Tackle News

No names, no pack drills. But it’s amazing how roughly some blokes treat their fishing tackle. Being on my boat with different crew all the time I get to see some pretty amazing examples. Electric reel deep drop combos parked in the gunwale rod holders, getting blasted with salt spray to and from th...

11 July 2018 · Updated fishing guidance October 2026 The groper catch below is from 2018. In NSW today, Eastern Blue Groper must not be targeted, including for catch and release. That covers blue, brown and red groper. Release an accidental catch immediately with minimal harm. See the current NSW gr...

How much can you really do with one 40 g metal jig? On a Sydney morning in July 2018, Andrew Hestelow used the same small style of knife jig to help catch bait at the Centurion Wreck, pick up a squid, and then target kingfish at Long Reef. Other trips had already shown the same 40 g lure could be ca...

I’ve had my boat for 30 years. Three paint jobs, and five outboards. But I’ve got to admit it’s not a comfortable ride. A metal bench seat at the stern. No seating for the driver, which is usually me. An uneven aluminium deck, with three sharp cornered hatch covers right up the middle: Some crew me...

A smooth, predictable drag can make the difference when a good fish makes a long, hard run. If the felt or fibre drag washers in your fishing reel are worn, glazed or inconsistent, replacing them with correctly sized carbon-fibre drag washers can restore smooth drag performance and give an older ree...