Boat fishing novice... Gear advice please

 G'day all. So I'm a beach fisher and only occasionally get out in a boat and when I do it is a whiting session with my dad and his mates.

I've decided to get out in the boat a bit more and also am likely to take it to dongara in a month or so for a week camping with my own kids.

truth be told I'm flummoxed at what gear I should be buying to target your basic bottom species.

I decided after research here and other to pick up a TLD25 combo like the $199 special at Campbell's online, but when I went in to store the guy tried to steer me to jigging setup.  He was a top bloke and I've no doubt jigging is fun but looking at $450+ for a combo was a tad heavy for me.  the only boat suitable gear I have is a shimano jewel/stradic2500 combo I got from compleat in neddies a few years back for soft placcies off the beach in coral bay (v. Unsuccessful btw). And it makes a nice bream set up etc in the river and skippy off the boat. The heavier spool has 20lb braid.

so questions for you kind people. 

i) basic bottom fishing combo... What would you get... Be specific or just talk type of rod.  O/h or spin? This is where the tld combo was my choice but guy at Campbell's clearly felt clunking a heavy rig over the bottom was a bit Neanderthal

ii) soft plastic bottom setup.  Same as above or different. Would my current set up cope or am I headed for all kinds of trouble if a real fish took an interest.

iii) jigging... This may be 2nd hand... But what is a decent combo. &nbsp;Links to articles ok.</p><p>there are just so many bloody options out there god dammit lol.

lastly, if I wanted to try a bit of trolling I assume the tld combo would do the job no?

thanks in advance... As I say boat fishing novice and not enough $$$ to make a mistake in the purchase.  We are talking quality entry level btw... No $600 reels it ain't going to happen.


Justo82's picture

Posts: 482

Date Joined: 17/10/11

 I've got a tld 20 combo.

Thu, 2013-03-14 21:33

 I've got a tld 20 combo.  And it's sufficient for anything I've come across so far.  If anything I'd go lighter. It's a heavy unit to use all day.  Look at a tld15 as a different option. 

 

Penn also do some great entry level combos.  Head down to Oceanside tackle or similar and ask the guys their opinions. 

Posts: 126

Date Joined: 09/01/13

 Cheers.  

Thu, 2013-03-14 22:14

 Cheers.  

Posts: 126

Date Joined: 09/01/13

 Sorry about that formatting

Thu, 2013-03-14 21:40

 Sorry about that formatting wtf? :)

Bunny's picture

Posts: 678

Date Joined: 05/08/10

 I'm not sure what type and

Thu, 2013-03-14 21:46

 I'm not sure what type and size fish you are targeting or if you are just looking to baitfish primarily so I may be a bit off here. As a starter set up right now I believe the best value spinning reel for general purpose fishing is the Penn Slammer. I just had a few delivered for $85 each which included 300 yards of braid with each reel. Delivery was 18 bucks for 4 reels so it was actually $91 each.

IMO you just can't go past that for value right now for. A general purpose reel that is built very strong with a great drag and handles salt water very well. Chuck one on any number of sub $100 dollar rods such as the old reliable ugly stick and you are away.

the reels are going like this as they are clearing them out due to the new model spin fisher. The 460 or 560 size will handle trolling for Mackerel just fine.

Posts: 126

Date Joined: 09/01/13

 Targeting whatever is out

Thu, 2013-03-14 21:53

 Targeting whatever is out there:). Using bait as opposed to plastics or jigs is probably a good start.  Would the spinfishers do the same.  I'm thinking of getting a 650 as I have a spare spool, use it as my tailor reel off beach so could fill a spool with braid for the bottom bashing?

what kind of weight rod? 10-15kgs? Good all rounder I guess. Jack of all trades.

thanks for the reply, really is much appreciated.

Bunny's picture

Posts: 678

Date Joined: 05/08/10

 The spin fisher will do but

Thu, 2013-03-14 22:02

 The spin fisher will do but I reckon the Slammer is better but you will not go wrong either way. It's a tough call to know what you might hook into so I guess since you may try for a mackerel and with that size reel 30lb braid is probably what you will use. On that deal I mentioned you will get 20lb for a 460 and 30lb for a 560. Not sure if that's a definite each time but its what I got and makes sense. Anyway that would mean a 10 to 15 kilo rod will be fine. Around the 6 and a half feet mark give or take.

Posts: 126

Date Joined: 09/01/13

 Cheers mate you're a champ.

