Light to Medium Game tackle choices

[Gube]

Hi All,
I have a few questions for you regarding a Bluewater rod and real setup, and would greatly appreciate any imput that may be offered. Basically I am looking at targeting mackerel and other similar fish in the Gulf of Carpentaria. I will be trolling, live and dead baiting and when the time calls bottom bashing for reefies. The set up needs to be ballenced and useable in a variety of situations.

I am considering the folowing rods and reels.
Reels;
· Shimano TLD 25 or 15, or
· Shimano Tyrnos 16 or 30 (as far as I can tell this is basically a TLD with aluminium frame and beefed up drag)

The question;
· Is it worth upgrading from the TLD to the Tyrons, or is TLD bullet proof enough? and
· Which size may be better for my situation, the 15 or the 25? (Both reels have similar models)

This probably leads to my next question about line strength;
· 15kg or 24 kg mono, or braid
o on the smaller sized reel, 24kg means less capacity, alternatively
o 15 kg mono means working the drag and increased risk of busting off a big one,
o Will 24kg be too heavy for some situation? Or does this not matter to much, or
o Braid on the small reel. I understand the mono is more forgiving but I am sure I can live with the braid.

Rod;
· Shimano Backbone, either 15 or 24 kg, probably depends on line strength.
· Wilson Live Fibre 15 to 24 kg.


Thanks for any suggestions, ideas or thoughts

Gube

[Robs Mob]

are we talking spanish mackeral here?

I have had both the TLD and the tyrnos. unless you want to fork out a bit more money for the tyrnos two speed your better off saving a bit of money and going with the TLD.

TLD 15's are fairly indestructable and would hold enough line to stop most mackeral, especially if you use braid.

for the rod I would be going the wilson live fibre but the backbone is fine as well.

[Gube]

Thanks Dave,

Spanish Mac and GT are the main target. However who knows what you what hook and how big it might be.

If I was to go with the TLD 15, what strengh Braid would you use? I am thinking something around the 30 - 50pd mark.

Cheers

Gube

[Alan Beddows]

Hi Gube both rods are ok but if you hit a big GT the reels are a tad suspect as GTs can get up and go like scalded cats the tld 15 would struggle on full dragThe tyrnos is the go the Tiagra is better
use 25k Fins braid with 80lb leader
good luck
AB

[Robs Mob]

GT's are some of the meanest fish in the sea, I recently tangled with a couple of 15kg models and they went hard even on tiagra 30's.

Have you thought about using a popping setup?
something like a shimano spheros FB with 80lb braid on a shimano T-curve GT special would do nicely, infact I have the same setup and it would pull me off my feet fully locked up.

I would be running 50lb braid minimum for GT's.

[salmon-head]

I'd go the Tyrnos or similar. I can vouch for Trinadad's, their great.
Modle30.
Go anything with less grunt, and you'll be re-purchasing in a year or so.
50lb fins braid would work well with both.
As Dave said, if you like threadies over overheads, a spheros or stella, but more $$.
Wilson live fiber 15-25lb are gun.

The TLD would do the job, but the above reels give confidence.

Dave.