What you need to bring - Fishing Gear
There are 4 styles of fishing that you can enjoy at Fowlers Bay. Boat, beach, rock ledge and jetty fishing. We've broken these down to be comprehensive lists but you will notice quite a few overlaps. We've done it this way to help you make your tackle choices wisely.
Be aware that all equipment and tackle choices selected are merely suggestions. You may have your own methods, rigs, styles, knots etc. that you wish to use. We are more than willing to assist you - in fact we prefer to help because it's in our best interests to ensure you hook and land all of your fish - regardless of your knowledge and experience!
Equipment supply
We have a large range of rods and reels, both overhead and threadline for beach/boat fishing etc. if you prefer to use our gear. Please note that loss/breakages will be paid for. Some of our outfits are $700+ so if you're a tad clumsy, you're advised to BYO!
Tackle supply
We do NOT supply tackle. All tackle, including a large range of lures, are available for sale at Sam's if you prefer to let us provide you with the best quality, most used and recommended tackle. We buy in bulk so we can generally offer prices close to or better than your local tackle store. Please note that ALL tackle sales are strictly cash only... Ready made rigs are also available as part of our range of tackle for sale.
We do not sell "cheap" (read quality) tackle so if you're on a strict budget you will definitely want to bring your own.
Boat Fishing
This comes down to 2 styles of fishing and both need adequate attention to the use of quality tackle and equipment. We see a lot of fish lost due to cheap and nasty line and tackle purchases which is interesting given the cost of some of the rods and reels we see, notwithstanding the cost of the tour itself. Put simply, DO NOT scrimp on tackle/equipment quality!
Bottom Bouncing
Fishing in depths from 30m to 60m, bottom bouncing is our most productive. Snapper, nannygai, blue morwong and harlequins are the common take but many sharks, groper, samsons and kingfish are also taken this way. Knowing that a BIG fish is usually not too far away, it is wise to gear "up" for the best chance of subduing and landing them.
- Rods: 15-24kg - We recommend 2 metre minimum. Longer rods are better on the boat for 2 reasons.
- Firstly, bottom bouncing is best done with braid and a longer rod provides much better flexibility on a hard/prolonged fight. Longer rods reduce hook tearing and line failure.
- Secondly, bigger fish have a habit of trying to go under/around the boat. You need to stay away from the hull and or get around the motors at the back. Short rods make this difficult. Although we have seen some very good takes on short (5'6") rods, the anglers were LUCKY in that the fish behaved! Don't say we didn't warn you...
- Reels: 15-24kg class reels - overhead or threadline. Recommended line, 24kg (50lb) braid. Smooth drags are ESSENTIAL!
Bottom bouncing tackle
- 80-100lb mono trace - Jinkai, Ande, Black Magic or similar
- 8oz snapper leads
- 8/0 hooks is the only size you will need - we recommend Gamakatsu Octopus
- 37kg quality snap swivels - we recommend coastlock snaps with ball bearing swivels
Lure fishing
Rod and reel outfits as for bottom fishing but if you prefer a second rod we suggest that your trolling rod use monofilament rather than braid. Traditionally the bigger fish taken on the troll strike hard and with the combined boat speed, lack of flexibility could cost you the fish. We strive for multiple hookups after a strike and your fish might be running hard while we continue trolling for a short distance so capacity is always a good idea.
- For tuna, kingfish, salmon and samsons - Rapala CD18's have proven to be the most consistent. No one colour has ever stood out
- High speed (10-14 knots) tuna trolling - "jethead" style skirts with 100lb leader (crimped or tied) and 8/0 hooks
- Low speed (6-9 knots) tuna trolling - "kona" or "flathead" style skirts rigged as above for high speed
- Jigs from 200g - spare pretied hooks. No particular colour has ever stood out here either
Beach Fishing
Either by choice or because the weather keeps us off the boat, beach fishing is one of our options. We could be chasing the elusive mulloway, throwing lures at schools of suicidal salmon or spending a lazy afternoon soaking baits chasing flathead, whiting or salmon. Whatever the case may be, beach fishing gear is essential.
Heavy beach
- Rods: 10-12' 5-8 wrap heavy rods in your choice of overhead or spinning outfits. Rods like Sabre 540H, Synder 7144 or any of the 5120 range have proven adequate
- Reels: Reels such as Penn 850s Spinfishers or Shimano Toriums etc. spooled with minimum 30lb mono or braid. If you're new to beach fishing, we HIGHLY recommend that you use a threadline (eg: Penn 850s) with 30lb mono.
Heavy beach tackle
- 80-100lb mono trace - Jinkai, Black Magic or similar
- Bring wire and crimps if you'd like to take a crack at the many sharks we see
- 4-6oz grapnel sinkers. Star sinkers usually don't stick when using big baits
- 8/0 hooks is the only size you will need - we recommend Gamakatsu Octopus
- 45kg rated quality swivels
Light beach
- Rods: 8-12' 4-6 wrap medium rods in your choice of overhead or spinning outfits. (The 4120 range is popular)
- Reels: Reels such as Penn 650s Spinfishers or ABU 6500/7000 etc. spooled with minimum 15lb mono or braid. If you're new to beach fishing, we HIGHLY recommend that you use a threadline with 20lb mono.
Light beach tackle
- 30-50lb mono trace - Jinkai, Black Magic or similar
- 2-6oz star/pyramid sinkers.
- Hook range from size 4 long shank to 3/0 suicide
- 15-24kg rated quality swivels
- An assortment of 50-90g metal lures for salmon spinning
Miscellaneous
Amongst all of the above we suggest the following. Whilst we can supply a lot of the "bits and pieces" that make up the fishers arsenal, we cannot guarantee all of it will be available on the day due to breakages, losses etc. Being such a remote area, we simply cannot replace/repair equipment from previous trips as fast as we'd like.
Light/GP outfit
Small fishing outfits are highly recommended.
- On very bad days we may only have rock ledge opportunities available
- Fowlers Bay is blessed with a lit jetty so opportunities exist to catch fish/squid after we've officially "knocked off"
- Using live bait increases big fish opportunities so you may want to take the small outfit on the boat
- A few of our beach spots allow for light line whiting, flathead or salmon fishing in calmer waters
Light/GP tackle
- Hooks from size 8 longshank (gar etc.) to 3/0 for floating pillie baits
- 10-30lb trace for rigs
- Assortment of light/medium snap/swivels
- Floats (clipon or running) for livebaiting, gar/tommies, squid etc.
- Squid jags
- An assortment of lures for snook (8-10cm minnow style) and/or hard body (metal) for salmon etc.
General equipment
- Torches and spare batteries
- Sharp knives
- Clippers/scissors
- Buckets/nets
- Camera, charger/rolls of film. (Bring cable if digital. We can burn a CD for distribution before you leave)
- Spare rags - we NEVER seem to have enough!
- Strip down gear, grease, oil, spray for reels.
- Spare spools of line - you just might NEED to respool!!
- A bait bucket or shoulder bag is recommended for beach/jetty fishing
