GT Popping rod

[cbaker77]

I am new to the forum and new to popping.  I really like the site!  I am going on a jigging/popping trip to New Caledonia at the beginning of august and I am looking into purchasing a popping rod so I am looking for suggestions.  Thanks!

[Brandon Khoo]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

Have you had a look at the thread on GT rods? There is a reasonable discussion on some of the options available. In determining your choice, you need to consider issues such as the size of the GTs you are likely to encounter, what reel you intend to use with the rod and ultimately, how much you want or are prepared to spend.

We do not have the choice in popping rods in Australia that you will find in Asia but you can still definitely find one here that will do the job or you can get one custom made. Unfortunately, GT rods do not come cheap. the most reasonably priced rod on the market is still in the vicinity of some $300 plus and that is the Shimano T-Curve. It's an excellent rod for the money but would not be regarded as a heavy GT rod being rated up to 50lb. You then have the Saltigas from Daiwa which are priced at $599 (Daiwa fixed pricing). Two good models are the 80TN (rated up to 60lb) and the 86GT (rated up to 80lb). There is also the Muramura which at 7.5 feet, is also rated up to 80 lb (I think)

At the other end of the market in Australia would be rods like the Smith Tokara and Komodo Dragon which retail upwards of $1,000 and are rated up to 130lb. These rods are very expensive but are beautifully made and are proven at handling the biggest GTs.

An option to these would be to have a rod custom made. Bluewater in Perth, Precision on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and Ian Miller (who needs no introduction) can certainly make you a rod that will do the job beautifully.

There are a number of highly regarded Japanese companies that specialise in this product but which are difficult to obtain in Australia. This includes Fisherman, Seven Seas, Hots, Zenith, Tenryu, UFM EUDA, Seed and of course Carpenter, who have almost a cult following.

If you intend to get into heavy popping, there isn't a great deal of choices in reels but you need to ensure you get one that can handle this type of fishing. Realistically, most of us opt for either the Shimano Stellas or Daiwa Saltigas. We had a great debate on the merits of the Saltiga Dogfight yesterday evening!

[Luke Wyrsta]

Hi mate.

Welcome to the forum.

As Brandon said, let us know what your requirements/restrictions are and we can help you properly.

NC has some huge GTs...be prepared!

[cbaker77]

I am going to be matching the rod with a stella 10000 and the smith rods are probably out of the question being that price range.  I really cannot spend more than about 500 US dollars.  I live in the US so a lot of the popping rods are tough to get here.  In addition to my trip to new caledonia I will be using it for yellowfin tuna as well as big AJs.  I have no experiencewith GT popping and I am really not sure about the class of fsh I will be catching in new caledonia.  Hope this helps.

[Luke Wyrsta]

I am going to be matching the rod with a stella 10000 and the smith rods are probably out of the question being that price range.  I really cannot spend more than about 500 US dollars.  I live in the US so a lot of the popping rods are tough to get here.  In addition to my trip to new caledonia I will be using it for yellowfin tuna as well as big AJs.  I have no experiencewith GT popping and I am really not sure about the class of fsh I will be catching in new caledonia.  Hope this helps.

http://www.gtpopping.com/articles/Australian%20Fishing%20World%20-%20Hold%20on%20Tight.pdf

[Brandon Khoo]

I am going to be matching the rod with a stella 10000 and the smith rods are probably out of the question being that price range.  I really cannot spend more than about 500 US dollars.  I live in the US so a lot of the popping rods are tough to get here.  In addition to my trip to new caledonia I will be using it for yellowfin tuna as well as big AJs.  I have no experiencewith GT popping and I am really not sure about the class of fsh I will be catching in new caledonia.  Hope this helps.

Oh, you're in the USA - well, I don't think our local rodmakers are going to be much use to you then!
I was interested to note that you're proposing to use the rod for AJs as well. Is there scope for popping for AJs in the USA? I can't think of anywhere in Oz where we can do that as they tend to inhabit the deep reefs. the difficulty in finding an all rounder is that for tuna, I understand they use a lighter popping rod, usually no more than for PE6. Unfortunately, these rods will struggle to control a really big GT - which you have every chance of encountering in New Cal.

Luke is our resident New Cal expert so he's the man to talk to!

[cbaker77]

While AJ do roam of the edge of our continental shelf, they are mostly found on the wrecks and ledges off of the North Carolina coast where I live.  You can target them by fishing directly over the wreck with a big popper and then hold on  Most of these wrecks are in no more than 100-120 feet of water and you can often see the fish swimming over the wreck.  It is not a gaurantee but you have a good chance at getting one  I know a couple guides around here that use a big popper to get the AJs worked up for those that want to catch them on fly tackle.

Yeah, our rod builders would not be much help!

[cbaker77]

Turns out my New Caledonia trip is not going to work out but I will still be spending the last week of july in Cairns and I am definitely going to spend a few days fishing there.  I have read that you recommend Blackout sportfishing charters so I was wondering the best way to get hooked up with them and book a couple charters.  Also what can I expect that time of year as far as the fishing?  And one more question, will it be necessary to have a heavy duty popping rod for fishing in cairns that time of year?  Sorry so many questions but I just want to be prepared when I go.

[Luke Wyrsta]

Turns out my New Caledonia trip is not going to work out but I will still be spending the last week of july in Cairns and I am definitely going to spend a few days fishing there.  I have read that you recommend Blackout sportfishing charters so I was wondering the best way to get hooked up with them and book a couple charters.  Also what can I expect that time of year as far as the fishing?  And one more question, will it be necessary to have a heavy duty popping rod for fishing in cairns that time of year?  Sorry so many questions but I just want to be prepared when I go.

That's a shame mate.

Regardless, Cairns can still be a good fishing destination. Please shoot me an email or PM with some rough dates - i will give you prices and other details in private.

Although not the best time, GTs can still be targetted in July. During this time, other species which you will have a good chance of hooking on a surface lure would be Spanish Mackerel and on jig or in shallower terriroty species such as Coral Trout and other various reef species. There are also small marlin around which you can troll for conventionally or if you happen across one, you could try lobbing a stickbait.

You don't need a heavy duty outfit for Cairns. I would recommend a PE5/6 outfit to cover most of your fishing requirements (there are bigger GTs there but finding them is another thing!)
 

[cbaker77]

As long as there is something to catch I am happy.  This going to be the trip of a lifetime for me and I just want to fish and catch something that I cannot catch in the states.  I would love to catch a GT but if I do not it is not a big deal.  Will it even bee worth bringing a popping rod or would it be best to just focus on jigging?

[Luke Wyrsta]

As long as there is something to catch I am happy.  This going to be the trip of a lifetime for me and I just want to fish and catch something that I cannot catch in the states.  I would love to catch a GT but if I do not it is not a big deal.  Will it even bee worth bringing a popping rod or would it be best to just focus on jigging?

You may not need to bother. By that time, Kerry may have some good popping gear for use by customers (he already has some but may be getting more). Either way, you should pick up some nice fish - definately ones you can't catch in the states! Emporer's, Dogtooth, Cods, Coral Trout, various Trevallies, Jobfish, Fingermark, Red Bass, Queenfish, Nannygai....the list goes on!!!!

[cbaker77]

Can you catch all of these fish jigging or are there other preferred methods?

[Luke Wyrsta]

Can you catch all of these fish jigging or are there other preferred methods?

You can catch all of those bar a couple which are best caught on live baits.