Wise Angler® swivels guide
Fishing Swivels: Rolling, Snap & Crossline Swivels
Swivels are a must-have in every tackle box. Rolling swivels for strayline and dropper rigs, snap swivels for fast lure changes, in sizes rated from 19 kg to 100 kg.
- Built for salt or fresh water
- 100% plastic-free, compostable packs
- Species and size guide built in
Try every styleSample Bundle: $63.15 Built To Fish. Inspired By Nature.
Find your swivel
Which swivel for which rig?
Pick a species or technique. We'll show the swivels and hooks for the rig, with sizes, and the bundle that covers it.
- 1Pick a species or technique
- 2Get the swivels and sizes
- 3Add to cart, or save with a bundle
Tap a species or technique to see your hooks and sizes.
Each pick comes with suggested sizes you can add in one tap.
Shop the range
All fishing swivels
Pick a size on any pack and add it straight to your cart.
Complete the rigNeed hooks to match? Shop circle, octopus, beak and livebait hooks→
Smart buy
Get the whole rig in one bundle
Bundles cost less than buying the packs one by one. This one follows your pick in the finder.
Sample Bundle $63.15 $157.87 Save $94.72 (60%)
Swivel school
Swivel types explained
How a swivel works, what the kg ratings mean, and which Wise Angler swivel suits which rig.
Parts of a swivel
- EyesTie your mainline to one end and your leader to the other.
- Rolling barrelThe body turns freely, so twist can spin out of the line instead of building up.
- SnapA clip on snap swivels for quick lure and rig changes.
- Third eyeCrossline swivels add a third eye for a dropper, so you can fish a hook off the main line.
- RatingEach size is rated in kg, shown in the size options.
Six swivels for every rig
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The everyday swivel
Impressed Rolling Swivel
A must-have rolling swivel: strong connection and helps avoid tangled line. Sizes rated 43 kg to 75 kg.
Sizes 1 / 47 kgs · 1/0 60 kgs · 2/0 75 kgs · 2 / 43 kgs
Shop Impressed Rolling Swivel · from $11.49 -
Dropper rigs
Crossline Rolling Swivel
With pearl beads. Made for dropper rigs when surfcasting or boat fishing: a strong link between leader and mainline without tangles.
Sizes 3x4 35 kgs · 7x8 19 kgs
Shop Crossline Rolling Swivel with Pearl Beads · from $11.49 -
Lure swaps
Screwed Snap Rolling Swivel
Slide-in snap for fast lure and stickbait swaps when casting for big fish like kingfish and tuna.
Sizes 2/0 75 kgs · 1/0 60 kgs
Shop Screwed Snap Rolling Swivel · from $12.49 -
Soft baits · jig heads
Italian Snap Rolling Swivel
Narrow-eye snap for quick connections between soft bait main lines and jig heads.
Sizes 1/0 45kgs · 2 / 30kgs
Shop Italian Snap Rolling Swivel · from $9.49 -
Strength · rust resistance
Coast Lock Snap Rolling Swivel
Brass swivel with a stainless steel snap, for strength and rust resistance.
Sizes 1 / 45 kgs · 2 / 30 kgs · 4 / 22 kgs · 1/0 45 kgs
Shop Coast Lock Snap Rolling Swivel · from $10.49 -
Carolina · strayline
Barrel Brass Weight Rolling Swivel
Rolling swivel and barrel sinker in one, rated 100 kg. Built for Carolina and strayline rigs, salt or fresh.
Sizes 3 / 100kgs
Shop Barrel Brass Weight Rolling Swivel · from $15.99
Not sure on size?
Try every style with the Sample Bundle
One pack of every Wise Angler hook style plus six rolling swivels and snaps. You choose the size of each pack.
Sample Bundle $63.15 $157.87 Save $94.72 (60%)
Techniques
How to fish it
Six ways to rig up, with the bait, rig and Wise Angler gear for each.
Strayline
Fish a lightly weighted bait down a berley trail so it drifts naturally. The classic way to target snapper.
RigRunning ball sinker directly above 2 × 5/0–7/0 hooks.
BaitFresh cut baits: pilchard, bonito, squid
Caught on a Wise Angler Pink Beak Hook.
Ledger / flasher
A 2-hook ledger or flasher rig fished over deeper structure. With circle hooks, don't strike: just wind into the weight.
Rig2-hook ledger / flasher rig, with a crossline swivel for the dropper.
BaitCut baits: pilchard, squid, bonito
Trevally on a Wise Angler Light Circle Hook.
