Black Fish Tackle & Rigs
When it comes to estuary blackfish rods: fiberglass, 10-11ft in length with a slow taper and light to hold. This sort rod does not lift well as it’s purpose is to fight the fish to the net. With soft tapered rods & light leaders a long handled net is required at least the length of the rod. A number of rod models are made in 11ft4inch and the ocean blackfish rods are around 12ft if you’re not able to get down the rocks to the waters edge these will give you greater control & lifting power. Best reel choice is a centerpin style reel which is free-running, this allows the float to be cast directly into the water, bottom stem first which will avoid the leader falling across the top eye of the float. This reel gives more direct control to letting out line, once mastered there is no other reel I would use for this style of fishing.
Choice of float is a pencil or light stem float, both are completed unweighted & free running. Ensure the bottom eye of the float is sturdy as it will suffer damage from the sinker hitting it when striking.
Black fishing rigs are a little more complicated than the normal set-up.
Main line is between 12lb-18lb I recommend floating mono-line where possible. Main line around 16lb as it’s subject to fraying on the rocks and heavier main line will give you more room to move if this occurs.
First slid the rubber stopper onto your main line, then next the float. Ensure the rubber stopper is bigger than the top eye of the float and doesn’t go through. You can add a small red plastic bead to assist with this, which also acts as a visual aid so that you see that the stopper has hit the top eye as the bead will be in the middle.
Then run your main line through the float eyes, add a soft lumo bead then tie -off to a small swivel, use black crane swivels around size 8.
Then add heavy mono. say 20lb-30lb around 6-10cm first add another lumo bead, then you’re running sinker, ball or barrel then a further lumo bead and tie-off to another swivel.
The lumo beads are in place to act as shock absorbers. The heavy mono. will ensure that when snagged the light leader will break leaving your float attached.
Then tie on the leader 6lb-8lb fluro carbon which I prefer FC Rock from Sunline due to its rock resistance there are many brands on the market.
Then the hook, use a size 8-10 hooks.