Start here
Which terminal for which job?
The piece of hardware for each connection, with live prices and stock.
Rings to the lure, kingfish to tuna
Vanfook Offshore Heavy
#3 70lb to #9 500lb
Heavy-gauge HERCULEE stainless split rings that hold their shape after repeated use with heavy jigs and topwater plugs.
Upsizing strength, not ring size
Decoy Split Ring EX
#1+ 30lb to #6+ 120lb
Thick EX wire, approximately 50% stronger than Decoy's normal ring, so you can go stronger at the same size.
GT-class plugs and deep jigs
Decoy Split Ring Heavy Class
#8 150lb to #11 300lb
Out-cut rings that prevent trouble when fighting a large fish, flat-processed to keep their strength.
Leader to hardware
Decoy GP Ring
#3 300lb to #6 600lb
A stamped seamless ring with no welds, shaped to sit well with the leader knot.
Single hooks on topwater plugs
Decoy Castin' Single
#2 to 10/0 · inline eye
Designed for pencils and poppers, focused on inshore tuna and kingfish, with a smart eye that takes heavy rings.
Trebles for tuna and big kingfish
Decoy Treble Y-S82
2/0 to 5/0
A strong treble aimed at larger targets: tuna, yellowtail amberjack and small to medium GT.
Killing line twist
Sasame Power Stainless Swivel
Size 2 293lb to 5/0 1190lb
Made-in-Japan stainless swivels that minimise line twist, from light inshore rigs to heavy offshore work.
Lure changes without tools
Decoy Front Ring
#0 15lb to #8 250lb
A one-touch ring-type snap for large pencils and big baits; light enough not to affect the lure action.
Start here
The weakest link
Six connections between braid and hook. A fish finds the weakest one, so each needs to be rated for the fight.
-
1Braid
Fails by Abrasion on reef, jaws or gill plates, or a knot that slips.
Fix PE3 to PE5 for kingfish under 15kg, PE5 to PE8 for bigger kingfish and yellowfin, with enough leader to keep braid off the fish.
Braid guide -
2FG knot
Fails by Slipping, or wearing through after many casts through the guides.
Fix Tie it tight with enough wraps, trim the tag neatly, and retie when it looks worn.
-
3Leader
Fails by Nicks and chafe from jaws, reef and the hull.
Fix Leader sized to the fish (see the table below) and checked after every fish.
See the leaders -
4Solid ring
Fails by A cheap welded ring can crack at the weld or open up.
Fix A seamless stamped ring with no weld, rated well above the leader.
See the solid rings -
5Split ring
Fails by Opening up under load: the most common failure. A standard ring stays the weak point even after you fit stronger hooks.
Fix Heavy-gauge rings rated well above the leader.
See the split rings -
6Hook
Fails by Straightening, a broken point, or a treble levered out on a long fight.
Fix Heavy-wire trebles, or inline singles and assists in the maker's size for the fish.
See the hooks
Sizing
What to run for kingfish and yellowfin
Every ring rated well above the leader, and hooks sized to the fish, not bigger than the lure was built for.
| Target | Braid | Leader | Split ring | Solid ring | Hook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingfish under 15kg | PE3 to PE5 | 80 to 100lb | Vanfook Offshore Heavy #5 150lb or #6 220lb; Decoy Heavy Class #8 150lb | Decoy GP #3 300lb; Shout 74-PR #6 320lb | 4/0 single or assist |
| Kingfish 15kg and up | PE5 to PE8 | 100 to 130lb | Vanfook Offshore Heavy #6 220lb or #7 260lb; Decoy Heavy Class #9 200lb | Decoy GP #3 300lb or #4 400lb; Shout 74-PR #6 320lb | 5/0 single or assist |
| Yellowfin tuna | PE5 to PE8 | 100 to 150lb | Vanfook Offshore Heavy #7 260lb or #8 360lb; Decoy Heavy Class #10 250lb | Decoy GP #4 400lb; Shout 74-PR #7 440lb | 6/0 to 7/0 single or assist |
Ring ratings and sizes are each maker's own: Vanfook and Decoy split rings, Decoy GP and Shout 74-PR solid rings. Hook sizes follow Shout's size guide (4/0 to 5/0 for kingfish, 6/0 to 7/0 for tuna) for singles and assists; for trebles, keep the lure's original size and step up the wire. Braid and leader strengths are common NZ practice, not a maker rating: see leaders.
