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07-08-2010, 07:21
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#1
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,249
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Fishing Reel
Can anyone recommend a decent one for someone who's done mostly just some surf casting when he was younger, and only caught about 2 fish in his entire life?
I have an old hand me down pole from dad, and will probably just cast the thing, grab a drink, take a nap, and most likely just catch myself when I go for a dive or a swim later and forget it's there.
But I'd still like to get something that's not a complete POS.
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07-08-2010, 07:36
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,185
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The Penn 50TW is bomb proof. Taken care of, it will outlive you and can handle almost any fish in the world you'd ever imagine trying to catch. It's $350 or so online, but it's seriously a machine.
My other fishing advice is to watch the fish. I started scuba diving and just paying more attention in general. There's a world of difference between fishing when the fish are out (depends on your location and time of year), and fishing when there are no fish to be found. If the fish are there, they'll often go for a shiny hook. I yanked one the other day with some gorgonzola cheese from a salad I was eating. If there are no fish (middle of the day, typically near coastal) you can do everything right for hours and get no results.
Scuba also taught me that 5' under the water is like 5 miles above. You could be dropping fireworks from the bow and fish at the stern probably won't notice.
This book has been really helpful: Amazon.com: The Cruiser's Handbook of Fishing (9780071427883):
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07-08-2010, 07:39
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,185
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The gorgonzola cheese victim:
Offshore victim:
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07-08-2010, 07:41
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,185
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I'll add: the gorgonzola cheese fish I caught with my freshwater spinning rig that I use primarily for backpacking trips in the mountains. It's loaded with 3lb test.
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07-08-2010, 08:03
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Tampa, FL
Boat: 1981 Com-Pac 23
Posts: 23
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That type of fishing are you planning on doing. It makes a big difference as to the reel I would suggest. Is this something for trolling while cruising? Do you want a setup for surf casting, and if so where are you located (Florida is very different than the northeast). Do you just want an all around setup for casting around docks and piers. Tell me what you are going to be doing, and I will suggest some good reels for that activity.
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07-08-2010, 08:38
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Fort Pierce, FL. Texas Roots
Boat: 82 Present, 13 ft dinghy
Posts: 495
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I am a serious fisherman in my mind. My name translated to latin means "Bad Fisherman" In Pursuit of the finney creatures I would say for tackle you need some light weight gear such as a spinning reel rated for 12 to 17 lb mono on the matched rod. Then a 4/0 to 6/0 Penn heavy rig for bigger fish.
The economy being what it is check the hock shops and Craig's List before you start shelling out big cash. Most heavy reels last forever if just marginally maintained, and most spend their lives in a dark locker. I have a 6/0 Penn Senator that my dad bought when I was 12, I am 63 now and it is as good as it was when he took delivery.
Rods are another thing entirely, they seem to break, wear out and just generally need replacement occasionally.
Good luck.
__________________
'Da Mule
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07-08-2010, 08:53
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Boat: Monk 36 Trawler
Posts: 679
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In my opinion you cannot go wrong with Penn reels for spinning or trolling, if you want to do casting with a revolving spool reel Ambassadeur are very good.
both reasonably priced.
Penn, Shakespeare, Fenwick are good as is Stren line.
try to stay away from trebel hook on lures too easy to hook yourself when landing a fish
Good luck
Steve
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07-08-2010, 09:16
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Punta Gorda, Fl
Boat: Endeavourcat Sailcat 44
Posts: 3,173
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Grunzster,
What type of fishing do you have in mind? Are you planning to troll a line behind the boat while cruising or do you want to cast while at anchor or in the dink?
I really like Penn reels, I have several I use for different purposes. I have a Penn Senator 4.0 for trolling. They are moderately priced but very sturdy. They do need to have the salt washed off of them since they do have a lot of metal parts, not the carbon fiber and very heavily treated metals of more expensive reels. You can often get a combo including a nice boat pole for less than $150 on sale. I also have a Penn 4500 spinning reel I use for light to moderate casting in inland salt water. For heavier off shore spinning action I have a Penn 7500 and 2 Penn 6500s. Oddly enough the 6500s are larger and heavier than the 7500. These can handle casting heavy sinkers and large lures that the 4500 might have trouble with. I also have a more expensive Shimmano trolling reel with a much fancier drag system, but it does not catch more fish than my senator.
I also have a couple of hand lines that I can drag behind the boat when cruising. I don't have to pay much attention to them and they tend to keep me fed, but not much sport.
So again, what kind of fishing are you looking to do?
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07-08-2010, 09:29
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#9
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Coos Bay, Oregon
Boat: Valiant 40 (1975)
Posts: 4,073
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What is the best reel- USED. That said, I like Penn's also. Picked one up the other day at Marine surplus. Oh it hurt- cost me 35 USD.
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07-08-2010, 09:32
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Nevada City. CA
Boat: Sceptre 41
Posts: 3,857
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If all you plan on doing is trolling take a look at this video No need to spend a lot of money for meat fishing. http://forum.ssca.org/phpBB3/viewtop...fishing#p60570
__________________
Fair Winds,
Charlie
Between us there was, as I have already said somewhere, the bond of the sea. Besides holding our hearts together through long periods of separation, it had the effect of making us tolerant of each other's yarns -- and even convictions. Heart of Darkness
Joseph Conrad
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07-08-2010, 10:26
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#11
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Writing Full-Time Since 2014
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Deale, MD
Boat: PDQ Altair, 32/34
Posts: 9,569
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie
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Second the yo-yo fishing. Though we carry 3 rods for fishing at anchor, almost all of the trolling we due is with yo-yos, very much as described above. Very compact, the lure, leader, and sinkers remain rigged, cheap, and durable.
Sail Delmarva: Yo-Yo Fishing
With a cat you can easily run 3 lines. You don't need the bungee; 150 feet of 80-pound mono has LOTS of stretch.
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07-08-2010, 14:28
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Boston, MA
Boat: Bristol 38.8
Posts: 1,625
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I troll using a 5' boat rod with a Daiwa reel in a rod holder with 40 lb test line. The handle of the rod detaches so the rig easily stores in a lazarette. The rig cost me about $250 for everything, line included. Look on ebay.
I eat what I catch also, usually bluefish but an occasional striped bass. For sport fishing I use a 9 foot, 9 weight salt water fly rod. I use it in the surf for the most part.
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07-08-2010, 16:59
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#13
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,249
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Wow! Ok, so to answer the questions.
Surf casting, and casting around docks and piers - very unlikely
Trolling while cruising - maybe
Casting while at anchor - yes
As far as location. NJ now, but becoming a snowbird in the fall, so it would be used in NJ and SE FL, maybe Mexico, and eventually the Caribbean.
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07-08-2010, 17:57
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: W Florida
Boat: Still have the 33yo Jon boat. But now a CATAMARAN. Nice little 18' Bay Cat.
Posts: 7,086
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grunzster
Casting while at anchor - yes
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After they tell you which rig to buy (it doesn't really make that much difference - unless you want to talk like the sunglass thread ) Get a couple of sizes of gold spoons.
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07-08-2010, 19:28
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Punta Gorda, Fl
Boat: Endeavourcat Sailcat 44
Posts: 3,173
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grunzster
Wow! Ok, so to answer the questions.
Surf casting, and casting around docks and piers - very unlikely
Trolling while cruising - maybe
Casting while at anchor - yes
As far as location. NJ now, but becoming a snowbird in the fall, so it would be used in NJ and SE FL, maybe Mexico, and eventually the Caribbean.
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Given this information I suggest you get a Penn 4500 spinning reel.
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