queensland Cairns beaches - why I need to upgrade gear

[tiotony]

So I recently put up a post asking for tackle suggestions, as due to progressive increase in fish size at my local (likely due to net free zone) I'm often outgunned these days on the 6-10lb outfits that used to be adequate. Here's some culprits spooling me:

Christmas afternoon me and AFO member pancakes and haggis (Callum) hit the beach after lunch. Got plenty of live mullet, and Callum was managing much further casts than me on his longer rods (as compared to my 3-5kg SP outfits), even with his 30lb braid. This made it apparent there are more fish holding out further now and 30lb braid is up to the task (unlike me trying to be 'sporting' and getting smoked on my little 2500 Daiwa Sols

These two were around 105 and 85 and were released quickly being closed season and all.

Went again at dawn this morning to be greeted with high tide, dead flat water and fish busting up on mullet and gar everywhere, and literally saw a metre barra launch clear of the water on arrival. The bait was being herded onto the beach so only took one cast to get 10 or so mullet. 

I got owned four times in a row on the 10lb - two bustups due to me using as much drag as I dared on the 10lb (and actually too much), and two spoolings resulting in clamped spool and bustup. Unfortunately only get about 150m of 10lb braid on a little Sol and its not enough. Also saw the kids just up from me land two big king salmon and drop a big barra in this time.

Number 5 was substantially smaller and fairly easily turned; blue salmon in the 80's:

 

 

 

[tiotony]

By the way, blue salmon are incredibly fun in shallow water on light tackle! 

Tides and wind are good all week, but think I'll take a break (waiting on a sale so I can get a couple of good 'upgraded' beach livebaiting rods).

[jon]

Well done lads that’s some horse beach Barra. Tony I’d be using 30lb on a six to ten kg setup for live baiting if I was as for north as you mate. It may not be as fun for some of the smaller fish but I’d be dirty on myself for a long time if I new I was dropping metrey’s

[Brodie_S]

Lol I think I hooked a few fish over 2 metres on the 6lb up north 

[ellicat]

Some good fish, fellas. Looking forward to when you land some bigger models, @tiotony.

[pancakes_and_haggis]

keep fishing silly string, ill take all the glory hahahaha

[tiotony]

43 minutes ago, jon said:

Well done lads that’s some horse beach Barra. Tony I’d be using 30lb on a six to ten kg setup for live baiting if I was as for north as you mate. It may not be as fun for some of the smaller fish but I’d be dirty on myself for a long time if I new I was dropping metrey’s

6-10lb served me fine for years on the beach, because you'd rarely get a barra over 80 and the blue salmon averaged 50. Been watching the size go up the last 5 years or so since net free, and metreys are pretty normal now - used to be unicorn fish 20 years ago in Cairns. And the blue salmon (staple Cairns beaches fish) are all way bigger than they used to be.

 

[tiotony]

3 minutes ago, pancakes_and_haggis said:

keep fishing silly string, ill take all the glory hahahaha

shame we can't fish the base under the wharves any more, where 50lb was silly string!

I'm daydreaming about getting longer casts in + not getting owned every time I go lately.........

Come 1st Feb, I'm keen to get an 80 to take home

[kmcrosby78]

Great fish from the beach there fellas - looks fun!!

[Kenne]

Nice fish  If fish are busting you off or spooling you then good on the fish he won that fight

[davostephens]

Which beach was all the commotion. I would like to take my little 2 and 5yo kids for an arvo beach fish. Especially if there are live mullet and they can play with them in the bucket. Keeps em occupied.

[tiotony]

1 hour ago, davostephens said:

Which beach was all the commotion. I would like to take my little 2 and 5yo kids for an arvo beach fish. Especially if there are live mullet and they can play with them in the bucket. Keeps em occupied.

Machans and Holloways. Note the mullet/ gar in close on the beach are hit and miss and usually only at dawn - its uncommon to see so many and its usually a struggle getting livies on the beach because the bait is out of castnet range. Also have to be wary of stingers when castnetting this time of year obviously - if there's stingers about I just don't castnet. 

[tiotony]

have gone with a pair of shimano sakana 6-8kg shore spin rods, because of the 9 foot length to help with casting distance, and 4000 Thunnus reels with 20lb Sufix 832. 

[ellicat]

That should do the trick nicely and still pretty sporting.

[GregOug]

20 hours ago, tiotony said:

6-10lb served me fine for years on the beach, because you'd rarely get a barra over 80 and the blue salmon averaged 50. Been watching the size go up the last 5 years or so since net free, and metreys are pretty normal now - used to be unicorn fish 20 years ago in Cairns. And the blue salmon (staple Cairns beaches fish) are all way bigger than they used to be.

 

What a terrible problem to have.

