Deep drop fishing with electric reels makes it practical to work baits hundreds of metres below the boat for species such as blue-eye trevalla, gemfish, hapuku and bar cod. Andrew Hestelow spent years fishing the continental shelf off NSW and documented the tackle, rigs, drift control and bite detection that worked for his crew. This guide adapts that experience into a modern, readable deep-dropping reference.
- Look for seamounts, wrecks, canyon walls and other deep structure where target species concentrate.
- Use braid for low stretch and reduced water resistance, with enough capacity to reach the bottom after accounting for drift.
- Keep the terminal rig simple and streamlined so the sinker and bait reach the target depth quickly.
- Protect expensive main line by using a mono trace that is weaker than the main braid.
- Use short droppers, strong swivels and circle hooks, and keep the hook point exposed when baiting.
- Watch the rod tip for bites and manage boat movement or line feed so the fish has time to take the bait before loading the rig.
Why use an electric reel for deep drop fishing?
Conventional tackle can catch deepwater fish, but retrieving a heavy sinker and multi-hook rig from 300 or 400 metres repeatedly is exhausting and slow. An electric reel changes the practical side of the job: you can retrieve and reset more often, react to changing drift and move when the sounder shows that the boat has left the productive ground.
That does not make the fishing automatic. Finding the right structure, controlling sink rate, placing the bait where the fish are marking and converting subtle bites into solid hook-ups still require judgement.
Where to deep drop: depth and structure
Andrew's original article starts shallower for species such as bar cod, then moves to much deeper ground for gemfish, blue-eye trevalla (often called blue-eye cod), hapuku and other shelf species. The productive features he looked for were seamounts, wrecks and canyon walls rather than featureless bottom.
Depth alone is not enough. Use charts to identify likely ground, then let the sounder tell you whether fish are actually marking on or above that structure. At deepwater spots such as Brown's Mountain, a relatively small error in drift can put a bait hundreds of metres away from the mark by the time it reaches the bottom.
Electric reel, rod and braid setup
Andrew preferred a bent-butt rod for deep dropping because it helped keep the line clear of the gunwale and provided a strong working angle from the holder. A two-piece butt also made valuable electric reels easier to remove and stow securely during long offshore runs.
Braid is central to the system. Its low stretch transmits bites from depth and its relatively thin diameter reduces drag compared with an equivalent heavy monofilament. Andrew's historical setups ranged from 50 lb braid for lighter work to 80 lb and heavier, with 200 lb braid used on some multi-dropper outfits. Treat those figures as examples of his boat's tackle rather than a universal prescription; reel size, number of hooks, sinker weight, target species and local conditions should determine the outfit.
Keep the deep-drop rig simple
Sink rate matters. Every bulky light, long section of tubing and unnecessary piece of terminal tackle creates extra drag on a journey that may already be several hundred metres. Andrew's approach was deliberately simple: a lead sinker, heavy mono backbone, strong three-way swivels, short droppers and a small luminous bead near the hook.
He also made the terminal mono slightly weaker than the main braid. The logic is practical: if the rig snags, you want the sacrificial trace to break before losing a large quantity of expensive braid and potentially leaving the reel without enough line for the next drop.
Andrew's short-dropper approach
- Keep droppers only as long as needed; his were around 25 cm.
- Use strong three-way swivels suited to the chosen line class.
- Crimp heavy mono cleanly and check every connection before the drop.
- Use a strong circle hook and keep the point unobstructed.
- A small lumo bead can provide attraction without adding the drag of a complicated light system.
Baits for blue-eye trevalla, gemfish and other deepwater fish
Andrew kept bait simple as well. Oily fish and fresh squid were reliable choices. Rather than hanging an oversized bait off the hook, he used compact strip baits with the point clear. Slimy mackerel heads were another favourite, hooked so the bait sat neatly within the gape.
At extreme depth, water pressure and current work scent out of the bait while it moves over the bottom. A clean, streamlined bait reaches the strike zone faster and presents more predictably than a large bait spinning in the current.
How to detect bites and set the hook in deep water
Even several hundred metres down, braid can transmit a bite clearly to the rod tip. Andrew's method was to watch for those indications, then momentarily reduce the forward movement of the bait—either by feeding some line or by managing the boat's drift—so a following fish had time to take it properly.
After that pause, load the rig progressively. With a circle hook, the aim is a secure hook-up around the jaw rather than a violent strike. Once the rod is carrying a steady load, the electric reel can begin the long retrieve.
Landing deepwater fish safely
Plan the last part of the retrieve before the fish appears. Gemfish have formidable teeth, and large deepwater fish are not something to grab casually at the gunwale. Andrew's crew used heavy gloves and prepared landing gear while the fish was still coming up.
Deepwater species also have specific fishing rules. The limits quoted in old magazine articles should not be treated as current. Check today's regulations before fishing and stop once your legal limit is reached.
Historical guide, current rules: Andrew's original article records the tackle and fishing practices of its time. For current legal limits on blue-eye trevalla, gemfish, hapuku and other deep-sea fish, use the NSW saltwater bag and size limits.
Deep drop fishing questions
What fish can you catch deep dropping in Australia?
Depending on location and depth, common targets include blue-eye trevalla, gemfish, hapuku, bar cod and other deepwater reef and shelf species. Always check the rules for your state and the species you intend to keep.
Why are electric reels used for deep sea fishing?
They make repeated retrieves from several hundred metres practical, particularly when heavy sinkers are needed. That lets anglers reset baits and move between marks without spending most of the day manually winding gear back from depth.
Should you use braid for deep drop fishing?
Yes, braid is commonly used because its low stretch helps transmit bites and its thinner diameter reduces drag in deep water. Capacity matters because current and boat drift mean the amount of line in the water can exceed the vertical depth.
What is blue-eye cod?
In Australian fishing, “blue-eye cod” is a common angler name for blue-eye trevalla. It is one of the deepwater species targeted along the continental shelf.
Read Andrew's original Deep Water, Electric Muscle feature
The full seven-page Boat Mag article is preserved as a PDF, with the original photographs, rigs and period commentary.
View the original article PDF
