Buying Christmas gifts for friends and family can not only be extremely hard but also frustrating. Not knowing if they will like the present or if it’s up to their expectations. We have compiled a list of items that any angler would be ecstatic to receive as fishing gifts on Christmas day. Read on to find the perfect fishing gift this Christmas.
Rods, reels and everything in-between
One of Australia’s favourite pastimes is grabbing a rod and esky full of beer and heading to the beach or trip offshore. With fishing in Australia, we are extremely lucky with the abundance of species we have on our doorstep. This means you’ll need the right gear to target them. We take a look at a this years picks, tailored to a range of fishing techniques and situations.
Fishing rod & reels
Beach fishing rod
Size matters when it comes to fishing gifts and beach fishing, having a long rod that you can catapult your bait or lure past the surf is essential. With the Storm Gomuku surf rod it comes in 2pc in the 9ft & 12ft models and 3 piece in the 13ft model for ease of transport.
Beach fishing reel
Having a high speed reel and a large line capacity is essential when beach fishing, one of the hardiest reels on the market that won’t break the bank would have to be the Penn Slammer IV. The 6500HS & 8500HS is recommended with the heavy drag settings, high capacity of braid along with the high capacity rate of 122cm on the 6500HS and 127cm per wind on the 8500HS.
Creek fishing spinning rod
Whether it’s for chasing mangrove jack through the mangroves or that elusive dusky flathead, the Penn Regiment Black Ops II is the perfect spin rod that won’t break the bank.
Estuary fishing spinning reel
When looking for a reel to match the Black Ops II for river or creek fishing, the best sizes are 2500 – 4000 range of reels. The Penn Pursuit IV ticks these boxes, paired with the Black Ops II rod it is a lethal combo on the river whether lure fishing or bait fishing.
Estuary fishing baitcasting combo
Most river and estuary lure anglers prefer a bait casting reel over spinning, as it allows for more controlled casting under mangroves and into high spots. To match a rod to a reel can be quite difficult. Whether you’re an experienced angler or just getting started we would suggest, Abu Garcia Low Profile Baitcasting Combo. With up-to 9kg of drag this reel can tackle an array of species from bream to barramundi.
Deep Dropping rod
Having the right deep dropping rod or otherwise known as dendoh rods are imperative when it comes to chasing the monsters of the deep. The PENN Ocean Assassin Deep Bent Butt Game Rod is the perfect rod to match with the complete range of Penn’s Hooker range of electric reels.
Deep dropping reel
With deep dropping becoming ever increasingly popular, the demand for top tier electric reels is becoming much greater. The Penn International VI Electric Auto-stop albeit quite pricey, will turn you into a worthy adversary for an array of species from flame tailed snapper to sword fish.
Trolling reel
Australian coastlines are home to numerous species of billfish and pelagics, one of the best ways to find and catch these fish is trolling. When you are chasing fish that are over 100kg, only the best gear will do. Penns VISW series are the perfect game fishing reels for chasing those monsters offshore.
Trolling rod
Matching a rod to a top tier range of reels such as the VISW range, its hard to go past the Penn Powercurve International Game Rod range. These rods are designed, built and tested for big game fish and will make the perfect fishing gift this Christmas.
Casting rod
Whether you find yourself chasing Giant trevally on the Great Barrier Reef or casting at schools of yellow fin, you won’t find a better rod in the price range then the Penn Ocean Assassin Spinning Rod. Proven and trusted by anglers around the world, this well balanced rod built with only the best components will not let you down.
Casting reel
Having a reel that can not only withstand the elements but hold up to the likes of giant trevally, kingfish and Tuna is a must. The Penn Authority was released this year and is the top tier spinning reel for Penn. With an IPX8 waterproof rating, this reel is the perfect addition to your fishing arsenal.
Bottom fishing reel
Most anglers around the country were introduced to fishing through bottom bouncing. Whether its your go-to style of fishing or you just do it to stock up the freezer, Penn’s Fathom II Level Wind overhead reels have an adjustable star drag that reaches up-to 13.6kg of drag along with the level wind to stop your line heaping up. All of this makes it a perfect fishing gift for any angler.
Bottom fishing rod
Never miss another bite again with Ugly Stik Gold Overhead Rod, with its softer tip and strong back bone, it has the sensitivity to feel every bite. The hardy build allows you to get that fish off the bottom and into your fish bag.
Storage
Tackle box
Having a decent tackle box not only makes a difference when you need to change tackle in a hurry, but also saves you a small fortune by keeping all of your tackle out of the elements. The Plano Elite Series Angled Tackle Box is for the angler that needs bulk space and wants to keep his tackle out of the elements. If you are looking for something smaller you can check out the range here!
Accessories fishing gifts
Fishing accessories such as pliers, scissors and knives that can last in the elements are invaluable pieces of equipment.
Scissors
Synotek Ceramic Braid Scissors are made up of a hardened plastic handled ceramic blade, no longer will you have to worry about rusty & blunt scissors.
Split Ring Pliers
No tackle setup is complete with out a quality set of split ring pliers. The Synotek Heavy Duty Split Ring Pliers are an all rounder, with their Stainless steel jaws that not only function for split rings they can also be used for crimping.
