Thread: techniques

Cant beat a torpedo

Originally Posted by Beaker

OK, so for this soft bait stuff. What rod, reel and braid are people using or recommend?
I've only used them once on a charter, bloody good gear (read bloody expensive), but before I get that level, I'd like to get a rod and reel around $300 to give it a bash

In my experience it can be hard going around Aukers with artificials. I think it might be the sediment and/or current. Go out a bit further and they will work but I have still found bait to generally be better. Saying that jigs have worked OK further out at times, gurnard seem to like the shimano lucanis jigs. However most of the snapper I have caught in the last few years (and kingi) have been on a small jig rod with braid and bait. Cheating? most of my fishing has been off charters so the first to the bottom is often the first in.

The fancy soft bait rods are nice but the cheaper ones are often OK if you get a decent reel. Soft bait reels take a hammering. I have a bit of gear you can try out... It mostly sit's round at the moment.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

There is certainly some difference between north and south fish and there preferences, I have given artificials a pretty good bash and the ONLY snapper I have ever caught on one(120grm fanky) was in nearly 100m of water of the top of Durvil island so nearly the north island
There are a few people down here who use them exclusively but very few indeed.
Here at least I find anything be it jig soft bait or just a bit of rag will catch a blue cod or kahawai when they are on the bite,gurnard also like softys and slow jigs, barracuda will take anything you throw at them but I have not heard of anyone out-catching bait yet unless chasing kings.
Im looking forward to next weekend and maybe @Shearer will show us southys how good the artificial are.

Funnily enough mate, my Mrs was talking about moving to Nelson. The hunting would be so much better, but in all fairness, I think the fishing would ahem, different

Originally Posted by MightyBoosh

Funnily enough mate, my Mrs was talking about moving to Nelson. The hunting would be so much better, but in all fairness, I think the fishing would ahem, different

Certainly different....with the ski you would have the speed and ability to launch to get in and out fishing some great spots during weather windows....but yes not comparable to the fishing up north.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

There is certainly some difference between north and south fish and there preferences, I have given artificials a pretty good bash and the ONLY snapper I have ever caught on one(120grm fanky) was in nearly 100m of water of the top of Durvil island so nearly the north island
There are a few people down here who use them exclusively but very few indeed.
Here at least I find anything be it jig soft bait or just a bit of rag will catch a blue cod or kahawai when they are on the bite,gurnard also like softys and slow jigs, barracuda will take anything you throw at them but I have not heard of anyone out-catching bait yet unless chasing kings.
Im looking forward to next weekend and maybe @Shearer will show us southys how good the artificial are.

Gee thank's Cam. No pressure eh.
I have caught a couple of snapper off the rocks down here on hard lures thought.
Hopefully the fishing will improve a bit over the next couple of weeks. Even you have been doing it hard lately eh?

I found this worked well for me at the time, and in fact pretty much everywhere too

Originally Posted by Shearer

Gee thank's Cam. No pressure eh.
I have caught a couple of snapper off the rocks down here on hard lures thought.
Hopefully the fishing will improve a bit over the next couple of weeks. Even you have been doing it hard lately eh?

Yea a little.

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Originally Posted by nelpop

Cant beat a torpedo

That’s one step away from buying fish from the supermarket

Originally Posted by 300CALMAN

In my experience it can be hard going around Aukers with artificials. I think it might be the sediment and/or current. Go out a bit further and they will work but I have still found bait to generally be better. Saying that jigs have worked OK further out at times, gurnard seem to like the shimano lucanis jigs. However most of the snapper I have caught in the last few years (and kingi) have been on a small jig rod with braid and bait. Cheating? most of my fishing has been off charters so the first to the bottom is often the first in.

The fancy soft bait rods are nice but the cheaper ones are often OK if you get a decent reel. Soft bait reels take a hammering. I have a bit of gear you can try out... It mostly sit's round at the moment.

Yeah, but it’s the rod that gives you the feel, I like a rod made from at least an IM7 graphite blank, IM8 is even better but the downside is that it becomes very fragile, I have broken 3 in the past few years.
Cheaper rods I find too whippy and seem to bend along their entirety instead of progressively, they lack feedback but can still work, just not as nice to use.

I fish with a baitcaster so I like a 6’ 6” rod but with a short butt, not with the reel halfway up the rod like most of the ones that are available.

With baitcasters you get what you pay for, a shimano curado is the minimum I would go, the cheaper ones don’t seem to last.
I know sfa about egg beaters...

I suppose softbait setups are a similar thing to scopes.

Yep, a vortex diamondback/bushnell trophy will work fine and probably be quite accurate, but once you have used high end optics you will never want to go back to entry level.
They are just that much nicer to use.
But no drama buying a cheaper setup to see if it works for you before upgrading.


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Originally Posted by Spudattack

I suppose softbait setups are a similar thing to scopes.

Yep, a vortex diamondback/bushnell trophy will work fine and probably be quite accurate, but once you have used high end optics you will never want to go back to entry level.
They are just that much nicer to use.
But no drama buying a cheaper setup to see if it works for you before upgrading.


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Originally Posted by Beaker

OK, so for this soft bait stuff. What rod, reel and braid are people using or recommend?
I've only used them once on a charter, bloody good gear (read bloody expensive), but before I get that level, I'd like to get a rod and reel around $300 to give it a bash

Beaker, this is a good deal.

https://www.burnsco.co.nz/shop/fishi...ci4-4000-combo

Just note that it would be ideal for heavier end of sofbating. Depending on what you want it for, it might be worth asking if you can downgrade the reel to a 2500 and the rod to the 3-6 kg version. The 2500/3-6kg is my got to go softbaiting outfit and it's bloody awesome!

Originally Posted by Spudattack

I suppose softbait setups are a similar thing to scopes.

Yep, a vortex diamondback/bushnell trophy will work fine and probably be quite accurate, but once you have used high end optics you will never want to go back to entry level.
They are just that much nicer to use.
But no drama buying a cheaper setup to see if it works for you before upgrading.


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I hear ya - buy once cry twice etc...
However I am expecting some rough barstards fishing with me, so I'll save the good one for me

Originally Posted by Beaker

I hear ya - buy once cry twice etc...
However I am expecting some rough barstards fishing with me, so I'll save the good one for me

Good plan.....I nearly shit myself when a kid I had taken out almost lost my over 500 buck jigging combo over the side when two big kahawai smashed the flasher rig at once!.....Burnsco had a special on 50 bucks rod real and spooled with rubber band. I bought it and put 20p braid on it which doubled its cost but its caught some good fish so far and I wont cry like a baby if it goes OB or gets stood on.
Pictured here.


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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Good plan.....I nearly shit myself when a kid I had taken out almost lost my over 500 buck jigging combo over the side when two big kahawai smashed the flasher rig at once!.....Burnsco had a special on 50 bucks rod real and spooled with rubber band. I bought it and put 20p braid on it which doubled its cost but its caught some good fish so far and I wont cry like a baby if it goes OB or gets stood on.
Pictured here.


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Oh yeah and kids will be fishing with me to