My Rod and Reels for Chasing Mulloway

By Joey Urquhart

Chasing mulloway from the shore whether it be from a headland or break wall has become a very popular style of fishing over the past few years. The anticipation of hooking that XOS mulloway is just too addictive to only do it once.

Choosing the right combo for where you’re fishing can enhance your chance of not only hooking but landing that fish of a lifetime. For myself there are three main combos that I use depending on the area and lure I use so let’s break them down staring from lightest to heaviest.

If I’m heading out and plan to chase school jew on 4” and 6” plastics I’ll opt for a lighter thinner diameter rod. The 21 Sensor Sandstorm 1062MH is my model of choice. I match this up with a 4000 Saltist MQ (4500 will also balance fine) spooled with 30lb J-Braid Grand. This combo allows you to work the plastic a lot easier than if you were using a heavier longer rod. Being able to do small hops of the rod tip transfers down to the lure recreating exactly what you’re doing above the water. Keeping in contact with your lure and feeling everything that’s happening is crucial while throwing plastics and having a more sensitive rod in your hands allows you to do so. While you’re out targeting smaller jewfish there is always that chance of hooking that larger specimen so having that extra power lower down in the rod blank can help put the brakes on a big mulloway.

Combo 2

Having one combo to do most styles of jew fishing is a must. This next combo I’ll take if I’m wanting to throw both plastics and hardbodies from either the breakwalls or headlands. A rod around 10’6 in a heavier style rod like the 19 Seajigger range is perfect for this application. I match this with a 10,000 Maverick MQ spooled with 40lb J-Braid Grand. This combo is perfect for throwing big plastics around the headland washes or hardbodies from the wall. Fishing this thicker taper rod allows you to manipulate the fish better while trying to land it and allows you to wash them up with the power in the thicker blank. Some say 10’6” is too short but if you’re like me and are vertically challenged I still can cast this combo for a night with ease.

Combo 3

When the weathers terrible, the winds howling and the seas huge there’s only one combo I take, and it’s referred to as Big Bertha. With these conditions it’s your best chance to catch a XOS mulloway so I opt to throw 180mm-200mm hard bodies. Having a rod that can firstly handle casting these large lures is a must. When faced with casting into a strong head wind fishing a heavy longer rod helps you still make those long cast needed to cover more water or reach that back white-water bank. I use a 18 Sensor Surf 132S 10-20kg, matched to a 14000 Daiwa BG MQ spooled with 50lb J-Braid Grand. This combo not only handles large lures but when you hook that XOS jew you have the upper hand while directing him were to go. For some the 13’ may be too long but when it comes to gaffing a fish in rough seas the extra length make life a lot easier.

New Choices

I hope this helps you pick the right combo for next time you head out chasing mulloway. As a conclusion I highly recommend the 23 Sensor Surf range in particular 1202H 10-20kg which is a new model to the range and will be a perfect all-rounder. Picking the right reel for the rod of choice is crucial but at the end of the day buy what you can afford in the right size, and it will be sure to serve you well. 

Spooling up your reel with the right size line is one of the most important steps of all, too heavy and your casting distance is compromised and too light you could lose that big jew. I would recommend looking at the all-new Daiwa J-Braid Expedition set to hit shelves later in the year. Its silicone coating allows for a smooth long cast which allows you fish heavier than normal which gives you both great casting distance and strength. I tend to mainly fish 60lb leader for all applications and I prefer to use Saltiga X-link fluorocarbon. I find the abrasion resistance great which is reassuring when your fish is getting washed around the rocks.