Jetty--> 30 mi Tackle

[sfef84]

What gear do you guys use for the jetties +30 mi offshore? Im talkin rod/reel combos and line lb (mono or braid).

I assume you have your inshore stuff (baitcasters and small spinning reels) but what is the next step up? My whaler is almost ready and im lookin to gear up. I know, I could go buy one badass rod reel combo Like a Penn Int 2 speed and be set to catch anything in the ocean, but I have two concerns:

1) DURABILITY... I was born with the "I break things said to be unbreakable (on accident)" gene so this is a biggy.

2) Don't want overkill, eg. fishing for trout/red/flounder with a stiff action rod and 35lb braid, AKA want to keep it fun and not just muscle the SH(*# out of anything on the end of the line.

I assume you have a couple of rods that progress from light action to where's moby dick.

Open to all costs, prefer Shimano or Penn but would like to soak up any and all info thrown my way

[WestEndAngler]

When we got the Robalo I bought 4 Daiwa 40H Saltists (H stands for High Speed) they are all paired with the Shimano Trevalla jigging rods. It's a bad arse setup! I have a Torsa30 (shimano) and 2 Stradic 8000's (spinning reels)

The Daiwa's have 65lb braid backing with maybe 60 yards of 60lb mono as a top shot. I always tie them onto 100lb leader for snapper fishing.

8000's have 60lb braid and I usually tie the braid directly to the leader for pitching baits etc.

I always bring 1 light weight rod for chicken dorado 2 pitching rods (spinning works great) 4 heavy duty bottom fishing reels. Check the Off Shore Forum a lot of good information was posted before snapper season began. I'd personally focus on life / safety materials before spending it on fishing supplies. First thing we bought was a EPIRB, Type 1 life jackets, VHF (backups), back up GPS (hand held), Flares, dyes, aerials etc. can never be TOO safe in the gulf.

[Muddskipper]

Go Get a shimano Torium 30, and spool it with 65lb braid of you choice.

Get you a 30 - 40lb 7' rod. this set up will handle almost everything in that zone, except huge sharks.

[Robalo]

Okuma T30s ($130 each and very durable), Shimano TLD 20 and 25s (almost 20 years old and never been in shop), Ambassaduer 7000 Lever Drags (don't believe they make em anymore-also the 10000 models were nice) matched with FTU Kingfish rods, Gulfstream Allstar rods are on Okumas and TLDs, Penn 5500SS spinning reel on heavy spinning rod (20# test). I use 20-40# mono. I also have Calcutta 400's with 20# mono for kings and ling on Allstar Gulfstream series rods (they (rods) were $40 at Academy years ago-thought they were mismarked!!)-5'6"rods. Also Corsair 400s (shimano cheaper version of Calcutta) on Ugly stixs. Also have some old Penn 309s and Senators on old thick glass rods and mahogany antique 6' rod which I still use but dang it's heavy. I don't really "jig" like some folks-those that do use braid and jigging rods with high speed or two speed reels-jigging works very well! If ya got $, try an AVET. I prefer lever drags over star drags and use the Okumas and TLDs for trolling and the ambassadeurs for drifting and the spinning rig.

Coe's right-always carry a few stiff action bay rigs for the chicken dolphin-bass assassins get eaten up by them as do spec rigs! And SAFETY GEAR as Coe said-an extra anchor is smart also, spare prop, radios, redundant systems, WATER, flares (keep expired separate from "active"-the USCG will ticket ya if they are located together), signal mirror/reflectors on life vests-a whole lotta sheet. A "Ditch Bag" (also known as an "Ohhh Sheeet we're gonna die" bag) is a smart thing to make/have-flashing strobe light, waterproof handheld VHF, water, first aid kit, mirror/reflector, whisky flask and cigs and waterproof matches like ya made in boy scouts in a watertite cig box)!!

[Funk Shoal Brutha]

I have a 7 matching rod set of Penn Mariner Standup rods, five 20-50 class and two 30-80 class if you are interested. All just like new. Also have a bunch of Shimano 2 speeds and Penn GTI's. From new in the box to lightly used. All reels are spooled with 35-65lb braid except the Shimano 2 speeds which are brand new and never spooled. I'll make you a good deal if you want all of it. I don't want to mess around selling it piece-meal.

[Robalo]

There ya go!! You buy all that and you are done!! Except the Ohh sheeet bag!!

Next you get to spend $1000 on jigs, lures, hooks, weights, leader making materials and tools and then Ike takes it all away and the IRS says where's your GD proof of cost and did ya deprciate that stuff? Don't forget the venting tool, circle hooks and de-hooker now required also.

I can't find the 9" cordell minnow diving lures anymore-they were more fishy than the rapalas and about $4 less a piece. favorite was green tiger stripe-I guess that would be green sardine.

[sfef84]

There ya go!! You buy all that and you are done!! Except the Ohh sheeet bag!!

Next you get to spend $1000 on jigs, lures, hooks, weights, leader making materials and tools and then Ike takes it all away and the IRS says where's your GD proof of cost and did ya deprciate that stuff? Don't forget the venting tool, circle hooks and de-hooker now required also.

I can't find the 9" cordell minnow diving lures anymore-they were more fishy than the rapalas and about $4 less a piece. favorite was green tiger stripe-I guess that would be green sardine.

Fortunately, when Boater's World was closing a year and half ago I did a lot of damage with fishing tools, rigging sets, weights, hooks jigs all at something like 80% off...

[sfef84]

P.S. Robalo,

Whenever I see this guy I think of you...

[GreenTide]

I had the same questions. Nice replies! Now I know how to spend all of my money.

[Swells]

The Shimano "TLD" series can't be beat for the money for trolling and deep digging, especially on E-Bay or the close-out sales. Match that with a broomstick rod even a heavy Uglee Stik and you got it; Bass Pro and Cabelas have OK broomsticks.

You can go up to a jigging rig if you like snapper and AJ better, and lots of folks like that. I was surprised that one ole boy used spinning gear such as the Spheros and personally I liked the Baitrunner (which is cheaper and has a second drag clutch for free-lining). That's a different style of fishing needing fast action.

Various PENN Senators, even old ones, can be equally as fun especially fun if you know how to cast them without a bird's nest in your reel (I don't). The old 113 sure is cheap, dependable, and I've landed 50# fish with them easily, but it is slow action. I like one for a drift-line on the back for kings.

Think about what you like to catch, spinning or conventional gear, and whether you like to hoss the fish in or play them with lighter lines.