4 new outfits

[hanboy]

The medium bait and overhead/jigging do seem to overlap. You could actually get away with one setup for all those applications. No need for a long 7 foot rod for those areas. The shorter ones are easier to control fish and also easier to land fish close to the boat.

Do you mean the one with the phantom rod outfit?

Yes. The phantom and crucis.

[Kimtown]

The medium bait and overhead/jigging do seem to overlap. You could actually get away with one setup for all those applications. No need for a long 7 foot rod for those areas. The shorter ones are easier to control fish and also easier to land fish close to the boat.

Do you mean the one with the phantom rod outfit?

Yes. The phantom and crucis.

So just a phantom rod with a 10k gosa for both applications?

5.7 isn’t to short to cast with?

[hanboy]

The medium bait and overhead/jigging do seem to overlap. You could actually get away with one setup for all those applications. No need for a long 7 foot rod for those areas. The shorter ones are easier to control fish and also easier to land fish close to the boat.

Do you mean the one with the phantom rod outfit?

Yes. The phantom and crucis.

So just a phantom rod with a 10k gosa for both applications?

5.7 isn’t to short to cast with?

Yes, because you already have the Bone ocean thug for casting. I'd just combine the bait/jig/troll into one outfit with a shorter rod.

Have a think around replacing one of those with a heavy jig/bait outfit. If there are dogtooth tuna around you'll need it. I lost 11kg of jigs in Vanuatu over 4 days once and landed no fish and that was on a Stella 20k outfit with 100lb line.

[Kimtown]

The medium bait and overhead/jigging do seem to overlap. You could actually get away with one setup for all those applications. No need for a long 7 foot rod for those areas. The shorter ones are easier to control fish and also easier to land fish close to the boat.

Do you mean the one with the phantom rod outfit?

Yes. The phantom and crucis.

So just a phantom rod with a 10k gosa for both applications?

5.7 isn’t to short to cast with?

Yes, because you already have the Bone ocean thug for casting. I'd just combine the bait/jig/troll into one outfit with a shorter rod.

Have a think around replacing one of those with a heavy jig/bait outfit. If there are dogtooth tuna around you'll need it. I lost 11kg of jigs in Vanuatu over 4 days once and landed no fish and that was on a Stella 20k outfit with 100lb line.

That actually makes a lot of sense. I’ll probably get rid of the crucis combo then, you’re right it seems a little bit of a waste.

Also, define heavy jig/bait



Speaking to someone on another forum who’s been on quite a few bigcat trips and they said they take the following:

SW 14000 XG Stella with 65lb braid on a Venom Pe 8 popping rod, (beast of a broom stick)

a Saragosa 8000 with 40lb braid on a Venom Pe 2-5 spinstick (wicked all rounder)

a 2 speed Talica 12 on a Samurai 30-60lb jig stick 50lb braid (proper overkill, an 8 or 10 would do)

2 old 6500 C3 Abu overheads with 30 and 20lb on a 6-12kg raider, and a 4-8kg Jewel, truth be told I fish with them the most”

Seems pretty reasonable setups. The first and second combo and very similar to mine but maybe slightly lighter (he said he fishes light), he has no bait combo unlike me and has the Talica overhead jig/bait setup… would this suffice for dogtooths? I’d personally replace the abu overheads with some 5000-6000 shimano egg beaters. But otherwise looks quite similar.

[Kimtown]

Also I think I might substitute the Bone OceanThug rod to something a little cheaper. One of them costs more than my murasame heavy popping rod, which doesn’t really make sense.

Any suggestions on a decent 7 foot, 2 piece pe3-6 rod that is affordable?

[IFISHALOT]

The medium bait and overhead/jigging do seem to overlap. You could actually get away with one setup for all those applications. No need for a long 7 foot rod for those areas. The shorter ones are easier to control fish and also easier to land fish close to the boat.

Do you mean the one with the phantom rod outfit?

Yes. The phantom and crucis.

So just a phantom rod with a 10k gosa for both applications?

5.7 isn’t to short to cast with?

Yes, because you already have the Bone ocean thug for casting. I'd just combine the bait/jig/troll into one outfit with a shorter rod.

Have a think around replacing one of those with a heavy jig/bait outfit. If there are dogtooth tuna around you'll need it. I lost 11kg of jigs in Vanuatu over 4 days once and landed no fish and that was on a Stella 20k outfit with 100lb line.

The good thing with the Phantom is that it was designed for Dogtooth Tuna and can double down as a Live Bait Stick

[Kimtown]

I’m thinking of subbing out the Bone OceanThug medium casting rod for something a little more affordable.

Other options are:
-Murasame Caranx PE2-5 stick bait 80 ($429)
-Daiwa 20 Demon Blood s702-3/5 ($389.00)
-Shimano Anthem 20ASW692SPMH 30-50lbs ($277.11)

Anyone got any personal reviews of either of these rods?

[Kimtown]

Do you mean the one with the phantom rod outfit?

Yes. The phantom and crucis.

So just a phantom rod with a 10k gosa for both applications?

5.7 isn’t to short to cast with?

Yes, because you already have the Bone ocean thug for casting. I'd just combine the bait/jig/troll into one outfit with a shorter rod.

Have a think around replacing one of those with a heavy jig/bait outfit. If there are dogtooth tuna around you'll need it. I lost 11kg of jigs in Vanuatu over 4 days once and landed no fish and that was on a Stella 20k outfit with 100lb line.

The good thing with the Phantom is that it was designed for Dogtooth Tuna and can double down as a Live Bait Stick

It seems like a really nice rod, I watched a few YouTube videos with them using it. But I finally found a website with one for sale and $599 is a lot of money. It does still serve a bit of purpose with trolling for (non-barrel) BFT in Vic but I’m not sure i could fully justify spending all that much just for this trip and a couple of BFT trips a year.

Is there any cheaper alternatives that would still be suitable for doggies and spaniards up there while still serving a purpose down here for BFT, sharks and big king fish?

Edit: Just had a look, Daiwa make a 5’6 Demon Blood PE 6/8 and an even cheaper alternative in the Monster Mesh too

[ducky]

I’m thinking of subbing out the Bone OceanThug medium casting rod for something a little more affordable.

Other options are:
-Murasame Caranx PE2-5 stick bait 80 ($429)
-Daiwa 20 Demon Blood s702-3/5 ($389.00)
-Shimano Anthem 20ASW692SPMH 30-50lbs ($277.11)

Anyone got any personal reviews of either of these rods?

A mate of mine took a surface barrel on the caranx 80. Rates the Rod very highly for local waters, kingy and bluefin if that helps persuade you.

[Kimtown]

I’m thinking of subbing out the Bone OceanThug medium casting rod for something a little more affordable.

Other options are:
-Murasame Caranx PE2-5 stick bait 80 ($429)
-Daiwa 20 Demon Blood s702-3/5 ($389.00)
-Shimano Anthem 20ASW692SPMH 30-50lbs ($277.11)

Anyone got any personal reviews of either of these rods?

A mate of mine took a surface barrel on the caranx 80. Rates the Rod very highly for local waters, kingy and bluefin if that helps persuade you.

That does purspuade me, especailly since the anthem can only throw 60gm max. So that pretty much cancels that out.

I was leaning the Demon Blood, purely because it was cheaper and could cast 20gm more (120 total), but seems a little irrelevant for a medium casting rod anyway.

Surely theres a few Daiwa fan boys here who have used the demon series? Purple5ive?