Fishing Sea

What is a good saltwater rod to setup with a baitcasting reel. I plan on doing some charter boat fishing. I want a rod thats affordable but thick and strong and sturdy. Id like the closest thing to an all purpose saltwater rod that can handle calico bass to yellowfin tuna, live baitin and iron jigging. Able to hold heavy 12 plus oz. lures for deep waters. I think you get the picture by now. Any recommendations will help.

My favorite is the Calstar WCDH-270-C (actually, mine is custom wrapped, but it's essentially the same as the Calstar factory rod.) I use it with 20 pound test on a Daiwa SL30SH reel, and have fished with it from Ventura county down to Alijos Rocks, caught everything from bass and halibut to tuna and wahoo to one unfortunate marlin on it. In general, it's best for 5 to 30 pound fish, which is about as close to all-purpose as you can do for So.Cal. fishing.

To be realistic, it's a bit light for fish over 30 pounds, and in deep water I don't use more than 8 ounce jigs on it. (4 ounces or so is the maximum casting weight.) For that kind of stuff, I'd recommend a second outfit, like the 870-C or 970-C -- heavier action, and a foot shorter, and 30 pound line. Use that one for yoyo jigging for local yellowtail, and so on.

You can get away with one outfit most of the time, but you don't want to be out of luck when something breaks, or undergunned when the offshore trip for 10 pound yellowtail finds a wide open spot of 40 pound bluefin. So start with the 20-pound rig, and as soon as you can afford it, add a 30-pound outfit.

Here's the page on Calstar's website listing the West Coast rods: http://www.calstarrods.com/westcoast.htm

2007-03-15 02:14:22 by lefty lucky

Im going this january to do some surf & pier fishing in Myrtle Beach SC anyone had much experience with the rod n reel??

the rods are cheap. i used a 9' rod and it said 1-3oz and it snapped in half with a 2oz weight.
use a ugly stik. they are a lot stronger and they are made better. the reels have no problem but i prefer the offshore angler gold cup GC70B

2008-12-03 10:50:19 by Nick A

Contact the Sportfishing landings, in So.Cal.
They use the same rods, as loaners, for tourists. They might have a plan to help you, or a suggestion on where to turn.

2006-05-22 14:51:17 by Lynn W

I have been looking at the sea lion around for a while and it looks nice and cheap but i dont know if it will be enough becouse i see those people with the conventionals on youtube. do you guys think i should get the lion, is it enough and what bait should I use with it?Oh and do you know any good surf fishing spots around miami???
i am going for anything that bites, should i use cut spanish sardines herring or what?I dont know, whats the best inexpensive surf bait?

Well, after reading the reviews at www.basspro.com about the Sea Lion I would be leery of purchasing it. Go and read the reviews, (they were "mixed" to say the least!).

The Power Plus got a better "grade" but it still had mixed reviews.

Although I understand your trying to get a "budget" outfit, in my opinion, you should seriously think about getting:

1. Daiwa "Black Gold" series BG20 (69.99) & a Ugly Stik "Tiger" rod 7' (55.99)

BG's are workhorse saltwater reels that don't have all the "bells & whistle's" newer designed reels have. BUT, what they do, they DO WELL, (and that is reel fish to shore time and time again!). Almost indestructable!

Many Fla fishing guides use BG's.

Ugly Stik rods are decent for Surf/Offshore fishing. And you don't really need an 11 FT heavy action rod for surf fishing in Fla, (unless your only fishing "sharks" or your a terrible caster). The fish you are likely going to catch are Whiting, Saltwater Cats, Sailcats, baby Sharks, Drum, an occasional Redfish, maybe a Snook, maybe some small Blues(in the winter), Mangrove Snapper, maybe some Spec Trout, Etc.

Overall, you need to understand that "generally" surf-fishing on the beach in Broward County you will NEVER catch anything over 25LB's, EVER.

Whiting, Sailcats, Saltwater Cats, Spanish Macs, small Snapper being the "average" norm.

On the other hand, if you hit the right Jetty, Inlet, or Pier your odds on catching bigger, "tasty", fish go up!

Best to have a 7-8' rod so you can also use it for ICW/inland fishin'. Just buy (or make) a longer "sandspike rod holder".

It's important to note: It's better to buy decent equipment ONCE than buy 2-3 "crappie" outfits over a couple years.

No one wants to lose a "fish of a lifetime" because they decided to buy a "Blue-light special" fishing outfit!

Think about it! Good luck!

UPDATE: For bait- Fresh dead shrimp, Live Shrimp(in super-calm conditions), Live Mullet, Squid, Any "cut bait", Live Mud-minnows, Sand-fleas.

Fresh dead Shrimp/Squid- Whiting, Cats, Sheephead, Drum, Reds, Stingrays, Baby Bonnet-head Sharks, Pinfish, M-Snapper, Pompano/Permit.

Sandfleas-Pompano/Permit, Reds.

Live Mullet/Live Mud-minnow/Live Shrimp- Spec Trout, Snook, Reds, Flounder, Permit, Sheephead, Drum, Etc.

Try "Bill Bags Cape Fla State Park", "Hobie Island Beach Park". There are MANY causeways, bridges, inlets, "pull-offs" Etc in your area, most of them have some type of fish nearby. Look for inlets/"pull-offs" with jettys and "current" and the gamefish won't be far away!

Hope this helps? Good luck!

2008-04-27 17:52:19 by studz

i just bought this rod on sale for fathers day. i wanted to get a good offshore rod for my dad. however i think the rod is a spin rod and not a stand up rod. my dad has a penn real thats made for a stand up rod and i dont think it will work with this rod. is this rod worth keeping? will i need another reel?

i did some research and som are spin rods and some stand up rods most are stand up rods so i would keep it and if it's not right see if u can return it or get another reel but keep it for now

2008-06-11 15:31:58 by hoghunter

the bluefin rarely get over 200 pounds usually in the 20-low 100's in ocean city maryland coastal waters and yellowfin are usually in the 15-55 pound range the line is 15-30 on the rod

I guess that's gonna have to be your call as the baymaster is absolutely NOT made for tuna, and only designed to catch fish that would normally be found in a "Bay". If you were to catch a 50 Lb. football Tuna this gear would probably be fairly effective, but if you happen to hook into a 150 or 200 pounder, these fish will either quickly spool you or snap that rod like a toothpick. You NEED heavy gear for these fish, a snapped rod while fighting a 100 lb. fish could very easily become fatal. Do yourself a favor and eliminate the possibility of having to catch the top end of a snapped rod in the face or throat , god forbid, by using the correct gear, as this hunt can be extremely dangerous. The baymaster is designed to catch bluefish and stiped bass up to 50 lbs., and I would leave it behind if your after anything heavier than that.

2008-06-08 19:37:40 by sportsfreek29