Tackle Source: TOPWATER THRILLS!

Every trip is different. The statement can't be more apt.

Here we were, on the West Coast again, bad weather threatening to ruin the trip. We head straight for the shelter of the only island for miles, and we find the fish on the chew! What do you do?

Cast!

Ready!

Parked up against the rocks we start casting and before long a Golden Mean Crossbow rod is bent over...

A nice GT on popper to get going!

All aboard are casting, different plugs hoping to get a strike. Between a few misses, this one gets a solid hook-up. The long Majorcraft Giant Killing Tuna Popping stick makes short work of the fight...

A beautiful specimen of the Giant Trevally...

The FCL Labo Ebipop is the staple for these waters...

Meanwhile another Majorcraft Giant Killing rod sees some action. This is the Hiramasa Casting series model...

Another fave for anglers around these parts - the FCL Labo Squid Pencil. Walk the dog extraordinaire...

Happy angler with a typical local GT...

The new DUO release: the Rough Trail Aomasa stickbait is magnificent to work. However, this unlucky one drew four strikes but still had nothing to show for it as all were lost...

The FCL SPP Slim finds a customer...

Alas with a change to another DUO Aomasa we get a GT pinned, its a nice one too!

Another look at this new pencil that will catch many many more fish in trips to come. Can't wait for the other sizes and variations...

Another GT which fell for the slinky new pencil, worked with the Giant Killing Tuna rod...

The DUO Rough Trail Aomasa scores another...

More GT action as another Golden Mean Crossbow is loaded up...

The Rough Trail Aomasa does it again with another GT...

And yet another! The ease of use means everyone on board can work the Aomasa Pencil to its optimum...

At a deeper spot we try the Fisherman Crazy Pencil and it gets chewed on emphatically...

The largest GT of the trip comes on the Crazy Pencil, a low teens fish and a handful in the strong current...

The hot bite goes on into the late arvo. We are testing a prototype popper made specially for these waters, and it performs as intended...

The fish just love the action of the new prototype popper and the results show. Another GT hits the deck courtesy of it...

Meanwhile the good 'ol FCL Labo Squid Pencil continues its stellar run...

Prototype popper draws favour from another GT. Arms begin to ache...

Double hook up! Pandemonium on board as more fish are raised and some lost...

A tandem on FCL Labo Ebipops. These days we live for...

As the sun sets on the magnificent day we plug away. The prototype popper strikes again with a nice size fish...

Another pair hit the deck in tandem. FCL mainstays the Squid Pen and Ebipop take the credit for these captures...

In low light conditions the fantastic sound made by the yet-to-be produced popper finds another taker...

Against the night sky they continue to hammer poppers...

The FCL Ebipop also creates a great fish attracting sound with its chugging. One that predators can't help but home in on...

We could go on forever it seemed but this is the last fish we land before we break for dinner. The prototype popper is truly mangled by the day's end, but it's a job well done...

The next morning is a pale comparison to the evening before. We struggle to raise fish and only after alot of hard work we managed to tease this hesitant GT into biting the DUO Aomasa Pencil...

By trip's end everyone is raving about the new stickbait by DUO. It's been a long wait but it was well worth it...

We leave the popping grounds in search of greener pastures jigging. First drift and we get a double hook up. Two Majorcraft Giant Killing spin rods loaded up...

First GT hits the deck courtesy of an IMA Ro jig...

While the second fell for a Shout! Shab Shab...

We at Tackle Source love the Giant Killing Slow Pitch Special rods. They are fantastic tools to work jigs and fight fish with...

This nice GT gave it a good run for its money, and took a while to land...

It fell for the new Xesta Slow Emotion Flap jig laced with the Shout! Rockfish Assist...

Another Giant Killing Slow Pitch Special gets bent...

This time its the much more welcomed Golden Snapper...

Another victim of the Xesta Slow Emotion Flap jig...

A greedy Snapper on the new Bassday Bungy Metal jig worked with a Long Fall series Giant Killing rod...

This shark gave a good fight on the light Giant Killing Spin rod but is a pain to unhook and release...

The strong currents made jigging difficult. We were lucky to hit this Estuary Cod on the Xesta Nitro jig as it was jerked off the bottom. The Evergreen Poseidon Spin Jerker rod made it a no-contest...

A small GT which took a big Shout! Stay jig...

Working the Long Fall Giant Killing rod makes long sweeps a breeze, the flutter on the Shout! Flash jig makes it the perfect partner, and the result is this nice Golden Snapper...

A tough second day on the jigging front, but a nice sunset to cap it off...

Dusk session finds this nice Goldie hunting in a shallow spot. It can't resist the light Evergreen Caprice Kid jig...

After dark activities are limited, but with an ultralight outfit it can only mean some fun with small jigs like the IMA Gun. This Estuary Cod found it in the dark...