Surfcasting
Long-range casting from the beach. Great bait presentation and sharp hooks matter most. Know your local spots.
RigDropper or pulley rig, cast long range on a 12ft surf rod with your preferred reel.
BaitFresh bait, well presented on a sharp hook
Livebait
Nose- or shoulder-hook a lively baitfish and float or slow-troll it near structure on a heavy-duty trace.
RigLivebait rig: heavy-duty trace and a quality rolling swivel to prevent line twist.
BaitLively baitfish: jack or slimy mackerel, koheru, kahawai, trevally, piper; live mullet or prawns for barramundi
Sizes6/0–12/0
Quick tipMatch your hook to your bait: small livebait, small hook; big livebait, big hook. That keeps it swimming live for longer in the bite zone.
Float
Suspend a strip bait under a float for kahawai, or a live mullet or prawn for barramundi.
RigFloat rig with 3/0 hooks (kahawai) or a livebait float rig (barramundi).
BaitStrips of pilchard or squid; live mullet or prawns
Hāpuku — deep-water bottom fishing
Present a substantial bait near the seabed around reefs, pinnacles and drop-offs.
RigUse a heavy-duty ledger/dropper rig with short branching traces and a lead sinker below the hooks. Match the sinker weight to the depth and current to keep your bait near the bottom.
BaitWhole squid, fresh kahawai or trevally fillets, or barracouta strips.
Quick tipGlow-in-the-dark terminal tackle adds visibility in deep water. Wise Angler's Luminous Beak Hook adds glow directly to the hook, potentially reducing the need for separate luminous beads or tubing. Charge the luminous finish with a torch before each drop, and check your leader, knots and connections between drops.
Bait guide
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Pilchard
Cut baits for snapper down a berley trail, strips under a float for kahawai, whole and well presented for Australian salmon in the surf.
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Squid
Cut squid for snapper and kahawai. Squid and cuttlefish are top baits for red emperor too.
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Bonito
Fresh cut bonito is a top strayline bait for snapper.
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Live baitfish
Lively, medium-sized baitfish: jack or slimy mackerel, koheru, kahawai or trevally (1kg+ for big kingfish). Piper suit surface or float rigs, rigged through the tail.
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Live mullet & prawns
Fished under a float or on a bottom rig near snags and mangroves.
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Cuttlefish
Fresh cut cuttlefish on a strayline or light dropper rig, fished much like snapper.
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Cut bait, worms & liver
Stinky baits pinned hard to the riverbed near slow currents or structure.
Species guide
Know your fish
Where they're found, when they bite, how to fish them and the Wise Angler gear to use.
Snapper on a Wise Angler fluoro Beak Hook.
Snapper
Chrysophrys auratus / Tāmure
New Zealand and Australia’s iconic, hard-fighting table fish found across shallow inshore flats and deep reefs.
Salt waterWhere they're found
NZAbundant in North Island coastal waters (Hauraki Gulf, Bay of Plenty, Northland) and top of the South Island (Tasman/Golden Bay).
AUSouthern Queensland down through NSW, Victoria (Port Phillip Bay), SA gulfs, and southern WA.
Best time of year
- Jan: peak
- Feb: peak
- Mar: peak
- Apr: peak
- May: good
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct: good
- Nov: peak
- Dec: peak
Peak Good
Year-round fishery; peaks during spring and summer spawning runs when fish push shallow.
How to fish them
Strayline fresh cut baits (pilchard, bonito, squid) down a berley trail with minimal lead. Also take soft plastics, slow-pitch jigs, and ledger rigs over deeper structure.
RigStrayline rig (running ball sinker directly above 2x 5/0–7/0 hooks) or 2-hook Ledger / Flasher rig.
Quick tipCut baits cast down a berley trail catch the biggest snapper. Don't strike immediately with circle hooks—just wind into the weight.
Wise Angler picks
You'll also need: Ball sinkers (1/4–4 oz).
Kahawai
Arripis trutta
New Zealand’s fast, acrobatic schooling fish. Relentless fighters on light tackle and prime table or bait fish when bled immediately.
Salt waterWhere they're found
NZFound nationwide in vast surface schools around coastlines, river mouths, estuaries, and surf beaches.
AUPrimarily South-Eastern waters (where it is known as Eastern Australian Salmon).
Best time of year
- Jan: peak
- Feb: peak
- Mar: peak
- Apr: peak
- May: good
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep: good
- Oct: good
- Nov: peak
- Dec: peak
Peak Good
Present all year round; explosive surface blitzes peak from late spring through autumn chasing baitfish.