Knife
A knife is an essential item when you are out fishing, not only because they are a versatile tool but also for safety. You wouldn’t put your safety in the hands of a rusty knife. With the Ugly Stik 3 Piece Knife Set all three blades are made out of high carbon steel. They will not just keep a sharp edge for longer they will also last in the harsh conditions.
Apparel
The days of fishing shirts with just a brand name on them is over, with fishing apparel now offering better ventilation and sun protection, along with amazing art that matches your fishing style. You can check out the full range here for the perfect fishing gift!
Sunglasses
Having the right sunglasses to match your fishing style makes all the difference, with different lenses for different purposes you will never miss seeing a fish come up on your topwater lure or fly again.
Fishing gifts for the extreme angler
We all have that one friend or family member that is completely addicted to fishing. Whether it be deep dropping for swordfish, popping for GT or bottom bashing for snapper. For these anglers they only want the best of the best.
Top water rods & reels
Having a rod that allows you to work your lure properly and have a strong backbone, is the most important part when choosing a top water rod.
Popping rod
With the Blackspot cast popping rod built from a Japanese toray blank and made up of only the best fuji components. The rod is not only well balanced, it will have the back bone to turn the head on the biggest giant trevally.
Stickbait rod
A good stickbait rod is not easy to find. Having a stickbait rod that has a soft enough tip that allows you to work those hard to swim stickbaits that also has the backbone to keep the fish out of the coral is imperative. The Suicide cast stickbait rod has the same features of the Blackspot casting rod with its Japanese toray blank and fuji components, but has a softer tip that allows you to work your stickbaits.
Popping & jigging reel
With drag pressure of up to 22.7kg and a retrieval rate of 127cm per wind, the 8500 high speed Penn Authority is a go to for many anglers looking for a top tier popping reel that won’t break the bank. The 6500 high speed Penn Authority matched with the Suicide casting rod, will give you an extremely well balanced combo with 18.1kg of drag pressure and a retrieval rate of 122cm per wind.
Slow pitch jigging
Overhead slow pitch jigging rod
Slow pitch jigging has been growing in popularity with anglers through out the last couple of years, making a slow pitch jigging setup one of the ultimate fishing gifts for any angler. The main target for slow pitch jiggers is mainly bottom species such as coral trout and snapper. The Pe 2 Wonky Donkey slow pitch jigging rod made up of a Japanese toray blank and made up of top of the Line Fuji components. This rod is built to work your slow pitch jigs and have the power to turn the tables on the species you are chasing.
Slow pitch jigging reel
The Penn Fathom II 10 lever drag has been a hit with the global slow pitch jigging community since its release earlier this year. With a retrieval rate of 69cm per wind and drag pressure up to 9.1kg. Match the Penn Fathom II 10 lever drag with Wonky donkey slow pitch jigging rod and you will have an extremely powerful combo.
Heavy jigging
Heavy jigging rod
The majority of anglers that are chasing dogtooth tuna and kingfish prefer a spinning set up when chasing these species. When choosing a spinning jig rod, you want a rod with an extremely strong back bone but a tip that allows you to still work the jig. The Penn Ocean Assassin PE 5-8 ticks both of these boxes with out emptying the wallet.
Spinning jig reel
Drag is your best friend when chasing dogtooth tuna and kingfish, the Okuma Makaira 10000 offers up to 25kg of drag with a retrieval rate of 101cm per wind making this the perfect jigging reel for those bucket list fish.
Poppers
Top water fishing is an extremely addictive sport and for a good reason. Ask any topwater angler what their favourite part of the sport is and you will always get the same answer, “It’s all about the strike”! Having a good popper that not only has a good action but is well constructed is must if you are serious about landing those reef dwelling monsters. Hammer Head poppers are renowned through the sportfishing community not only for their sturdy wooden build and through wire construction but also for its action, the commotion this popper makes at every pop will have fish coming up from the deepest depths to investigate.
Stickbaits
Popper fishing is extremely fun but it also tires you out, this is when most anglers switch to a stick bait. The Fifth Element X-Trail Sinking Stickbait is perfect for either when you are tired or if you need to get that lure down to the fish. With a hardy wooden build along with a through wire construction and extremely good swim action that re-enacts a fleeing bait fish, the X-trail 120g will have you hooked up with confidence in no time!
Jigs
Slow pitch jigs
Alot of anglers underestimate the power in a good quality jig. With its unique tear drop shape, the Synotek Nugget 125g makes a motion of pitching side to side on the lift and a fluttering on the drop. This motion will keep you in the strike zone longer and initiate more strikes. Not only does it have an amazing motion it also comes pre-rigged with top of the line Synotek BKK split ring, Synotek BKK twin assist hooks and glow squid.
Fish with confidence
Having the right equipment for the right technique is a must if you want to confidently target certain species, having confidence in your gear means you can concentrate on fighting the fish instead of worrying if something is going to break.
If you couldn’t find the right gift for Christmas, you can check out our extensive range of tackle and apparel HERE on the Ocean Blue Store.
You may also like:
