Hugo

I have a Terez TZS69M and a Saragosa 10000 which is too heavy for the rod (the balance point is at the reel seat). May be OK with a longer rod like the TZS70M. As @gregtech said, take the reel to a tackle store and match it up.

Shimano Raider travel rods are good value for money. PVC tube is the best option for protecting and storing rods when travelling and is almost baggage handler proof! Bone and Nitro travel rods are better quality but way more expensive.

My preference is a baitcast outfit if holding the rod. Currently using a Gomoku Belize matched with TranX 200 reel. Awesome set up and very versatile. Spin outfits include a Samaki Craze PE 1.5, shorter rod but lots in reserve if something bigger jumps on and a Shimano Sedona XT 763 nibble tip that lives in the rod holder with circles on an extended paternoster. Both these have 2500 size reels with 15lb Suffix 832 or Powerpro and 20lb fluro leaders. Also rate the whiting slayer 641 from SFS, matches up well with same 2500 size reel.

I have the same rod - Samaki Vanquish. Great rod. I use 3000 size Daiwa and 4000 size Shimano reels and they balance nicely. I reckon the Stella 8000 will be a tad too heavy. I have an older Saltiga coastal rod I use with Shimano 8000 size reels and its the bomb! Any of the better quality 6' - 6'5" rods rated for jig weights up to 350g - PE 3-4 would be ideal. Go slow pitch - great fun...

Absolute gun bait. great also for bream, flathead, mullet, tommies etc. A gentle lob cast unweighted on a soft tipped rod and allowed to drift or slowly retrieved they are deadly. I've found that if you keep winding when you feel a bite it improves the hookup rate.

+1 for this rod. Ian at SFS recommended this rod to me to take on a recent trip north. Matched it with a 3000 size daiwa reel running 30lb braid and it handled barra to 90cm. Threw everything from 3" weedless swimmerz and 20g soft vibes up to 120mm crystal minnows and B52's and casting for long periods wasn't a hassle. Would match up as well with a 2500 reel as Dylbaa mentioned. I'll be using it locally on the Kayak for squid etc. It would struggle flicking micro HB's, soft plastics or small poppers for bream and YFW, but anything heavier would be fine. Throw in a 4-8lb 7' spin rod with a 2000

Might have seen the same one reelfun off Parson's about 5klm off shore. Big as a VW beetle bonnet. Hope it got untangled OK.

Fresh water side of the barrage on the Mary River is a good one day option. Early start, 2 hour drive, great scenery, barra and saratoga usually on the cards. Lots of operators will take you there and you won't have to share with any randoms as you can book plenty of boats for just 2 people.

Better quality braid will last longer and be better "fit for purpose". Depending on what your fishing for, maybe a 150 yard top shot will be all you need. Agree with Outandabout Fins and Powerpro are both very good brands. I use Suffix 832 mostly now for lines up to 30lb, but speak to any reputable tackle store and they'll suggest a suitable option based on what your going to chase

BCF have one under their inhouse Rogue brand, but there are a few based on the same design. They are a rectangular block with 3 different graded surfaces from course to smooth. More designed for keeping an edge rather than for creating one.

I use a combination of an Accusharp sharpener and a small Ezy-Lap steel. I have heard good things about the block diamond sharpeners. Been on a few charters where the skippers swear by them for keeping an edge on knives when filleting.

As part of an ongoing search for the ideal filleting knife for whiting, gar etc., I haven't been able to find a smaller flexible bladed knife with a rounded tip. So I have resorted to trolling the second hand shops and picked up a few of the old bone handled butter knives that are doing the job nicely. The ones I have are made of quality steel from Sheffield in England they sharpen up really well. With a bit of garden hose over the handle for extra grip, they set me back about $2 each.

Thanks for the feedback guys. Southie, I'm heading down a similar path but thinking hipster type (not trendy beards and boutique beer). Something with a built in boot. Fly N Dry in Tassie do one, bit expensive but would be a good option for a long session with lots of walking. One wave over the top of thigh length waders and its game over, back to the car and down to the pub, though not a bad back up plan! Keep the suggestions coming, there's sure to be an ideal setup someone's using.

Looking at a long overdue upgrade of the old Horne waders to something lighter, more breathable and comfortable to hit the beaches this winter chasing salmon on lures. I'm thinking neoprene waist high pants and water proof boots with mobility in mind and interested to hear what you are using that keeps you dry and warm and doesn't feel like your in a sack race at a school sports carnival.

X 2 for the Bushy Bait Legend "Go to". Great for conventional fishing with long shank hooks or circle hooks and leave in a rod holder. Have pulled 3-4kg pinkies with this rod so will handle bigger by catch.

Valid point Rod. What they're doing is anything but "recreational"

Dyl, have a look at the Lateo range: http://daiwafishing.com.au/products/lateo/ I have the 110XL, great for lures from 40g to around 85g. The MH is more tippy, better for 30 - 40g lures.

Should do. The Over there 130 skipping stick bait I use weighs 52g and the rod handles it easily, and 65g knights are no problem. There is enough strength in the rod to pelt out a 4 oz star sinker with a full Pilchard, so will handle a 70g hard bait.

Rod weighs 280g Shorejigger. Ultegra reel weighs 485g loaded and balances perfectly.

For a dedicated beach lure casting spin outfit, particularly if your looking for distance, I'd suggest looking into using one of the long cast reels. There are quite a few compact models from Shimano and Daiwa that will suit most of the rods mentioned in this thread. For me at least they have added significant distance when casting. Saves using my standard spin reels on the beach.

I had the same reservations with the lighter Lateo's Bjorn, that's why I went for the XH. I can really rip out a full power cast with a decent sized metal, but still ping a 30g slug as well. Having that bit of extra strength helps casting into an onshore wind. Comments from other forums have also mentioned the XH is strong enough to winch fish up if fishing on a rock platform, so assume this would be fish up to a couple of kilos.