JIG RODS, JIG REELS, KNIFE JIGS, ASSISTS, POPPING RODS & STICKBAITS
Samsonfish Gear
Perth has the best samsonfish fishery in the world, and it's in reach of a trailer boat. The big aggregations sit on the deep reef and wrecks off Rottnest in 60 to 120m through summer, and they're a jig fish: drop a 200 to 400g knife jig to the bottom and crank it mechanically to the surface until something stops it. When they push up in the water column or onto the shallower lumps, sambos become a topwater fish that hits stickbaits and poppers like a GT, which is exactly how you fish them.
Compleat Angler Nedlands holds the biggest jigging range in WA: Ocean's Legacy, Yamaga Blanks, Ripple Fisher, MC Works, Shimano and Daiwa jig rods, Ocea Jigger and Saltiga overheads, Stella and Certate SW spin reels, jigs from 150 to 600g, assist hooks, popping rods and stickbaits from 140 to 240mm, and the PE3 to PE8 braid and leader to hold them. Browse below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What jigging outfit for samsonfish?
A PE4–6 jig rod, an overhead like the Shimano Ocea Jigger or Daiwa Saltiga 300 or a Stella SW 8000 to 14000, 400m of PE4 to PE6 braid and 80 to 130lb leader. Ocean's Legacy Adrenalin Deep Game, Yamaga Galahad and Ripple Fisher Ocean Arrow are the jig rods built for this. Sound the fish first; if the sounder isn't showing them off the bottom, move rather than jig blind.
Which jigs for sambos off Rottnest?
200 to 400g knife jigs cranked fast from the bottom: Ocean's Legacy Long Contact and Deep Contact, Snapbait Proto-J, Sea Falcon and Lamble. Rig with a heavy assist hook on the top, a twin assist like the Ocean's Legacy Stinger or Lancet. Match weight to depth and current: 200g in 60m, 300 to 400g in 100m or a strong drift.
Can you catch samsonfish on topwater?
Yes, and it's the most exciting way to do it. When sambos are up in the water column on the shallower lumps and reef edges, a 160 to 200mm floating stickbait or a big popper worked across the surface gets crashed. A PE6–8 popping rod like the Ocean's Legacy Raptus, Yamaga Blue Reef or Ripple Fisher Ultimo, a 14000 to 18000 spin reel and PE6 to PE8 braid.
How big do samsonfish get and how hard do they pull?
Perth sambos average 15 to 30kg with fish over 40kg every season. They're a Seriola, the same family as kingfish and amberjack, and they fight in the same brutal way: straight down, hard, for a long time. That's why the gear is heavy and why a gimbal belt is worth it.
When is samsonfish season off Perth?
The deep aggregations off Rottnest form from spring and peak through summer into early autumn, roughly October to April. Sambos are around the inshore reefs and wrecks all year in smaller numbers, and they're a fish most Perth anglers release, so treat them well.