Blackfish Reels And Setups Options

[jasonb]

hi guys ,,,what sort of reels do you guys use for black fish ?and will youse share some setups with me

[Jumpus GooDarus]

and will youse share some setups with me

No

[jasonb]

yeah i was waiting for that ,,why do you have too use centrepins ?why cant ya use other reels ?

[Christos]

These are powerful fish and they head for cover. They start out in cover grab your offening and head back.

[Jumpus GooDarus]

yeah i was waiting for that ,,why do you have too use centrepins ?why cant ya use other reels ?

Actually I did use a thread line reel back in the days when I fished for blackfish

Never liked the alveys or centre pin reels

These are powerful fish and they head for cover. They start out in cover grab your offening and head back.

I dont think they are that powerfull

I fished for them religiously @ one stage many moons ago off the rocks in the wash's & I like most other fishermen would be using arould a 4 lb trace tied to their mainline which was arould 10 lb breaking strain.

So type of reel is irrellevant & a personal choice.

Like I said dont think blackfish are a powerfull fish but you do have to contend with swells peeing the line of the spool , but you also use those same swells to wash your fish up.

A long rod around the 10 ft mark is a must though.

Christos !

Rock Blackfish / pigs / drummer well they're a different story

[kkw]

These are powerful fish and they head for cover. They start out in cover grab your offening and head back.

You are no doubt referring to Rock Blackfish, or Black Drummer. The 'Blackfish' or Luderick is a schooling fish and it is mostly free swimming. Have seen thousands whilst scuba diving, spearfishing and snorkeling over the years.

I use an Avon Royale centrepin, Jason. Only because that's what I learnt on, and I enjoy the direct feel of controlling any runs, with hand pressure on the reel. Lots of fishos use threadlines off the rocks, with small bobby corks and floats. They can cast further. I use long stem floats and weight the leader with sheet lead strips to get the correct balance for the float. To me, it just seems 'wrong' to use threadlines I was going out for a fish on the breakwall at Nelson Bay one time, and only had some SP's and a 7ft spin rod. There were a bunch of traditional, crusty old nigger fishos trying the drift for blackfish. Asked how they were faring and the answer was 'one or two downs, but they are not on today.' Told them I may have a go, to which they said, 'you won't get anything on that gear mate.' I went to the other side of the breakwall and rigged up with a small bubble float, 8lb vanish leader and a 'Newcastle rig' (paternoster rig) just for fun. Climbed down and got some cabbage weed off the rocks and got my first down within a minute. I got my daughters to walk across the path and ask if I could borrow a landing net. They came back without one, and said that the old guys said, 'What!! he has one on that gear??. No he can't borrow a net.'
Guess they were offended that I wasn't using 'traditional' gear. I then proceeded to land three more in quick succession, plus a double hookup with a blackfish on one hook and a bream on the other. Thought I had the mother of all niggers on with that hookup. Never used the paternoster rig again, and was only trying it for a laugh.

So, to answer your question, Jase, I use a 12'6" Sportco 602 blackfish rod and an Avon centrepin reel. Currently has 10lb braid on it and I use the 8lb vanish for the leader. Braid is an experiment, and it is working just great. No need to grease it, as it floats on the water, and it gives a more direct contact to the float.

[jasonb]

i bought a 12ft rod years ago to get into it but never bought a reel ,,thats why i wondered if there was any specific reason why people use centre pins to threadlines ,or more tradition ,,,,,