Hooks
Trebles vs singles vs inline singles
Hook-up, holding, fish care and lure action compared.
| Hook | Hook-up | Holding | Fish care | Lure action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trebles | Three points catch swiping or timid strikes | A long fight can lever a treble out | Hardest to unhook; barbless Y-S23BL for release | What most plugs are balanced with |
| Inline singles | One point, best on committed strikes | Holds well once set, with less leverage | Easiest to unhook; suits single-hook waters | Swim-test after swapping: weight and drag change |
| Single assists | The cord lets the hook follow the fish | Fewer breakaways than ring-connected trebles | Easy to unhook | Hangs free of the lure body |
| Twin assists | A longer cord helps on short bites | Shout rates the risk of pulling free well below trebles | Two points to clear | Light cord, little effect on the action |
Twin assist and treble comparison from Shout's own copy for the Double Kudako. See the trebles and singles and assists we stock.
Rigging
Rigging step by step
From the braid to the hook, in order.
Braid to leader
Join braid to leader with an FG knot, slim enough to run through the guides on the cast.
Leader
Sized to the fish from the table above, and long enough to keep braid off jaws and reef.
Solid ring
Tie the leader to a seamless solid ring, or a ball-bearing swivel if line twist is a problem.
Split ring
Solid ring to the lure eye with a heavy split ring rated well above the leader.
Upsize rings, not hooks
Need more strength? Go to a stronger ring at the same size (Decoy's EX is about 50% stronger than their normal ring) and heavier wire in the lure's hook size, not bigger hooks that upset how it swims.
Fit the hooks
Fit hooks with split ring pliers, then swim-test the lure before you cast at fish.
Maintenance
Check and replace
A quick look after every fish saves the next one.
Leader
Run the leader through your fingers. Any roughness or nick near the lure: retie.
Rings
Check the split rings have not opened or spread. A ring that won't close flush gets replaced.
Hooks
Look for bent or opened hooks and dull points. Replace, don't bend back.
Rinse
Rinse rings, hooks and lures in fresh water and let them dry before they go in the box.
Knot
Check the FG knot and the leader near it, and retie if it looks worn.
When in doubt
Rings that have opened, hooks that are bent, blunt or rusted, and leader after a big fish or any abrasion.
Avoid these
Common mistakes
Stock rings, strong hooks
Fitting stronger hooks but leaving the standard split ring: the ring stays the weak point.
Bigger hooks for strength
Bigger hooks change how the lure sits and swims. Step up the wire and the ring rating instead.
Leader on a split ring
Tying the leader straight to a split ring: the gap can cut the line. Tie to a solid ring.
Ring rated below the leader
Every ring in the chain should be rated well above the leader, or it fails first.
No check after a fish
A nicked leader or a spread ring from the last fish is how the next one is lost.
Fingernails on heavy rings
Opening heavy rings without pliers damages rings, lures and fingers.
01 · The weak link
Split rings
Rated to the lbEven if you replace the hook with a stronger one, a standard ring stays the weak point. Vanfook's Offshore Heavy rings are HERCULEE stainless and keep their shape after repeated use; Decoy's EX rings are about 50% stronger than their normal ring at the same size, and the Heavy Class rings are out-cut to avoid trouble with a big fish. Halco Fish Rings are triple-wire stainless and 70% stronger than standard rings.
- The mission
- Hold the hook to the lure without becoming the weak point.
- Best for
- KingfishTunaHook upgrades
- Ratings
- Vanfook Offshore Heavy #3 70lb to #9 500lb · Decoy EX #1+ 30lb to #6+ 120lb · Decoy Heavy #8 150lb to #11 300lb
Shop split rings
See more
#3 - #9 | 70lb - 500lb
In stockFrom$800Unit price /Unavailable
- Ollie's Pick
#8 - #11 | 150lb - 300lb
In stockFrom$944$1049Unit price /Unavailable -
02 · The leader end
Solid rings and connectors
No gap, no weld to failDecoy's GP Ring is stamped seamless with no welds and shaped to fit the leader knot; the Shout Press Ring 74-PR is seamless SUS304 stainless. The Decoy Front Ring is a one-touch ring-type snap for big pencils, and the Egg Ring keeps the knot in place on the lure eye.
- The mission
- A solid termination for the leader knot.
