Alex's Column 30 July 2025
- Aug 1, 2025
- 3 min read
Each year I attend the Australian Fishing Trade Show on the Gold Coast.
It’s an event I look forward to enthusiastically because it gives me the opportunity to check out the latest fishing tackle and to catch up with friends and colleagues who I might only see once a year.
I’m always particularly interested in new tackle that would be a good fit for the NT.
I remember one tackle show at least 20 years ago when more than half the new and latest tackle was primarily directed to the Top End recreational barramundi fishery.
That wasn’t the case this year, but there was still plenty on offer that would interest Top End anglers.
Surprisingly, there were no new baitcasting reels that I saw, but there were some highly-innovative threadline reels on display, especially at the Shimano Fishing Australia stand.
At the high end, how could you not be impressed with Shimano’s new Stella SW 8000D and SW 10000D spin reels?
The Stella in any size is the Rolls Royce of threadline reels and I reckon the new Stella SWs are now hands down the best reels you can buy for light-to-medium-tackle bluewater sportfishing, including chasing our abundant sailfish and small black marlin.
Both come in two gear ratios – 4.8 and 5.6 – with the SW 8000 and SW 10000 having respective 50lb Power Pro braid line capacities of 240m and 330m – which you can increase by more than 60 per cent if you spool up with 30lb braid.
The new Stella SW D range incorporates several awesome new technologies, including:
· improved drag performance;
· improved castability by incorporating a super-slow oscillation which winds the line around the spool one by one in an orderly and precise manner, leading to significantly-reduced line-release resistance and an exhilarating casting feel;
· improved gear strength and durability;
· prevention of line twist by suppressing line slack and reducing the phenomenon of line dropping out of the lower part of the spool and wrapping around the spool; and
· the addition of a waterproof seal to the 25% enlarged handle knob.
It’s worth going online at Shimano Fishing Australia 2025 Catalogue to see all the technological advances which are accompanied by descriptive photos.
Also worth checking out is the interview-format Shimano Tackle Tour 25 on YouTube which I found most interesting and easy to follow.
If you have a spare $1800, or you’re looking for that absolute special gift for the bill-fisher in the family, both the Shimano Stella SW 8000D and 1000D will provide a lifetime of uncompromising angling joy.
Moving from high-end to low-end in new spinning reels on display at the Australian Fishing Trade Show, the range of Shimano Nasci FD reels are more than just entry-level threadlines.
Available in five sizes from the diminutive Nasci 500FD to the Nasci 5000FD, I was impressed with its quiet smoothness, both when spinning the handle and rotating the spool under tight drag.
The 4000 and 5000 sizes are what I call Territory-friendly as they are well suited to barramundi and light offshore fishing.
Affordably priced at around $200, the Nasci range boasts several features that are found in much-more expensive Shimano threadlines, including:
· Hagane gear technology which provides serious strength and durability, and is at the very heart of most Shimano reels;
· a new main shaft that improves winding torque and allows for incredibly smooth and light rotation;
· elastic fins in close proximity to the line roller section which suppress line slack and reduce the chances of line dropping out of the lower part of the spool and wrapping around the spool while the line is still twisted;
· innovative water-repellent treatment which provides water-resistance without increasing rotational resistance;
· the basic design of the entire body and drive-related parts reviewed one by one to reduce minute rattles, gaps and shaking between parts, providing smooth and quiet reel rotation; and
· placement of the reel's centre of gravity closer to the rod and the angler’s hand, which helps to reduce fatigue and enhances casting comfort.
I’ll describe other new tackle I liked at the tackle show in future columns but, as far as exciting new threadline reels go, the latest Shimano Stellas and Nascis are worth checking out and cover all budgets.
