Knowing the limitations of your gear

When fishing around serious reefs, coral, bombies and structures it is important that you know the limitations of your fishing tackle. Limitations here mean, the absolute amount of pressure you can put your gear under before something gives way.

Whether it’s reef fish, big trevally or Murray cod, you may need to muscle them away from structure quickly or the fight will be short lived. Having confidence to load your rod with a big arc and get on top in the fight early, is vital.

One of my favourite outfits is the T curve GT special paired with a 20,000 Stella loaded with 80lb Fins braid. With this rod and reel combination, I can put some serious hurt on a fish and can almost lock up the drag, knowing that nothing is going to give way. This allows me to maintain maximum pressure on a fish for the duration of the fight, increasing my chances of winning the battle.

I reckon I catch more fish because I know my gears limitations and I have confidence in my knot-tying ability. I’m not scared to put an outfit through its paces and go hard. Essentially, it’s about not letting the fish get its own way, by pushing your gear to the limit.

This includes using your hand to hold the spool if you get a fish that wants to go when the drag just can’t hold it. This technique gives you the benefit of added pressure on the fish, without having to reach around to the front of the spool to adjust the drag.

When nearing the end of your battle, back the drag off a little just in case it has that final big run. Let the drag system do its work, clicking off line to prevent breakage. Take your time; put your hand on the spool to give extra lifting power if needed, as you slowly draw your catch closer to the net.

So remember, know the limits of your tackle; you can then work an outfit up to these limitations to keep the fish moving in your direction. By using your braid, rod and hand you can ensure maximum effectiveness of your outfit, ending in greater results for you.