Lox QX 10 7625M King George Whiting

Excerpt from Hooked up Magazine:

LOX QX10

For far too long, bait fishers have been overlooked. While lure anglers enjoy a smorgasbord of technique-specific, high-performance graphite rods, bait rods have often been relegated to cheap glass blanks with little thought to action, ergonomics or purpose. But bait fishing is every bit as technical and finesse-driven as lure fishing – especially when chasing sensitive biters such as King George whiting. Finally, someone has stepped up and recognised this. Enter the new Lox QX10 King George Whiting Special, a purpose-built rod that delivers the feel, control and durability bait anglers deserve.

This rod is part of the newly released Lox QX10 series – five models in total, each engineered around a specific technique. The whiting special is, in my opinion, the standout not only because it performs exceptionally but because it fills a gap that has long existed in the market. Built on a high-modulus Japanese Toray carbon blank, combining both 30T and 46T fibres, this rod delivers sensitivity in spades while maintaining power in the butt to handle heavy leads and incidental bycatch. It’s a delicate balance that Lox has absolutely nailed. At 7ft 6in the length is perfect and armed with Fuji K guides – all the componentry is spot on.

It’s refreshing that a company has made a high quality rod dedicated to King george whiting, there are very few if any on the market.

Bite Detection

At the core of the blank is Lox’s IV Core Loop technology, which helps stabilise the blank during loading and unloading. This results in faster recovery, greater casting accuracy (not that you really need it in this instance), and superior bite detection – attributes that are especially useful when you’re fishing in deep water or strong currents and trying to identify those subtle, tell-tale taps from a whiting as opposed to a wrasse or toadie. It’s surprising how often your first cast will tell you whether you’re in a productive spot, and with this rod, you’ll know within seconds.

Casting & Fighting

I fish the south of Port Phillip, often in deep water with significant current, and I regularly use sinkers up to 5oz. The Lox QX10 handles that without breaking a sweat. It’s got the backbone to load and carefully lob a heavy rig accurately and safely without putting stress on the graphite. That said, you do need to remember that graphite is not fibreglass – this isn’t a rod for hard, full-force casts over the head. It’s designed for gentle lobs, which is exactly what you should be doing when anchored over sand holes anyway. In this context, the rod shines. It’s forgiving enough to absorb headshakes and those darting dives but fast enough to respond the instant you need to strike.

It’s the best King george whiting rod that we’ve ever tested or used.

Built For Purpose

Where this rod truly excels, though, is in the way it’s been designed around real bait-fishing needs. Too often, rods marketed as ‘light’ or ‘sensitive’ come with short butts and exposed graphite – clearly aimed at lure anglers. But a bait rod lives in the snapper racks just as much as in your hands, and it needs a long full-length EVA for durability and practicality. Lox clearly understands this. The butt is long enough for effective leverage and fits snugly in a holder without scuffing or causing stress fractures in exposed graphite. It balances beautifully with a 2500-size reel – I ran mine with a Daiwa Sol, PE1 braid, and 12lb leader, and the pairing was near-perfect.

Hook-ups have been outstanding. Whether using long-shank hooks and striking quickly, or circle hooks that respond best to a slow lift, the rod has the action and responsiveness to deliver. When the bites came thick and fast, I had no trouble swinging whiting and hefty sinkers straight into the boat. That might sound minor, but in a hot bite, speed and efficiency make a real difference. Less fumbling means more fish in the Esky and fewer missed chances.

A full length EVA butt is great for casting, fighting fish and perfect for the rod holders.

It also speaks to a larger issue in our local market – the lack of species-specific gear. Overseas, in Japan, Europe and the US, rods are often tailored to specific species and techniques. Australian anglers, by contrast, have long been sold the dream of ‘do-it-all’ rods, which usually means they do everything adequately but nothing exceptionally. It’s refreshing to see Lox and the team at Viva take the leap and create a purpose-driven rod for one of our most targeted species. According to recent VRFish data, King George whiting are the most targeted species in Victoria, and I reckon the numbers would be similar in WA and SA. Why, then, has it taken this long for a proper whiting rod to hit the shelves?

That’s why I’m genuinely excited about this release. The Lox QX10 isn’t a repurposed estuary rod or a watered-down bream stick. It’s a whiting rod – designed from the ground up for bait anglers who know the joy and challenge of this style of fishing. It respects the species and the angler. And in doing so, it makes every session that bit more enjoyable and productive.

Aesthetically, it’s a head-turner. The deep navy blank, snake-skin pattern detail and minimal, clean graphics give it a premium look without being flashy. It’s a rod that feels as good in the hand as it looks leaning on the gunnel. And for the price, I honestly don’t think there’s anything else on the market that caters this specifically to whiting.

The QX10 offers an outstanding action and bite detection. 

King of Kings

In short, the Lox QX10 King George Whiting is a rod I’ll be using for years to come. It’s technically advanced, thoughtfully designed, and built for a job that’s long been underserved. If you fish for King George whiting – whether casually or religiously – you’ll immediately notice the difference in feel, performance and results.