How to fish them
Cast and fast-retrieve metal casting spinners or soft plastics into feeding schools. For bait fishing, suspend a strip of pilchard or squid under a float or bottom rig.
RigHigh-speed metal casting lure setup, or float rig with 3/0 hooks.
Quick tipLook for diving work-up birds. Cast past the schooling boil, retrieve quickly, and bleed your catch straight into an ice slurry.
Wise Angler picks
You'll also need: Ball-bearing snap swivel (prevents twist when spinning); casting metals / small silver lures.
Kingfish
Yellowtail kingfish (haku). A powerful sport fish that lives around structure.
Salt waterWhere they're found
NZMainly the North Island and the top of the South Island: reefs, pinnacles, wharves, channel markers and harbour entrances.
AUSouthern half of the country, from southern Queensland and NSW round to WA: offshore reefs, headlands and deep water.
Best time of year
- Jan: peak
- Feb: peak
- Mar: peak
- Apr: good
- May: good
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov: good
- Dec: peak
Peak Good
Best in the warmer months. Some northern spots fish year-round.
How to fish them
Nose- or shoulder-hook a lively, medium-sized baitfish (jack or slimy mackerel, koheru, kahawai or trevally) through the nostrils or upper shoulder so it swims naturally near structure. Go 1kg+ for big kingfish. Piper suit surface or float rigs, rigged through the tail. Jigs and stickbaits work too.
RigLivebait rig: heavy-duty trace with a quality rolling swivel to prevent line twist.
Quick tipUse a strong, short-shank, wide-gape or circle hook matched to your bait. Kingfish head straight for the reef: set your drag firm and turn the fish early.
Wise Angler picks
Live Bait HookAll sizes 6/0–12/0. Match your hook to your bait: small livebait, small hook; big livebait, big hook. That keeps it swimming live for longer in the bite zone.
Demon Circle Hook
Screwed Snap Rolling Swivel
CONFIRM (preview only): species facts drafted from general NZ/Australian fishing knowledge. Check them, then tick "Facts confirmed".
Australian salmon
Arripis truttaceus
Powerful, surf-dwelling school fish that jump acrobatically and hit hard in crashing whitewater.
Salt waterWhere they're found
NZNot present — NZ’s kahawai (Arripis trutta) is its close cousin.
AUSouthern coastline from southern NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, through to southern WA.
Best time of year
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar: good
- Apr: peak
- May: peak
- Jun: peak
- Jul: peak
- Aug: peak
- Sep: peak
- Oct: good
- Nov
- Dec
Peak Good
In Australia, autumn and winter produce the biggest migratory aggregations and surf blitzes.
How to fish them
Long-range surfcasting with a well-presented bait on sharp hooks, fished on a dropper or pulley rig, or casting chrome metal slugs from rocky headlands and beaches. Know your local spots.
RigDropper or pulley rig, cast long range on a 12ft surf rod with your preferred reel.
Quick tipTarget the deep "gutters" (darker, wave-free breaks) along ocean beaches on an incoming high tide.
Wise Angler picks
You'll also need: A 12ft surf rod and your preferred reel; impact / star sinker; chrome metal slugs.
Caught straylining on a 10/0 Luminous Beak Hook.
Red emperor
Lutjanus sebae
One of Australia’s most prized northern reef predators, famous for incredible fighting strength and world-class eating quality.
Salt waterWhere they're found
NZNot present.
AUWarm tropical/sub-tropical waters from Shark Bay & Ningaloo (WA), across the Top End, down through the Great Barrier Reef to Moreton Bay (QLD).
Best time of year
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr: good
- May: peak
- Jun: peak
- Jul: peak
- Aug: peak
- Sep: peak
- Oct: good
- Nov
- Dec
Peak Good
Caught year-round in deep water (30m to 120m+); cooler winter months provide the most consistent runs.
How to fish them
Fish it much like snapper: strayline a well-presented squid or cuttlefish bait with minimal lead, or fish a light ledger / dropper rig over reef and rubble. No need for heavy line.
RigStrayline rig (running ball sinker directly above the hook) or a light ledger / dropper rig, as for snapper.
Quick tipPresent your bait well on a sharp hook. With circle hooks, don't strike: just wind into the weight.
Wise Angler picks
You'll also need: Ball sinkers, as you'd use for snapper.
Barramundi
Lates calcarifer
Australia’s premier tropical sportfish, celebrated for aggressive boof strikes, searing runs, and gill-rattling airborne jumps.
Salt & fresh water (estuarine / riverine)Where they're found
NZNot present.