[tiotony]

Tried the new outfits this morning, definately worked out as I can cast far enough to get into the strike zone with the longer rods. Just used one rod this morning as the livies were getting smashed straight away.

No line screamers this morning, but got five blue salmon in the 50's-60's and two 80's barra; also dropped a nice king salmon around a metre which pulled hook on a jump.

Four salmon kept for a feed (two for me, two for neighbor).

Back to tackle shop today to move up from 25 to 40lb leader too. 

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hi Tony

Marvellous work on all those fish. They are stunning and would be delicious as well! Great effort and I’m glad that the new combo works out.

What is the biggest King Salmon you’ve caught/seen caught off the beach?

Cheers Hamish

[tiotony]

15 minutes ago, AUS-BNE-FISHO said:

Hi Tony

Marvellous work on all those fish. They are stunning and would be delicious as well! Great effort and I’m glad that the new combo works out.

What is the biggest King Salmon you’ve caught/seen caught off the beach?

Cheers Hamish

The odd 120 gets caught but don't see them caught landbased as much as there used to be; I haven't landed one in about a year. They seem to be out about 100-200m now and a lot of boats chase them nowadays - they sound up and down the beaches till they pick them up on sidescan then drop down big vibes;  you can literally see a boat doing this in the background of the photo of the rod!

[kmcrosby78]

Nice work on blooding the new combo @tiotony - I am sure they'll be the first of many  

[ellicat]

Nice way to Christen the new setup. How did it feel fishing a bit heavier ?

[tiotony]

2 hours ago, ellicat said:

Nice way to Christen the new setup. How did it feel fishing a bit heavier ?

Good to not have to chase fish up and down the beach! Also the longer rod more than compensates for the heavier braid casting distance wise.

[Brodie_S]

4 minutes ago, tiotony said:

Good to not have to chase fish up and down the beach! Also the longer rod more than compensates for the heavier braid casting distance wise.

Lol that’s me walking everywhere whenever I hook a fish lol I fish with such light line 

[Fishrat10]

Great informative post! I was down there 4am on Boxing Day morning and it was awesome to see how much bait was moving and being pushed up against the beach as the sun came up! 

[Hweebe]

That's a very versatile rod and reel combo for the shore based fishing. The rod length she help you get out into the strikezone as well.

The Thunnus should also have ample stopping power in case 4000 isn't enough line.

[tiotony]

A guy that my mate (member pancakes and haggis) took down there. Can't say I'm particularly pleased about the spot being shared far and wide on youtube:

 

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Looks like they had a good session, Tony. A bit of a shame about the spot being shared, but a mighty fine session.

Do you know if the fish were let back or taken?

Cheers Hamish

[GregOug]

1 hour ago, tiotony said:

A guy that my mate (member pancakes and haggis) took down there. Can't say I'm particularly pleased about the spot being shared far and wide on youtube:

 

If I ever find a spot I’m not sharing it.

[tiotony]

1 hour ago, AUS-BNE-FISHO said:

Looks like they had a good session, Tony. A bit of a shame about the spot being shared, but a mighty fine session.

Do you know if the fish were let back or taken?

Cheers Hamish

he kept that salmon, would have died anyway seeing how he landed it (pulling it by the gills up the beach) and how long he had it out of the water

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

5 minutes ago, tiotony said:

he kept that salmon, would have died anyway seeing how he landed it (pulling it by the gills up the beach) and how long he had it out of the water

Yep, I saw that and thought for sure it would've been coming home. Big fish should never be held like that until they are dad, in my opinion. It probably hurts them like hell, seeing as though there neck is getting stretched. 

Cheers Hamish

[GregOug]

1 hour ago, tiotony said:

A guy that my mate (member pancakes and haggis) took down there. Can't say I'm particularly pleased about the spot being shared far and wide on youtube:

 

Then again, just by posting the details on here you have released it to the world. 

[kmcrosby78]

Cracking threadie and a nice queenie too. I don't know the beaches up there but presumably there is enough there for locals to work it out. 

Each to their own as far as whether they keep big fish for a feed or let them go in my opinion - big threadies are meant to eat very well (whereas some species don't eat as well when they get bigger). As for the pain, no different to when a fishes throat gets cut to bleed them out.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

9 hours ago, kmcrosby78 said:

Cracking threadie and a nice queenie too. I don't know the beaches up there but presumably there is enough there for locals to work it out. 

Each to their own as far as whether they keep big fish for a feed or let them go in my opinion - big threadies are meant to eat very well (whereas some species don't eat as well when they get bigger). As for the pain, no different to when a fishes throat gets cut to bleed them out.

Good point KM. Apologies for sounding a bit greeny like. (Or hypocritical for that matter; slitting the fishes throat is exactly how I kill them) .

Cheers Hamish