- Best for
- Leader connectionsAssist hooksTie direct
- Ratings
- Decoy GP #3 300lb to #6 600lb · Shout 74-PR #5 155lb to #8 770lb · Decoy Front Ring #0 15lb to #8 250lb
Shop solid rings and connectors
See more- SpecialSpecial
-
-
-
-
03 · Three points
Trebles
Heavy wire for big fishThe Decoy Y-S82 is aimed at tuna, yellowtail amberjack and small to medium GT, with a smart eye that takes heavy rings. The Shout 231CS is a heavy-wire curved-point treble for yellowtail, tuna and GT, and the Vanfook Takumi Premium is forged from ultra-hard heavy-gauge wire. The Decoy Y-S23BL is MAGIC BARBLESS for fish you plan to release.
- The mission
- Hook up on timid strikes and stabilise the lure.
- Best for
- TunaKingfishGTCatch and release
- Ratings
- Y-S82 2/0 to 5/0 · 231CS 1/0 to 7/0 · Takumi 4/0 to 6/0 · Y-S23BL 6/0 to 8/0
Shop trebles
See more- SpecialSpecial
-
- SpecialSpecial
04 · Singles and assists
Inline singles and assists
Fewer pulled hooksInline singles such as the Decoy Castin' Single and Vanfook Casting Special swap straight onto plugs. Single assists like the Decoy Pluggin Jack and Vanfook Beast Edge hang on a flexible cord that follows the fish, with fewer breakaways than ring-connected trebles. Shout's Double Kudako twin assists hold with two opposing points.
- The mission
- Easier unhooking and fewer lost fish.
- Best for
- StickbaitsPoppersDiving pencilsTuna
- Ratings
- Shout's size guide: 1/0 to 3/0 inshore, 4/0 to 5/0 kingfish, 6/0 to 7/0 tuna and GT
Shop inline singles and assists
See more- SpecialSpecial
- SpecialSpecial
- SpecialSpecial
- SpecialSpecial
05 · Line twist
Swivels and snaps
Rated for big gameSasame Power Stainless swivels are made in Japan and run from 293 to 1190lb; their ball-bearing swivels give friction-free rotation. Centro dual-rotation ball-bearing swivels have welded rings at both ends, and Sampo swivels come with welded rings matched to the swivel size.
- The mission
- Stop line twist between the leader and the lure.
- Best for
- Leader connectionsSpinning luresTrolling
- Ratings
- Sasame Power Stainless 293 to 1190lb · Sasame ball-bearing 68 to 445lb · Centro 280 to 555lb
Shop swivels and snaps
See more
-
-
- best seller
S/S Dual Rotation Ball-Bearing Coastlock Swivel
240lb - 600lb
In stockFrom$1300Unit price /Unavailable
06 · Between braid and lure
Leaders
80 to 150lb for topwaterBetween braid and lure, a mono or fluorocarbon leader handles abrasion from sharp jaws and rough structure: as common NZ practice, 80 to 130lb for kingfish and 100 to 150lb for yellowfin. XBraid FC Absorber is a hard-surfaced fluorocarbon softened for easy knots; Slim and Strong is 1.2 times the strength of XBraid's conventional leader. Castman Absorber and the Varivas Nylon Mono Shock Leader are nylon for shock absorption.
- The mission
- Abrasion and shock protection at the business end.
- Best for
- Topwater kingfishTunaJigging
- Ratings
- FC Absorber 20 to 130lb · Castman Absorber 20 to 200lb · Varivas Nylon 12 to 200lb
Shop leaders
See more
- staff pick
- SpecialSpecial
- SpecialSpecial
12lb - 200lb | 18 Sizes
In stockFrom$1890$2100Unit price /Unavailable
07 · On the boat
Split ring pliers
Open heavy rings safelyWith heavy-duty lures and hardware a good pair of split ring pliers is essential for opening tough rings and changing hooks without damaging your gear or your fingers.
- The mission
- Change hooks and rings at sea.
- Best for
- Heavy ringsHook changes
Shop split ring pliers
See more
-
-
- SpecialSpecial
Related guides
Keep reading
Topwater
Topwater kingfish guide
Braid, rods, reels, kingfish-sized stickbaits, poppers and minnows, and the terminal tackle in between.
Lines
Braid guide
Why braided PE line beats monofilament for lure fishing, what a PE rating means, and the braid and leaders for every style.
Jigging
Kingfish jigging guide
Mechanical jigging for kingfish: the knife jigs, short powerful rods, overhead and spin reels by budget, assist hooks, braid and the lift-and-wind rhythm.
Tuna
Tuna rod guide
Casting rods for the topwater rush and jigging rods for the grind, from Zenaq, Ripple Fisher and Yamaga Blanks, with the PE classes decoded.