AUTropical north, mainly north of the Tropic of Capricorn (WA Kimberley, Darwin/Top End NT, and coastal Queensland).
Best time of year
- Jan: good
- Feb: peak
- Mar: peak
- Apr: peak
- May: good
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct: peak
- Nov: peak
- Dec: peak
Peak Good
Peaks during the "Run-off" (end of the wet season, Feb–April) and the "Build-up" pre-wet heat (Oct–Dec).
How to fish them
Cast deep-diving hardbody minnows, paddle-tail soft plastics, or vibes tight against mangrove roots, snags, and rock bars. Slow-trolling or live-baiting live mullet/prawns under a float or bottom rig.
RigHeavy leader lure setup (40–60 lb fluorocarbon tied to a hardbody lure or jighead) or livebait float rig.
Quick tipBarra are ambush predators that position facing into the current. Cast upstream of submerged timber and retrieve naturally with the tidal flow right past the snag.
Wise Angler picks
You'll also need: 40–60 lb fluorocarbon shock leader; hardbody lures, paddle-tails or vibes.
Catfish
Siluriformes — freshwater & saltwater
Whisker-faced benthic feeders known for their scent-driven hunting, immense bottom weight, and stubborn bulldog fights.
Fresh / brackish / saltWhere they're found
AUTandanus (Eel-tailed freshwater catfish) across the Murray-Darling and eastern systems; plus Estuary Catfish and Fork-tailed catfish in northern bays/rivers.
USAChannel, Blue, and Flathead catfish across the Mississippi, southern rivers, reservoirs, and lakes.
S. AmericaGiant species like Piraíba and Redtail across the Amazon and Orinoco basins.
Best time of year
- Jan: peak
- Feb: peak
- Mar: peak
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov: peak
- Dec: peak
Peak Good
Peak shown for the Southern Hemisphere (Northern Hemisphere: May–Sep). Warm summer months are best, particularly dusk, warm overcast nights, and after heavy river rises.
How to fish them
Still-fishing stinky cut baits, live crawfish, chicken liver, or earthworms pinned hard to the riverbed near slow currents or structure.
RigCarolina rig (running egg sinker, bead, swivel, 18-inch leader) or Fish-Finder bottom rig.
Quick tipCatfish hunt heavily by olfactory senses. Choose high-oil, bloody, or pungent fresh cut baits and let the scent plume drift downstream into deeper structure. Eel-tailed catfish are protected in some Australian waters, and never move live fish between waterways.
Wise Angler picks
You'll also need: Egg sinker / sinker slide; monofilament leader.
Hāpuku
Polyprion oxygeneios
Also called hapuka or groper. A big, deep-water reef fish.
Salt waterWhere they're found
NZDeep reefs, pinnacles and drop-offs around New Zealand, usually in around 100 m of water or more.
How to fish them
Present a substantial bait near the seabed around reefs, pinnacles and drop-offs.
RigUse a heavy-duty ledger/dropper rig with short branching traces and a lead sinker below the hooks. Match the sinker weight to the depth and current to keep your bait near the bottom.
Quick tipGlow-in-the-dark terminal tackle adds visibility in deep water. Wise Angler's Luminous Beak Hook adds glow directly to the hook, potentially reducing the need for separate luminous beads or tubing. Charge the luminous finish with a torch before each drop, and check your leader, knots and connections between drops.
Wise Angler picks
You'll also need: Whole squid, fresh kahawai or trevally fillets, or barracouta strips.
CONFIRM (preview only): species facts drafted from general NZ/Australian fishing knowledge. Check them, then tick "Facts confirmed".
Trout
Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brown trout (Salmo trutta)
Introduced sport fish of cool, clear lakes and rivers, loved for their fight and the places they live.
Fresh water (lakes & rivers)Where they're found
NZLakes and rivers nationwide, e.g. the Taupō and Rotorua lakes and rivers throughout the South Island.
AUCool highland waters, e.g. Tasmania and the Snowy Mountains / Victorian high country.
Best time of year
Many NZ rivers open on 1 October, and many lakes are open all year. Seasons, limits and methods vary by region, so check the local Fish & Game rules (in Australia, your state rules). A fishing licence is required.
How to fish them
Micro jig or slowly retrieve a small paddle-tail soft bait like the StormX Cyclone Minnow 3" along lake edges, river banks, pools and runs. Bait fishing is only allowed in some waters, so check the local rules first.
RigLight spin setup with a fluorocarbon leader and a 2/0–3/0 jig head.
Quick tipHandle trout gently: wet your hands, use a net and keep the fish in the water as much as you can if releasing it.
