Mackerel/Tuna Spinning Outfit

[mjc85]

Looking to buy a setup that will be useful for spinning slugs for mackerel and tuna, also to be used possibly for some bottom fishing.

Budget $200-300 for rod, reel and line.

Thanks
Mitch

[mjc85]

I was thinking maybe a Shimano Speedmaster TSS4 with 10kg mono, but i'm unsure of what rod. Does anyone know how much a TSS4 is ?

[JB]

I have a shimano xcel weapon 702 i think the model is, great for firing out slugs etc. Seems to suit the tss4 well. Only thing is the rod is graphite and i broke the tip off mine losing some casting distance now. But im sure the rod would be fine if you looked after it more than i did.

Otherwise it will be jsut over your budget but a live fibre in the 8-10kg range would be great. I have 30pd braid on my tss4 but lots of others use 20pd mono just fine.

Jas

[Scott15]

I use a TSS-4 with an 8 ft ugly stick gold, very good for slinging slugs, good whip in it but can still handle some good fish without ease. Good rods for the price aswell. got 10kg line on it

[mjc85]

Is this the rod you are using scott

Info from ugly stick website

Model: USG-BWS80A for Blue Water Spin
Action: Medium
1 Piece
Length 2.40m/8'0"
Line Class 4-8kg
Line Runners: 5 + Tip
RRP: $115.00



So it's fine to use line rated heavier than the rod ? eg. if i got this rod and used 10kg line ? I guess you'd just set drag accordingly ?

[Scott15]

yeah thats it, i havent had any problem running 10kg on it, had it for over 2yrs and absolutely flogged the crap out of it on all sorts of fish!!. There not $115 though, place up the road form me sells em for $90 i think, seen one go at $50 whcih is crazy for such a good rod, where do ya live might be able to help you out on a good price. Shop around for the TSS-4, the prices are all over the place

[Roo]

i saw tss-4 ad in qfm this month around 140 bucks. one ad said for extra 1 or 2 bucks they throw in a silstar powertip rod. I think it was GC fishing tackle. not sure. check out the mag November issue.
cheers, Roo.

[mjc85]

Ah well, just bought from my local store, need it for the weekend. I got the reel for $140 and a Silstar powertip 7foot 8-10kg for $109 and some 25lb mono. And they threw in a few river2sea slugs.

[craigie]

mjc 85,

Sounds like a reasonable outfit you have put together. My only concern is 25lb line will restrict your casting distance a little if using slugs under 40 grams :-/
Won't be a problem if you can get close to the action ;)

Cheers
Craigie.

[mjc85]

Yeh it has the same diameter as standard 20lb mono, what weight line are most ppl using for spinning macks and tuna ? I was thinking of going for braid but its to damn expensive and i will be doing some bottom bashing as well with the setup

[krazyfisher]

I like to use 8kg pretest for tuna and macks good casting I drop less fish on mono than braid when spinning

[craigie]

8 kg mono on a 6 - 10kg, 7 foot rod & 14 lb Fireline on a 4 - 6 kg, 7 foot rod.

The lighter outfit works a treat on slugs 10g - 30g.

[mjc85]

Fair enough, well i just bought some 25 gram and 40 gram Gillies slugs. Just had a quick flick with a 25grammer and was casting approx 40-50m which should be sufficient?

[mjc85]

Ok and when you are fishing with slugs, are you guys using a flurocarbon leader or wire ? I am using one of thoe 30cm premade wire ones that have a swivel on one end and the snap clip on the other. Then on my slugs i put a split rin on the nose and another swivel then connect the snap to that swivel.

[pstar07]

I just bought a TSS4 & Silstar PC 701-SSL 6-8Kg combo for $142 at Anglers warehouse on the gold coast at southport... Cheapest I've ever found and I've looked around alot... Or you can buy just the reel for $140...

[Hookem_Herby]

Most guys don't like wire and just use flurocarbon leaders .... but you will lose the odd lure to the toothy critters!!! :'(
Personally, I don't like too many (any actually) swivels when spinning for pelagics .... the swivels quite often give off bubbles when you hook up, resulting in other fish biting into the bubble stream and biting you off (macks!!!).
Also, tuna are fussy on the size of slug used sometimes and I've actually found that a swivel can make all the difference at times. ie with swivel no hits, without swivel hook up after hook up. :o
Trial and error the way to go ... but I'd just join the leader to the main line (braid in my case).

Good luck,
Herby

[pstar07]

The shop is actually called GOLD COAST FISHING TACKLE
15 Nind St Southport 4215 (07) 5531 0755... I had my stores mixed up... Sorry...

Eddie

[mackmauler]

Mitch, id recommend no wire and no split ring on the nose of them, a loop knot is probably the best connection and with 10-12kg mainline no trace will ne required, very simple indeed.

[DaneCross]

Jeffo once said on here, "If you're spinning fast enough you won't get bitten off." I believe him - spin hard! :D

[mjc85]

Mitch, id recommend no wire and no split ring on the nose of them, a loop knot is probably the best connection and with 10-12kg mainline no trace will ne required, very simple indeed.


So do you use a swivel anywhere in there ?