QUOTE (Christos @ Mar 11 2008, 08:47 PM)
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.