Wise Angler picks
StormX™ Cyclone Minnow 3" Soft Lure — Yellow Tail
StormX™ Cyclone Minnow 3" Soft Lure — Tommy Pearl
StormX™ Cyclone Minnow 3" Soft Lure — Squid Ink - Glow UV
You'll also need: A jig head with a 2/0–3/0 hook for the Cyclone Minnow 3" (micro jigging).
CONFIRM (preview only): species facts drafted from general NZ/Australian fishing knowledge. Check them, then tick "Facts confirmed".
Bundle and save
Swivel Pro Bundle
Italian snap, screwed snap, crossline and barrel brass weight rolling swivels in one bundle.
Swivel Pro Bundle $25.62 $28.47 Save $2.85 (10%)
Bundle and save
Compare our bundles
Bundles cost less than buying each pack on its own. Prices and savings come straight from the store.
- Biggest saving
Sample Bundle
Best for Trying every style
One pack of every Wise Angler hook style plus six rolling swivels and snaps. You choose the size of each pack.
$63.15$157.87Save $94.72 (60%)
See the bundle -
Strayline Bundle
Best for Straylining for snapper
Hooks and swivels for strayline rigs.
$80.52$129.87Save $49.35 (38%)
See the bundle -
Surfcast Bundle
Best for Surfcasting
11 items: the hooks and swivels for the surf.
$83.03$138.39Save $55.36 (40%)
See the bundle -
Livebait Bundle
Best for Livebaiting for kingfish
Live Bait hooks and swivels for livebaiting big kingfish.
$70.75$108.84Save $38.09 (35%)
See the bundle -
Catch & Release Bundle
Best for Circle hook fans
Heavy and light circle hooks plus a selected swivel range.
$89.19$127.41Save $38.22 (30%)
See the bundle -
Beak Hook - Color Trio Bundle
Best for Bait fishing
Beak hooks in fluoro green, pink and luminous green.
$30.57$35.97Save $5.40 (15%)
See the bundle -
Swivel Pro Bundle
Best for Rigging
Italian snap, screwed snap, crossline and barrel brass weight rolling swivels.
$25.62$28.47Save $2.85 (10%)
See the bundle -
Hook Up Bundle
Best for Building your own
Customise a bundle of hooks and save.
$28.32$31.47Save $3.15 (10%)
See the bundle
Savings are worked out from each bundle's RRP.
Built To Fish. Inspired By Nature.
Fishing guide
Fishing swivels guide
Why every rig needs a swivel
Swivels are a must-have in every tackle box. A rolling swivel joins your mainline to your leader and lets the line turn freely, which helps reduce line twist and tangles. Snap swivels add a clip so you can change lures and rigs in seconds.
Use the finder to see which swivel suits your species or technique.
Which swivel for which rig?
Crossline Rolling Swivel with Pearl Beads: dropper rigs for surfcasting or boat fishing. Barrel Brass Weight Rolling Swivel: Carolina and strayline rigs, salt or fresh. Screwed Snap: quick lure and stickbait swaps for kingfish and tuna. Italian Snap: soft bait main lines to jig heads. Coast Lock Snap: brass swivel with a stainless steel snap. Impressed Rolling Swivel: the everyday rolling swivel, rated 43 kg to 75 kg.
Plastic-free packs
Every Wise Angler pack is 100% plastic-free, in compostable packaging. Read how to home compost Wise Angler packaging.
FAQ
Hooks & swivels questions
Why use a swivel?
Swivels are a must-have. A rolling swivel joins your mainline and leader and helps reduce line twist and tangles. Snap swivels let you change lures and rigs quickly.
What do the kg ratings mean?
Each swivel size is rated in kilograms, shown in the size options. For example, the Impressed Rolling Swivel 2/0 is rated 75 kg. Choose a rating that suits your line and target species.
Which species do Wise Angler hooks work on?
Our hooks work on a wide range of species, including snapper, kahawai, kingfish, Australian salmon, red emperor, barramundi, catfish and hāpuku, in salt or fresh water.
What are the hooks made from?
Wise Angler hooks are made from high-carbon steel. Our Demon Circle and Live Bait hooks have a black nickel finish.
Is the packaging plastic-free?
Yes. Every pack is 100% plastic-free, in compostable packaging. See how to home compost Wise Angler packaging.
Can I buy hooks and swivels in a bundle?
Yes. Our bundles cost less than buying the packs one by one. The Sample Bundle has one pack of every hook style plus six rolling swivels and snaps, and you choose the size of each pack.