What price range you looking at there Dan

I have a problem I'm a tackle junkie
Andrew

Look to pay quite a bit for a decent GT rod.

Off the shelf Saltiga GT86 (80lb) is a good rod for around $600

You can talk to bluewater about a custom Calstar for around $500

All the good Jap rods like carpenter, smith, fisherman etc are around $1k...

Anything less is not really up to it when it comes to big GT's.

-----------------
Jay Burgess
jayburgess_14@hotmail.com

Goodness me, you might be opening a can of worms. As with all gear, it depends on what you intend to do...

Landbased shorebased? Stickbaits, bloopers, pencils? Large GTs, average GTs, long cast, short cast? Waters that need big brakes, or that can let em run abit?

Haha, I'm just kidding, no need to be so specific at the start ;)
What I am trying to say is, I bet at least 10 good rod names can come up. But how many of them are suitable for you? Being a little more specific helps.

Good luck.

A good GT rod can be different to everyone and sometimes it may not be the most expensive. I suggest start with what you can afford and how heavy you plan on running and what reel will you be using. Im on my third GT rod now and still havent found what I wanted, even if its custom built.

Good start would be the Shimano T-Curve 7'6" bluewater range. Rated to 24kg and under $300 represent good value. Ugly Stik bluewater graphite do one similar. Daiwa Saltist do a couple of 8ft brute sticks rated to 27kg or 60lb, also good rods to handle the big bloopers.

In the top end there's Saltiga rods like Mura Mura, Dorado TN80, GT80 and GT86. Seed has blanks specifically built for GTs, then there's Calstars and GUSA. The other top Jap name is Smith which do make very nice rods. Others top Jap names are not available here and are not easy to get hold of. Their prices might put you off abit as well.

Best to figure out how heavy you would run and where you fish mainly and lastly what size poppers do you want to mainly cast?? Unfortunately you cant really skimp out on GT fishing as the fishing is very taxing on gear and you need everything to stop them big ones.

**Oceanside = Strudwick,Daiwa,Van Staal,Jigmaster Rods, Shimano,Penn etc... **

Oceanside Tackle and Marine
364 South Street,
O'Connor, Perth WA
Ph# 9337 5682
Fishing/Boating/Dive/Marine
** OPEN 7 DAYS **

Welcome back Honsu, feel like enlightening us about your trip. I hear through word around town that you had a good session on the G's at the navy pier, even though Mr American security gaurd had a few things to say??? :))))

oh no, not another exmouth gt report.... =(
don't know if you still remember my anguish adam

haha, just jokes. soon my friends soon...

I know Bouttime bought one of the heavier Silstar crystal blue's for casting poppers for gt's when he went to exy last time possibly ask him about it
Its horses for courses depends how often you are going to use it and how much you want to spend I have a saltiga rod for poppers but also use one of the ugly stiks as well from one price range to another

I have a problem I'm a tackle junkie
Andrew

cheers for all the info guys now i know wat to look for.

ye dan im lookig at getting one for me stella aswell.

Hey andy how are ya bud where you been hiding out,hows queensland treating ya mate been getting into the barra.

hey mate, yeh doing good over here. would be better if i was heading up to coral bay aswell. cant have everything. Barra fishing has gone quiet think the water is starting to get a bit cold. the mackies are starting to run so that should be some good inshore fun. weathers gunna be good this weekend so hopefully head out to the reef, ill let you know how we go. Yous boys have a good time in coral bay..