Need Swains reef fishing trip advice.

[SlimeyGecko]

Hi guys, first time posting on your forum I'll cut straight to it.... I'm heading to the swains reef for 7 days on the 26 of june, (this month). Will be leavin from Gladstone on the Iron Joy Charters. Really need some advice on the gear I've gone and bought, mainly my rods and reels.... I plan on taking a Shimano TLD25 matched with Shimano Triton Bluewater 15-24kg roller tip rod. Want to use it for mainly trolling, what should I spool it up with!? Next: Fin-Nor Marquesa MA30II matched with Samaki offshore pro PE 3-6, jig 150-300grams spooled with 50lb depth hunter braid. Next: Shimano baitrunner 8000 matched with Bluewater signature 10-15kg spooled with 50lb mono. Last: Shimano Elf 4000 matched with Barra Raider II spooled 25lb braid. Any thoughts and advice would be much appreciated thanks in advance.

[CATchin'Em]

All that gear sounds good. I actually found a 12ft 8-10kg graphite rod the go as could an unweighted pilly round the shallows more easily for trout 30lb braid. I used alley but could use spin. Best advice I can give is fish at night. Out the back of the back with flood lights on cast out to edge of light towards the reef.

[Inlike]

I'm withCatchin 6 inch alvey braid for trout etc cast then get ready ...Keep rod up and crank....Also take squid jig for night you will be surprised........4/0 no weight half pillee..

[Inlike]

That's for trout not squid

[Smithy]

You'll use your Baitrunner the most if it has dories and you are dory fishing the edges. Flicking unweighed or lightly weighted pillies will work the best. I'd spool the TLD with 30-40-50lb mono line for trolling. You'll probably use the Marquessa on the mother boat in the deep water or Capricorn Channel etc. off the big boat.

[Rip it up]

I've done the iron joy trip in 2012. Great boat.

I took a okuma overhead. Tld25 size on a 7ft live fibre. 50lb fins braid. Used it 100% of the time. But I only went to reef edges in the dory. Chasing red throats and trout.

Fish off the back during the night a few times for shits a giggles. But not many keeper fish were caught this way.

If I went again. It would be 8000/10000 spin reels on matching 10-20kg 7ft rods. No more overheard for me.

Need to float baits down with light weights. Not feed line out of a overhead.

Take shit load of 6 & 8 ball sinkers for running rigs.
50 & 80lb leader.
7/0 & 8/0 hooks.

There is a good write up on here for catching trout and lipper. Worth the read.

If you really want to ruin a few days then casting poppers at the GT's can be done.




Damo's dodgy boat building repair centre.

[SlimeyGecko]

Hey guys, sorry for the late reply. Just figured out how to reply haha. Well it looks like I'll be out buying a bit more tackle I think. Any idea on how many trolling lures I should take also? Was thinking 3 or 4. And 2 squid jiggs? Will I be able to fit enough 50lb mono on a tld25 to troll for tuna and mackies? Or will the fin nor work ok with 20m of wind on mono? Cheers

[SlimeyGecko]

Thanks Smithy. Will definitely be using my baitrunner a lot more now. Been told the same by a few people. Just wondering if 50lb braid on it is overkill as its only a 8-15kg rod?

[Just_chips]

100pd handline, 8/0 circle straight to main line and size 1 sinker in the shallows for trout from the dories.

[SlimeyGecko]

100pd handline, 8/0 circle straight to main line and size 1 sinker in the shallows for trout from the dories.

Will pick one up at the same time. Cheers mate. Would you put a 100lb leader on the end as well?

[Just_chips]

Keep it simple mate, tie your hook straight to mainline (mono). Wear gloves or finger guards. Easily the most fun you will have fishing up there, much more entertaining than using rods and reels when it all comes together. Keep the weight as light as possible, only use sinkers if the bait is being swept away from the bommie you want to fish, you should be able to see the trout come out from under the bommies to take your bait, then it's time to hang on.

[Just_chips]

Should also say that I believe this is how the pro-trout guys still fish for the live trout trade so this technique must have something good going for it....

[Sheik]

Slimey, extremely poor form to make your first post asking for advice on the trip that most of us only dream about! Lucky you. If you're going with a baitrunner, the shimanos are a very good reel. I have a 12000 and a 4000 and caught some big fish on them. Have fun mate.

[SlimeyGecko]

Slimey, extremely poor form to make your first post asking for advice on the trip that most of us only dream about! Lucky you. If you're going with a baitrunner, the shimanos are a very good reel. I have a 12000 and a 4000 and caught some big fish on them. Have fun mate.

Haha sorry bud! We have one spot left if your keen [emoji14] I don't remember what a dream is! Haven't slept for the last week lol. Just been staring at the ceiling counting down the seconds! Thanks mate

[SlimeyGecko]

Should also say that I believe this is how the pro-trout guys still fish for the live trout trade so this technique must have something good going for it....

Will definitely give it a go. I've got a pretty good idea, I've been fishing pretty much my whole life. But have never had the opportunity to go this far out to the reef! Man am I excited. Thanks heaps for. All your advice Chips