Switchbaiting entails teasing a gamefish to the back of the boat with hookless baits or lures, where the target species is then ‘switched’ to a live or deadbait for a more secure hook-up. So it’s great to have a specialised rod with such a pedigree for this particularly exciting and spectator-friendly fishing style. They make effective trolling and livebait rods as well.

These award-winning rods are available in two overhead and two spin-reel configurations. Built on Shimano’s TC-4 graphite blanks, they are fitted with ALPS alloy light-game reel seats, Fuji tangle-free K-series SiC guides, light-weight carbon Slick Butts and EVA fighting grips.

The use of gel-spun super-lines like Power Pro is slowly becoming more prevalent in gamefishing so these rods are rated for use with 15 to 37kg braid. However, most anglers fishing tournaments, for records, or in club pointscore situations would use pre-test nylon lines.