COMBOS FOR SALT WATER/WRFC OUTINGS

Z MAN SOFTIES 

When fishing locations such as estuaries and other relatively slower running saltwater fisheries my most common goto combo is my Shimano Autoglass 6.5 feet long fiberglass rod with 20lb power pro yellow braid connected to1.0 meters of  9.5lb Grand Max fluorocarbon leader with an Albright knot. At the business end I connect my choice of softy using a uni knot. As the length of the leader diminishes below 1/2 a meter I cut the remaining leader off and replace it with a 1.o long new leader.

BREAM

A very common fish in our Qld fisheries even though there is a domination of bream under the legal size. My experience suggests that if you fish with hooks and bait on the larger size there is a better chance of catching bigger bream. The combo I use for bream is on the lighter side but at the business end I do like 3/0 size hooks and baits.

My bream combo is my Jervis Walker – 6’6″ rod that i have had for a long time and is comfortable with a similar backing and leader to my softy outfit above. i.e. 10lb power pro grey braid connected to rod length of 9.5lb Grand Max fluorocarbon leader with an Albright knot. At the business end my choice is 3/0 or even 4/0 red suicide hooks and my choice of bait is is mullet or chicken.

STEPS FOR 2 HOOK PATERNOSTER. 

I tie my bream and whiting 2 hook paternoster leaders from the business end first – you’ll need

  1. Tie a size #1 fastach clip to the tag end of the spool of leader fluorocarbon.
  2. Tie in a hand spans (22cm in my case)+ 4cm of fluorocarbon above that tie in as a dropper. The lower hook will be tied ont0 the end closest to the fastach clip.
  3. Tie in a second dropper above the first dropper imitating the first.
  4. Above the second dropper tie in 1 hand spans + 4cm of fluorocarbon above that tie. The top end of that is tied into the swivel attached to the end of the backing.

The Fastach weight is a round “hollow” lead weight in a range of sizes with a passage. Through that passage I have added a length of doubled over 50lb fluorocarbon with a loop at one end of the passage and a couple of loose ends at the other end. The fluorocarbon is locked in with multi grips leaving a loop at one end that can attach to the fastach clip  and the loose ends are melted away with a gas cake burner.

By using a different interchangeable Fastach Weights I have easily interchangeable  control over at what weight the baits will be presented.

WHITING

Nothing like as prolific as bream but still a great target species particularly on sand bars and and other sandy areas.

Something similar to my Shimano Ian Miller – 6’6″ rod which set up with 15lb power pro yellow braid with a small swivel at the business  will do the job. I can remember buying this rod probably 40 years ago at the Sydney Boat Show. It’s set up with a Samurai 2.5kg spin reel with 10-20 lb Suffix 832 braid backing and a small swivel at the business end.

My rig tied from the business end consists of 1 .0 meters of 10lb fluorocarbon leader connected to the swivel. Then 10cm below the bottom end of the swivel a 25 cm dropper with a Shinto 4 Shinto red long Shank hook at the business end and then a a 20cm gap and second dropper of the same dimensions and hook. Then 25 cm below that second hook when fully extended a #1 Mustard fastach clip t

 

Best hooks for whiting are sizes 4/0 Shinto RED and the best bait is sand worms.

 

VIBES & OTHER DEEP WATER BAITS

The first Bait Caster (AKA Overhead) combo I purchases was a Shimano 6? 6? Compre with a Curado CD overhead reel which I set up with 30lb Suffix 832 lime green braid backing connected to a rod length of 20lb fluorocarbon leader with an Albright knot. I particular like fishing with bait casters when fishing vibes or other artificial baits in relatively deep water where baits can be dropped down to target fish and then can be lifted under control and re-dropped repeating the process. I also like using bait casters when targeting flathead in relatively shallow coastal waters.

 

 

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