Gear for begining
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Popper and Topwater Fishing
Forum Description: If you're into a bit of action on top, this is the forum for you
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=86513
Printed Date: 08 Jun 2026 at 3:58pm
Topic: Gear for begining
Posted By: memnoch
Subject: Gear for begining
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2013 at 4:05pm
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Hey guys Im aiming to catch kingis off the rocks and when there are no live baits about the next option is poppers/stickbaits. I was out yesterday and lost a popper as we didnt have thr right gear (Lost a rapla stick bait on a baitrunner1200...). So what rod and reel for off the rocks could you recommend for a begining budget of $300ish? (could be extended a bit) otions i have seen are: Daiwa opus bull Fin nor 8500 Okuma salina 1600 Also braid or mono? I know braid will ping as soon it gets rubbed, i was thinking of using a couple of m of 80lb leader to hopefully aviod it in the most cases. Also . Any suggestions? Cheers Craig |
Replies:
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2013 at 4:35pm
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The fin-nor is really a KISS option, good reels, very rugged. I think the 8500 is a bit big though man, try the 6500, it still holds more line than you're ever likely to need, and is a pile more user friendly, a lot easier to hold, cast and retrieve for long periods than the 8500, which truly is a monster. Go with say 80lb braid, and yes, a decent trace would help too I guess. |
Posted By: memnoch
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2013 at 5:34pm
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ah sweet boss |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2013 at 5:41pm
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Mind you, that is not to say the others are not good options.... daiwa is always a good reel, and I have never tried the okuma. I have however had and used the finnors--- I gave my 8500 away as it was too bulky and hard to use, but the 6500s I have used poppering in the islands a lot, and they have been faultless up there.... and a lot easier to use. |
Posted By: Cbro
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2013 at 5:52pm
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all the okuma reels I've owned have had corrosion issues but not banging that particular model as I've never used one. The shimano spheros was a good entry level reel. My opinion would be to get the one with the fastest retrieve ratio...next would be drag rating and would the reel take carbon washes as you'll find them to be very worthwhile. Yes go with braid...50lb and learn an fg knot if you haven't already. |
Posted By: ELEVAR
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2013 at 8:39pm
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casting good baits off bricks id be useing 80lb braid min, and suffix 150lb leader with fg knot, i have around 5 turns of leader on real with a comfortable casting length so on a 7-8ft rod its a very long leader, but it pays off. zac
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Posted By: SufixRockMan
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2013 at 9:40pm
| im using a 5500 finnor offshore - big enough, gets heavy casting all day (im lazy though!) - great reels though! |
Posted By: Aaron32987
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2013 at 1:59pm
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Get the best gear you can afford, once you hook a good fish you will not regret it!
The Shimano Kaibatsu rods are very good for a step above entry level and you might be able to pick one up for $400 or so second hand.
Use braid - 80 lb plus. I'm using 150 lb varivas, which might overkill but when you are putting a precious lure on the end and you have been casting for three days for one hook up on a decent fish (that was my land based season last year), you don't want to be busted off.
I use the same top water set on the rocks as the boat - I just take extra care, and I've accepted that the gear is going to get some scratching (but really this has been minimal so far).
Edit: I've just seen your budget of $300, which I assume is for rod and reel. I'd focus on the reel first since a robust 24 kg spinning rod such as a backbone elite will probably get you by initially.
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Posted By: memnoch
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2013 at 7:58pm
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Hey guys i ended up getting a daiwa reel, and got a ugly stick 20kgs spin Should I spool the whole reel with 80lb braid or top shot, also where you recommend I get this done, live in papakura area? Cheers Craig |
Posted By: Millkman
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2013 at 10:00am
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Did you end up getting the Opus Bull? Very nice / tough reel to start with! ------------- Getdatfish |
Posted By: memnoch
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2013 at 11:46am
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Yeah got that one |
Posted By: laidbackdood
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2013 at 7:56pm
IMHO= 200/225/250 metre topshot would be fine.Allow for a 3 or 4 metre leader(some winds on the spool)....maybe even 5 metre off the rocks....Both me and aaron like the longer leaders but you sacrifice some distance with casting.However,i dont like losing braid!.....Any braid sucks in contact with structure....use a supple leader ....on a budget, black magic supple 100 pound would be good for you....Varivas is better...Dont use a stiff leader or flouro. I use varivas 130 and its thin for its weight. Make enquires for the cost of a spare spool..Shouldnt be too expensive....always nice to have another spool ready to go...if you get dusted by something and the line is down.Bring out your spare spool with leader already done(can be handy on a hot bite). Yeeha in Panmure would do it but there could well be a shop in your area....Good luck with your set up.....You could go pe6 /pe8 with 100 pound Black magic supple and get a good cast. If it was me,id get the spare spool and then get them both Top shot at the same time  Then comes the join knot for your leader= Either the FG knot or a short Pr knot...you will have some fun learning one of those  NT swivel size 1/0 with 8 or 9mm owner split rings to attach to your popper will make changing lures easier...pair of berkley split ring pliers to change them(reasonable price and work well) and your another stickbait/popper addict with a healthy bank balance needed to get your fix!
------------- Once the idiots turn up..Im outta here...No time for Drama Queens. |
memnoch wrote:Posted By: memnoch
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2013 at 10:20pm
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Hey laidbackdood I got a second spool when I bought it which is awesome. They put 15kg mono on it for free when i got it. On the second spool I got 250m top shotted of 80lb pe6 braid. Guys at top catch clevedon did it. great guys. Took down to beach this evening and had a play. Need to learn the joining knot a bit better, partner went for a swim to get the popper back  . Cheers for all the advice guys, just need to get out then and start giving it hell! |
Posted By: laidbackdood
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2013 at 7:36pm
cool...The 15 kg mono would be good for poppers..Havent tried with stickbaits but i dont see why not...just braid is good for hook sets but suffix is low stretch(braid like quality) ....is the 15 kg thin? Suffix synergy is very good(low stretch)...could use 40 pound.....I used that for years......a swivel and trace about metre and a half(as long, as you can cast it ok)...say 60 to 80 pound trace........put a small bead ahead of the swivel...so you dont rip into your top guide when you retrieve  .....I used this set up for years at great barrier and caught kings on cotton cordell poppers(cheap with rattles)....You wont need to learn the joining knot and you are in the game....true the trace is not very long but if you use 40 pound suffix.....you will get good capacity on the spool...have some stretch which is more forgiving on you than braid.Uni knots for joining....learn to tie ,so you can tie blindfolded!! ...easy and one of the best,You could even use a metre and a half of flouro for the above as it wont go through the guides(due to swivel) and the extra abrasion resistance of flouro is very very good. 60 or 80 pound flouro good. A much cheaper way to go and many amongst us prefer mono off the rocks anyway. The suffix 40 pound would give you good abrasion resistance ....probably better than the braid. Good luck ------------- Once the idiots turn up..Im outta here...No time for Drama Queens. |