Thu, 2013-03-14 22:09

 Cheers mate you're a champ.

joe amato's picture

Posts: 731

Date Joined: 21/12/08

got a beastmaster brand new overhead rod for sale 15-20kg

Fri, 2013-03-15 06:27

 got a beast master rod for sale 15-20 kg boatrod 60 ono,just add the reel you want,takes braid or mono,contact me if your intrested

Posts: 42

Date Joined: 27/08/11

 I really recomend the Finnor

Fri, 2013-03-15 07:50

 I really recomend the Finnor range, fantastic value for money and there easter specials are awsome

http://issuu.com/jarviswalker/docs/jw_easter_cat_2013_web?mode=window&viewMode=doublePage

Check out page 3 and the Biscayne O/H's and Offshore Spinners. I run

- 5 O/H 25's with 50lb braid

- 2x Offshore 6500 with 60lb braid on Finnor 80lb jig rods

- 1x Offshore 9500 with 80lb braid on Finnor 100lb jig rod

 

at the prices in the catalogue there unbeatable

 

catchalittle's picture

Posts: 1875

Date Joined: 04/09/08

For a basic bottom bouncing

Fri, 2013-03-15 08:18

For a basic bottom bouncing outfit go for a monster mesh rodabout$190 and a daiwa saltist 6500 that will stop most things and wont break the bank or put a spheros 10,000 on the same rod other than that there are a couple of second hand saltiga 4500 reels in the for sale section at the moment they are bullet prrof and will definately stop most thing load up any of the above mentioned reels with quality 40lb braid and your set to catch some decent bottom species

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Nathan

Bodie's picture

Posts: 3758

Date Joined: 05/11/07

another option might be to

Fri, 2013-03-15 08:45

another option might be to pick up somethnig 2nd hand? Plelnty of gear sold in the sale Section of this forum.

 

Plenty of fellas on here always upgrading their gear, so im sure someone will have something your looking for

Posts: 126

Date Joined: 09/01/13

I have my eagle eye out don;t

Fri, 2013-03-15 09:13

I have my eagle eye out don;t you worry.  To be honest people seem to be offloading top end gear for more than I can afford, or lower end gear for not much discount on what I could pay new, and gear that I have no idea what it is worth or what it can do:)

I did find a good article on another fishing website, whose forum is now defunct, that gave some good pointers too.

I may put a WTB ad on the trading section here and see what pops up.

But just as an example... the beastmaster on offer earlier in this thread (and I do appreciate the offer) I can pay $199 online in a TLD 25 combo.  I think that is value over a used rod or combo, the question is - isa TLD 25 too big, or do I grab it as an all rounder and finess to lighter gear as I get a bit more of a clue:)

Geoff78's picture

Posts: 324

Date Joined: 05/03/13

No regrets

Fri, 2013-03-15 09:20

I don't think you'll be making a mistake in buying the TLD combo. They are a bit clunky and not overly powerful to crank, but you'll always have a use for it e.g. trolling, visitor's bottom bashing outfit, back up outfit etc.

 

 

Posts: 126

Date Joined: 09/01/13

 In the end I picked up a

Thu, 2013-03-21 23:15

 In the end I picked up a Penn Spinfisher reel and Penn Rod combo for $120 at BFC.  Cheap and cheerful.  If I get the boat bug I'll finesse to some fancier gear.  Cheers for the advice all.

The TLD 25 and Rod combo was $199, and I was tempted, but fark me what a huge reel.  The fancier shimano (torsa or torium 30?) was on a good combo deal too but screw me if that's not even bigger.

carnarvonite's picture

Posts: 8673

Date Joined: 24/07/07

Charter Specials

Fri, 2013-03-22 08:04

Have a look at the Shimano Charter Special reels, smaller than the Tlds and with some practice you can use them on the beach as well.

mild_to_wild's picture

Posts: 59

Date Joined: 03/05/10

Good old TLD cant go wrong

Fri, 2013-03-22 09:05

I've had my old Tld for over 15 years and I still go back to it over my other expensive reels haha

Excellent,strong,cheap and more then enough for most bottom bouncing.

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scubafish's picture

Posts: 962

Date Joined: 15/08/12

TLD 25

Fri, 2013-03-22 12:06

Had a TLD 25 for years,took it to the Abrolas Islands for 2 weeks and never used anything else ,troling bottom bouncing never fail.Pulled in large spanish mack's no problem best value for money,smooth drag easy to clean.Its the old saying "KISS".

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http://img.gg/BQ91Sys

fishcrazy's picture

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Date Joined: 27/01/07

charter special

Fri, 2013-03-22 12:40

Saw bcf had charter specials 4 80 bucks yesterday

Bunny's picture

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Date Joined: 05/08/10

 Wow that's great value!

Fri, 2013-03-22 17:32

 Wow that's great value!

Posts: 126

Date Joined: 09/01/13

 I saw an Abu Garcia GT20L

Fri, 2013-03-22 21:07

 I saw an Abu Garcia GT20L combo for $80.  There's no $80 shimano combo in the catalogue though?  Whats the GT20L

Posts: 126

Date Joined: 09/01/13

 Update.  I've now also

Fri, 2013-04-05 07:55

 Update.  I've now also picked up a TLD 25 and a backbone elite roller tip 24kg rod - good value 2nd hand (I thought).  So I figure I've got all the bottom bashing and trolling basics covered.

 

Next step - my forte - not catching any fish!