Garfish Rig Setup | DIY Float Fishing Rigs

Garfish Rig Setup a step by step guide on how to create float fishing rigs which work great for garfish and other species like mullet, trout carp and much more. Float fishing for garfish is lots of fun using ultra light gear. Gars taste great and awesome to catch. These rigs are low cost and easy to make yourself DIY
The materials you will need to create a garfish float rig includes
1 x Pencil Quill float
1 x size 12 fine gauge long shank hook or size 12 fly hook
2 x split shots
1 x 3 meter length of 4 pound fluorocarbon leader
Optional items
1 x float stopper
1 x Red tubing
Tools needed
1 x pair of pliers
1 x pair of scissors
garfish float rig works great in all waters. We use this heavily in Port Phillip Bay and Western Port. How to tie a float fishing rig video will be very helpful for beginners and those looking to make their own fishing rigs.
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[@Doodsy1975]

Great educational video once again mate. Float fishing is fun, easy and a great way to introduce kids to fishing. I have fond memories of float fishing with my dad when I was a kid. From the piers in Williamstown catching mullet, to catching redfin at the lakes in Kyneton.

[@fishingmad]

Thanks Darren, Yeah I agree sometimes the most simple forms of things can be really enjoyable. I have enjoyed chasing gars this winter especially with my kids.

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

Gardies are awesome bait, especially for Spanish macks. We have caught a heap of gardies over the years with nothing more complicated than a light (4-6lb mono) line and a small long shank hook. The bait we use (and they love it) is a berley mix made with flour, tuna oil and a can of tuna cat food. Mix the whole lot until it it nice and stretchy. It hangs on the hook ok.

[@fishingmad]

Awesome tip !! Much appreciated. We were trying them locally on gummies a few weeks agao but most of the bites were on other baits. Amazing what berleys we can come up with which work a treat

[@AngusMacKinnon-xm5ko]

Another brilliant presentation mate. Many thanks indeed!

[@fishingmad]

Your very welcome !!

[@AngusMacKinnon-xm5ko]

@@fishingmad Sorry to be a bloody nuisance again Alan. This puter keeps shedding my emails. I know you sent me a message giving the name of the "fish scent" you used with a code from the manufacturer which I remember being "fishingmad 10" but guess what; it was removed from my email by google. Is it possible to get it again please?

[@dingydate]

Thanks Alan, all the know how to get started on Gar fishing, love the video . Cheers Chris , Bris,

[@jaredbuttigieg]

Really nice Video 👍🏼. Can’t wait to put some of them rigs to use!!

[@fishingmad]

Thanks! 👍 Jared. Hope it helps you get onto a few good ones now that were back allowed out again as of tomorrow. Thank goodness

[@jaredbuttigieg]

I know its awesome, finally out of the house.

[@fishingmad]

Yeah i too got out today for a little for a walk than it started pouring LOL hopefully tomorrow will be better

[@jaredbuttigieg]

Yea tomorrow should be better, I was about to take the dog for walk, and it started raining as well

[@heathbonnici6972]

Another very helpful tutorial. Thanks FishingMad very clear and easy to follow. Im glad restrictions are now over in Melb

[@fishingmad]

Glad you enjoyed it Heath, and 100% so happy that were allowed to get back out fishing. wont be long till were back creating some fishing adventures soon so stay tuned for that

[@antonywardle]

Thanks. They are my number one target this year so hopefully I'll be catching with this rig

[@Sydney-Ghumo]

Thank you mate from Sydney 🇦🇺

[@fishingmad]

No problem 👍 your very welcome from Melbourne

[@alessimessi761]

omg ur always perfect timing as I was looking for how to catch and set up for garfish as they have been going off in geelong at the moment! Another amazing video as always keep up the great work Alan!

[@fishingmad]

Thank you so much !! I'm really trying to release content seasonally that way your getting helpful insight for fish species that people are targeting now. I hope this vid helps you catch a few good ones out there. i look forward to being able to travel back to geelong very soon

[@mashpotato472]

Ahh perfect timing for this vid. I was thinking of heading to target some gar sometime soon haha Thanks mate!

[@fishingmad]

Awesome, hopefully this helps. The gars are still fishing really well at the moment.

[@demetrimoutzouris9036]

Thanks for your great advice You have got me hooked on getting out there to chase some Gars and squid 🦑 tight lines cheers👍

[@bigg490]

At Half Moon Bay, using 12ft rod and weighted floats, cast toward Cerberus at night to catch 30cm + beauties. It needs to be a quiet night because you will hear them hook up rather than feel them. Been doing this for 40 years.

[@fishingmad]

Awesome, thank you that's an awesome tip. I've been planning to do a trip up that way from some time and cover a handful of spots around that area.

[@10hanga]

When course fishing was a thing the float selection was amazing so easy to rig up shame they have all but disappeared..

