I’m sat here wishing I was wrasse fishing. It’s still early. But my gut says the season has just about started here on the Central South Coast. Blue skies and bright sunshine. It feels good for a few fish. The odd Facebook memory confirms my suspicions. It’s time.
But alas, I’m stuck at home for a while longer yet.
So I thought I would just share my current thoughts around my preferred wrasse fishing set-up. Especially as I made a fairly big change last year. Although the majority of my fishing has been from the boat, I’ve also adopted the same set-up for my shore fishing, and I love it. Let’s go!
I adopted a baitcasting set-up last year and I haven’t looked back. I can’t truthfully tell you why. Is it that it is better in some way, or is it that it makes me feel like a ‘2-bob bass pro’, I’m not sure? But I am enjoying the journey, immensely.
Breaking down my new casting set-up, perhaps the biggest change is the move to fluorocarbon mainline, from braid. I’ve found my happy place with 12lb Sunline FC Sniper. Is fluorocarbon mainline better? I just think it’s different. The bites are different. Not as jarring as braid. But you know you had a bite. Everything seems slower. Fluorocarbon has its own weight which puts a nice tension on the rod tip. It seems to transmit feel even when it is slack. To a certain degree.
It is harder to feel your way across a mark, bottom-contact. Especially on a drifting boat. Depending on wind over tide, there are definitely some instances where FC isn’t workable, or certainly less workable than a braid outfit in the same conditions. I find I can’t react as quickly to rolling into a gully, or pulling into kelp. Which inevitably leads to a few more snags. But again, only under certain conditions.
I tend to fish a heavier sinker, compared to braid. I haven’t detected any downside to the actual fishing by doing this. But the cost of heavier weights is a consideration if you fish often.
Of course, the big boon is no more leader knots. Snagging occasionally in wrasse territory is inevitable. It’s always appreciated not to have to retie a leader, especially on a drift. Although this isn’t exclusively why I choose fluorocarbon. It’s a bonus.
Reel of choice is a Daiwa Zillion Type-HD 100-size. It’s a nice reel, has a power handle, but most importantly, it is saltwater safe. The whole Zillion family is a great consideration for a saltwater casting reel, but always check the spec with regards to whether it is saltwater safe. I always rinse my Zillion under a warm shower after I have used it for wrasse fishing. Ratio is 7.3:1. I haven’t found myself needing a higher retrieve, or wanting more control from a slower reel. Feels about right to me.
Rod choice was a bit lucky. A friend of mine is a JDM-beast with a huge collection of top end rods. He just happened to be making some room and offered me a mint Tenryu Rock Eye Vortex ‘Rock Light Versatile’. The spec was bang on for my fishing. 7’4 5-28g. It’s a plain, understated looking rod, but it oozes quality. It has the perfect combination of feel and fighting curve for a rockfish rod. It’s just a pleasure to use. Can’t fault it.
Most of my wrasse fishing from either boat or shore is close quarter combat. Consequently I enjoy the comparative ease of pitching a soft-plastic bait with a baitcasting outfit. There’s just something nice about it. Again, could just be all the images in my head of my US bass fishing heroes, or it could be better ergonomics. I’m not entirely sure. But I’m enjoying it.
Can’t wait for that first pluck from a wrasse. Watching the line jump. The strike, and the following chaos as a big Ballan Wrasse surges for cover. Bring it on!
Do you use fluorocarbon mainline? Share your thoughts below in the comments. I’m genuinely interested in your experience using it.
8th April, 2025 @ 8:20 pm
Fluorocarbon on baitcasters should be illegal, no matter the species or venue. As simple as that
8th April, 2025 @ 9:03 pm
Illegal?
12th April, 2025 @ 6:16 pm
After wrasse fishing last week I thought of another advantage of fluorocarbon mainline. It removes some of the resistance when the fish takes the lure. In a similar kind of way to a solid-tip rod. But you don’t lose the feel because the line is under tension from its own weight. I feel like the hook up rate is better somehow.
14th April, 2025 @ 10:27 pm
Thanks for sharing. I’ve never gotten around to experimenting with fluro straight through. I feel compelled to ask if you’ve tried Unitika Shin-Saya and how you’d contrast the two?
If you haven’t, it’s a hybrid ester/nylon line. I love using it shore fishing off rock marks. Again, no leader required and while not quite as sensitive as braid it’s pretty good. Gobies at 30 yards easily detectable and enjoyable.
17th April, 2025 @ 9:42 am
Hi Damo. I’ve not tried it. But have seen a few people rave about it. I can’t really guess how it behaves but perhaps the downside is diameter, considering it’s one line coated in another. What diameter are you using? Glad to hear it’s working for LRF. FC definitely isn’t for gobies. I’ve tried! I struggle to see the benefit of FC below 5lb (which I use for small jerkbaits) but it doesn’t really get interesting until around 8lb, and 12lb much better. I think it’s to do the weight of the line increasing tension and therefore feel. I will get around to Shin Saya. Thanks for the reminder
19th April, 2025 @ 10:56 am
Ah, yes, I’ve just realised I was referring to LRF. I use the 5lb Shin-Saya which is listed as a diameter of 0.185mm. Looking at the 10lb at 0.26mm and comparing it to the Guru Pure FC I use, which comes in at 0.3mm for 10lb it’s actually lower. That really surprises me. On the Unitika site they compare the specific gravity of different materials with FC coming in at 1.78 and Shin-Saya 1.2; both denser than water and therefore sinking. Braid is noted at 0.96-0.98 so floating. With FC being around 50% higher on specific gravity perhaps that’s providing the feeling of ‘self tension’? The marks I use the heavier gear on I use ~14lb (PE0.6) braid as the tide can be ferocious (4knts+) and I can’t see me chancing thicker line. Off the kayak though I definitely fancy trying FC against Shin-Saya in the 10-15lb range. I have experimented the other way and used ~1lb ester (specific gravity ~1.35) off the yak in 35m to get really light gear down to the bottom and it definitely helps. This game we play is a sickness! Lol