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Advice – A beginner's land-based setup.

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote McSwin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Advice – A beginner's land-based setup.
    Posted: 29 Aug 2020 at 6:07pm
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Hi guys,

Firstly, I've learned heaps from this website already, so thanks very much.


I'm a total beginner just getting into fishing & I want to get some gear for the spring/summer for rock fishing & surfcasting around Auckland/Coro.


My friends recently bought me a Shimano 12-foot aqua tip surfcasting rod for my 30th, and a Shimano Beastmaster 10000. 


Will it be alright on the rocks?


Also, after doing some research, here's the gear I think I'll need, but I want to know what's important and what's not - because it'll all add up. 

Here's what I think I need: 


Backpack/gear-bag.

Bait knife. 

Scissors. 

Hooks. Octopus/Recurve. 

Breakout sinkers.

Rigs. 

(ledger/dropper rigs. 6-8/o recurve/octopus hooks. 40-80 lb trace. Beads, skirts.)

Bait elastic. 

Mono spool. 

Ruler. 

Berley bag. 

Slim life jacket. 


Nice to haves:


Headlamp

Polaroid sunnies. 

Compact first-aid kit. 

Face shield. 


Also, what shop would you recommend? I'm located St John's/Meadowbank area.


Thanks in advance.

Michael :)


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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote shaneg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Aug 2020 at 6:24pm
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If fishing east coast from rocks you don’t need sinkers ... that is best advice I can give you. But know how to rig a pillie so casts well unweighted, hook in shoulder or gut, break head off and 1 or 2 half hitches round tail. 
Learn to tie short double like less than 30cm and how to tie your Heavier trace (at least 30 lb) into that See no name knot / reverse Albright for latter
Headlamp not essential unless fishing at night.
Fishing is simple once you have few techniques. When I couldn’t afford decent pack... used to string fish through gills to walk em out .. string is cheaper than pack, but You  still need walk in bait and berley if going to use it, usually  advantage landbased. 20 litre buckets are cheap though.
Sunnies and a hat are must haves.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote shaneg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Aug 2020 at 6:40pm
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also go octopus sucide hooks and one about  5/0 is fine. Not recurve pre made rigs unless targeting gurnard on the big muddy harbours west side ... which is more traditional surfcasting where you will need sinkers to get distance and anchor bait.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Goobernator Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Aug 2020 at 3:55pm
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That's my minimum I take.
Berley requires a rope and berley bag or bucket and ladle. Polarized sunnies are an absolute must. Cooler bait bag has an ice pack or frozen bottle of water. A few pea size sinkers in case the wind really picks up or I'm going somewhere new, don't use any sinkers otherwise. My first aid kit consist of toilet paper and a roll of insulation tape... Have a small plastic "dump" bag, that I throw all the dirty gear into , to clean up later
Also not shown a large rubbish sack and some food maybe and cheap backpack.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote McSwin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Aug 2020 at 7:02pm
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Thanks so much, so you chuck everything into your cooler bag and backpack, and take off?

Is that some kind of a float I see?

What’s your go-to rock fishing rig?

Any pro-tips there?
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote McSwin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Aug 2020 at 7:04pm
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Thanks heaps. If you are rock fishing, how much burley would you take on a mission?

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote JK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Sep 2020 at 7:58am
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Originally posted by McSwin McSwin wrote:

Thanks heaps. If you are rock fishing, how much burley would you take on a mission?


Depends how long you are fishing for but i usually take about 3 times the amount of burley as I do bait. So 1kg  pillies for bait I would take a 3kg or 4kg burley bomb, etc. 

Usually catch fresh bait out there to use and really helps having burley to be able to do this.  


LedgeNZ LBG
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Goobernator Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Sep 2020 at 11:22am
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Yeah chuck what fits in the backpack, carry the rest in. Small float is for the sabaki rigs, to catch bait. Rock fishing rig is same as Shaneg, bimini twist in mainline for double to bristol type knot to leader, snelled to hook.
If you use a bucket and ladle for burley you can stretch out a 3kg berley bomb mixed with sea water for about 3hours. Just have to regularly throw spoonfuls out.
Tip: always watch the berley trail and the rocks by your feet, you'll be surprised what you see, polarized sunnies a must.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote McSwin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Sep 2020 at 9:40pm
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Awesome, thank you so much for the advice. You've saved me years of learning the hard way. 

This is the new & improved list based on your tips. 

Polarised sunnies. 

Bait knife. 

Small cutting board.
Pliers/scissors.

Backpack. 

Cooler bait bag.

Headlamp.

Measuring tape.
Toilet paper & insulation tape. 

Rod holder. 

Burley bag & rope. 

Water bottle. 

Hooks – octopus suicide 5/0.
Bait elastic. 

Pea-sized sinkers. 

Life jacket.


Pillie bait. 

Burley. (3kg for every 3 hours). 

Sabaki rigs with float for bait. 

Line.

A few more questions if you have time:

For rock fishing, what is the best line weight to use? Just looking to get snaps & trevally. I've got a 12 foot rod with 15kg nylon mono. Will this be alright off the rocks, or should I only use that for surfcasting and look for something smaller? Are bait-runners worth the hype?

Do you use one hook at a time, or double up (can't remember the official name for it) where there are two hooks, one on each side of the bait?

Thanks again,
Michael
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote RockyWannabe Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Sep 2020 at 2:11pm
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Make sure have a towel and/or gloves in case you get a ray that you need to release.Wink
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