance, it will still get bitten off if it takes it right down or if a solid barrie grabs it but is great on the spotties.


.........Anyone using penn ss and TSS4's these days are living in the dark ages...

Or just sticking with what works. Guess you're one of those guys where tackle shop owners rub their hands together when you walk in. Just because something new comes out doesn't mean that it's more effective at catching fish (but maybe catching fisherman!)

[Just_chips]

Or just sticking with what works. Guess you're one of those guys where tackle shop owners rub their hands together when you walk in. Just because something new comes out doesn't mean that it's more effective at catching fish (but maybe catching fisherman!)

Hmmm, I don't know Mattooty, gear has come along way since these days, there was a time that this equipment superceded older methods like burleying up and floating pillies on handlines and I'm sure plenty of blokes would have resisted buying these new fandangled TSS4 things for their tried and proven methods also.

If there is one thing that the new generation graphite rods and light spin reels spooled with braided lines have it is that they can double up as a nice plastics outfit also if you're that way inclined, where as the spinfishers, tss4's and ugly sticks get retired for 6-8 months of the year waiting for their one purpose in life to swim back through again.....

Kev

[Plasticin]

TOL, i've got a handful of 3inch single strand wire traces on a bunch of my small chromies. It's nice to have that little bit of insurance, it will still get bitten off if it takes it right down or if a solid barrie grabs it but is great on the spotties.



Or just sticking with what works. Guess you're one of those guys where tackle shop owners rub their hands together when you walk in. Just because something new comes out doesn't mean that it's more effective at catching fish (but maybe catching fisherman!)

Nice mate, you must be the one still driving around in a horse and cart. But each to there own, just trying to help a newbie out. Given that I was the person behind the tackle store counter I'm not sure who would be rubbing their hands together?? Appreciate your constructive comments, that's what makes this such a great forum.

Scott

[Mrs Ronnie H]

Ha Ha guys
Lmao-- all this talk about knobs falling off.
I have a warped sense of humour.

Cheers
Ronnie

[winston]

Just returned from Platypus Bay today chasing Spotted mackeral. My gear of choice is a Daiwa Triforce graphite rod 10-17 lb and a Pflueger Arbor 40 reel spooled with 15lb braid with 20 lb leader and no wire trace. This is a quality outfit for less than $300 and fantastic on spotted mackeral My mate and I landed 9 today and 8 on our previous trip about 10 days ago. Cheers Winson.

[theoldlegend]

Ha Ha guys
Lmao-- all this talk about knobs falling off.
I have a warped sense of humour.

Cheers
Ronnie


Oh Ronnie, puhleez!!!!

I'm shocked!! :o Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine something like that from you!!

I think I'd better have a Valium sandwich! Maybe a Mogodon milkshake as well!


TOL

[mattooty]

Nice mate, you must be the one still driving around in a horse and cart. But each to there own, just trying to help a newbie out. Given that I was the person behind the tackle store counter I'm not sure who would be rubbing their hands together?? Appreciate your constructive comments, that's what makes this such a great forum.

Scott

Just putting it out there that not everything shiny and new is more effective than tried and tested products. TOL is living proof, he ain't shiny nor new but he's good at what he does (sometimes) ;D

[theoldlegend]

Finga's a lot newer than me Matty, and he's a lot shinier too, especially on the top of his head. Wonder how it'd come up with a bit of Turtle Wax and a rub with an orbital polisher.

Now that's something for the next fund raiser for Camp Quality...........

Who can get Finga's head the shiniest? :-?


TOL

[theoldlegend]

Thanks for the post Winston.

How long a leader do you use?

Also, what about a snap swivel at the end of your leader to give quick changes of slugs?

A very eminent fisho who doesn't post much on here any more told me a long time ago to avoid swivels at all costs as the macks will go for the swivels due to the bubbles they make.

So, it looks like I'll be using the Berkley Dropshot 7-9kg with the Stradic 6000 with 20lb braid and 20lb mono.

But I think I'll still take the Ugly Stik with the TSS4 with 20lb mono as well.

Yes, I know, I'm a dinosaur and still live in the dark ages and haven't come down from the trees yet, but it still works well.


TOL

[winston]

Theoldlegend, no snap swivel on approximately a 4' leader. If I need to change lures, I just cut the line a retie with a full blood knot. The berkley dropshot should be excellent but the stradic may be a little heavy, however this will give you more options than chasing mackeral. Dinner tonight was Thai red curry with spotted mackeral washed down with a Wynns Shiraz. Bloody fantastic. Cheers Winston.

[Lucky_Phill]

I'll toss in my favourite.

10ft Ugly and Penn850.

25lb mono ( used to have 30lb braid )

60lb penn 10X leader ( 1mtr )

30 - 40 gram " Lucky_Phill's Mackmauler slugs ".

Reason.:-

I use this gear at Hervey Bay chasing spotties, but in that time some nasty big Longtail turn up and things get wild which require some balls in the rod and reel department.

The 10ft Ugly allows me to cast nearly 100mtrs into the path of the moving fish.

It also allows my to " flick " ( cast ) the slug from down near the water a long way. I do this when there are a couople of people on board and I don't want to swing the rod over crews head etc... just a safety measure.

Only downside is the weight. But, I only sight-fish so I'm not actually pegging slugs all day hoping to connect.

To connect the main line to the leader, I simply tie 2 blood knots. Strong as and doesn't leave a bubble trail.

No swivels, no snaps ... oh and a single hook ( 5/0 VMC 9255PS ) O'shaunessy ( straight )

Further, to avoid bite offs ( in my own experience ) I place the split ring and hook at the FAT end of the slug. This allows the slug to enter the water arse first and also it will not turn in mid air, catching on the leader. Other slugs, like Toby's and Halco's.... flutter when they hit the water and this is where the macks will hit it and you lose the lure.

Year 2005( or was it 2006 ? )anyway.. December. Hervey Bay. 200 captures ( and release ) of Spottie macks for the loss of 5 slugs in total. That year the pro's were losing up to 15 slugs ( Toby's ) a day, each.

At the end of the day you choose the gear you can afford with advice from people with experience and the salesperson providing said combo.

cheers LP

[Spaniard_King]

can you still get parts for the tss4 as i have one of these thats had litlle use but is missing the drag adjustment on the top, also does anyone know of a good place to get your reels serviced on the western side of brisbane / ipswich area. it might work out better to get this reel back up and running for cheap and spend extra on the rod. thanks for all your helpful replies so far.

I Tried finding anyone with a tss4 drag knob last year... no good anywhere and I did try hard.... ended up getting an old 6500 baitrunner knob and modifying it(re tap the nut with correct thread)

[Si]

So what did you decide on your Mackerel set up champ?

I'll throw my two cents in if ok. Its a little expensive and other suggestions would be perfectly fine but if you wanted you could go a Saltiga 4000H reel matched to a Saltiga s-extreme 76 Game, 7'6'' PE2-4. That way you can handle any long tails with ease and still have great fun with the macks.

Cheers