[@Doodsy1975]

I was big onto coarse fishing in the early 90's. Had all the waggler floats. Still got em.

[@10hanga]

@@Doodsy1975my favourite was the slide floats used them to fish mudeye in up to 80 ft of water I still have 3 left, just thought of a way to make some for myself after watching this episode

[@vincenzopaterno2292]

Bloody ripper channel buddy well explained took your time I've subscribed and rang the bell cheers

[@kaseynguyen9256]

Great videos. Keep it up!

[@fishingmad]

Thanks, will do!

[@remicameron7890]

Was hoping you would make a tutorial on this- thanks heaps mate.

[@fishingmad]

Awesome, I hope you found it helpful

[@alwayneaurelia5875]

Very nice demo. Thanks a lot. It is much better if you use white shirt or other colour , so it will be very visible to see on what you’re doing.

[@fishingmad]

Great advice, Thank you !!

[@noelyeo4557]

Good on you mate

[@fishingmad]

Thanks Noel !!

[@markmay184]

Mate, great vid. I’m heading off to Wallis Lake (NSW) at Easter to flick plastics with some mates, at hopefully some nice lizards. We’re staying at a mates, on the lake, and he wants to do a spot of Gar fishing in at Foster, itself - he says he knows a Gar hotspot. I’ve been fishing for nearly 50yrs but never tried my hand at catching Gar, even though I love eating them, and they are a dynamite bail 🤷‍♂️. Anyway, your vid has answered most of my questions, although I do have one - I’ve got a few rods in the 1-3kg range, but they are all fast action. Can you recommend a slow action rod (preferably in the budget range 😀)? I’ve got a bit of a “Power TIP” myself in regards to Float Stoppers. I do a lot of night beach fishing (bait) with Alvey reels. Before running the line through the guides I will attach a float stopper to the line, run the line through the guides and rig up as required. I will then position the float stopper on the line so that when I feel the float stopper pass over my finger when retrieving the rig, and then wind the reel four more turns and the. stop winding, the rig/hook will be at waist level (fishing with the rod in a rod bucket tied at the waist). This eliminates any chance of you winding swivels/sinkers through the guides and damaging your rod. It’s simple : retrieve rig, you feel,the stopper go over your finger, four more winds of the reel, stop, turn 180 with your back to the surf, turn on your headlamp, the rig/hook is right there in front of you, re-bait, shorten the length of the leader to the rod tip, turn off the headlamp, turn back to face the surf and cast: KISS 😀

[@johnklansek8898]

great video Alan some nice rigs do you have a preference that works best

[@davelau2582]

Thanks for the video, is it possible to have 2 or 3 hooks for this setup?

[@fishingmad]

Yes you can certainly run 2 hooks

[@lukeloop]

Thanks, if fishing from a jetty is it ok to use heavier line?

[@fishingmad]

Yes, but not to heavy as gars are such a finesse fish and ligher setup will increase catch rates

[@travisgosney2835]

do you need flouro carbon leader

[@mickypoo]

So what do you think of those berley-cage floats? Good way to berley up the local area at the same time, or are there drawbacks?

[@fishingmad]

Berly cages work great for garfish and bream. It can cause some resistance on the line when they take the bait but its also a very effective technique. I did this a few years ago on catching bream with a feeder cage which might be helpful but same logic applies with garfish kzbin.info/www/bejne/iX3Mm5ltrpp5rpo

[@manfromcoo1968]

what size split shots do you use mate?

[@문경김-l6z]

Hello I'm going on a fishing trip to Melbourne in two weeks. I want to go garfish fishing. I looked up a youtube video and saw a maggot being used as bait. I was wondering if there is a shop where I can buy maggots in Melbourne.

[@danielbithyo1578]

Where can we catch big garfish in Victoria please

[@fishingmad]

This article I wrote down the bottom details all my favourite spots to catch garfish in Vic fishingmad.com.au/specie/garfish Cheers

[@cheaterattackdog5869]

The Gar around here can get up to 300lbs. Hooking up with a 100lb plus is common. I had a 7fter bend a redfish hook straight before so I use shark hooks now. Also make my own steel leaders because they will bite through 50lb test with ease. Ya'll must not be catching Gator Gar but the smaller species...

[@dvargas278]

Hi Alan, when is the best time to catch a garfish?

[@toddla106]

What was the red tube for on the last rig ?

[@fishingmad]

Just for visual attractant, a lot of the Pre made rigs you buy often have green or red tubing.

[@mikhailkoslovskiy7860]

Vodka....yes yes

[@fishingmad]

yes, pour one for me. Cheers !!!

[@Gator1699]

maybe I can snap up a few. 🐊

[@adventureswithfrodo2721]

We use panty hose for gar. No hook involved.

[@edoggg4847]

Kayaking garfish vid???

[@fishingmad]

Yep, hoping to do that very soon. Now that restrictions have eased in melb just need to wait for some decent weather.