Gulf Coast - okuma reels questions

Myself and son are looking for first time rigs to get used to offshore fishing

With the experience that we have had with levelwinds (abu) (inshore and lakes) we are considering this as a first

Okuma Convector CV-45-L Level Wind Conventional Reel Right-handed
We are thinking to load with 30# biggame backing and then finish off with
PowerPro® 65 lb - 300 yards Braided Fishing Line

we will update at a later date - but want to get started with something that we would feel more comfortable with to begin - and keep cost down also

We are looking to stay w/in state waters to begin - and then venture out farther this coming spring

Any experiences out there - positive or negative - or another option

Thanks
Billy Howard

if you decide to upgrade at a later date go ahead and spend the money now because you will end up spending about the same amount or more.

I have penns shimanos and okumas. the only one that has ever been to the shop is the okuma.......

I have had the okuma makaira 30w's for more than a year and have been satisfied and just recently purchased the raw 80ii spinning reels to slowly replace my spheros while they are slowly falling apart on me and they feel really nice after a few trips, but so did the spheros ...

Have heard nothing but bad things about okuma's older stuff, but have been happy with their newer stuff that I have purchased since their merger with tiburon (sp?) engineering.

We have been using an okuma 30w for 3 years without problems. We only have 1 though. The rest are shimanos.

I have never had great luck with Okuma (older models). I do not know about the newer gear they have.

Try shimano if possible, they have never let me down

I might be a bit leary of their budget stuff but the Makaira gold reels may be ahead of the pack. You should take a look at Alan Tani's Makaira rebuild. Very informative. Those reels seem to have some advantages, they're priced right, and they have tons of drag.