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I am looking for input regarding 30 series reels or 50 series (stand up gear).They would be used to target off shore species toward "The Dump and Canyons South of the Vineyard (BF, YF, Shark etc.).
Any info or direction is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
JAYRTIGER
Line technology has come leaps and bounds with the new braids. I usually like to run 50w’s with 80 lb mono, but know people who are comfortable running 30’s if equipment with braid and then 100 foot of 80lb mono leader.
The 30’s will handle most everything you encounter, but when it fails, it won’t be on a 40lb yellow fin, it will be on a 200lb bigeye…. I won’t take that chance, 50’s and 70’s for me. “Go big or Go home is my motto”!
Capt. Squiddly - 5/8/2007 2:06 PM If your not in canyon country, you can get by with all 30W's just fine.
Capt Squid,
While I agree as I stated above, the exception to this is the East of Chatham bite.... You may just get on a really, reallybig bluefin to the tune of a couple hundred pounds. And if you fish the Vineyard due South.... you will eventually end up at the BB bouy or the Sword/BC/Crab spots as well.
They get huge there as well.
As I said, I'd be willing to roll the dice on a big bluefin though. If I was over 100 fathoms on a regular basis, I'd load more for bear.
I've got ALL 30sw's. Those are 30 wide two speeds. They have suited me very well in the Canyons for a couple years now, but I have not caught (or lost) any giants, YET!! But they reel in a 100 lb'er with no problem.
The nice thing about the 30's is, I can use them to troll for Tuna in the Canyons, and I can use them to troll umbrella rigs along the beach for Stripers. A 50 or 80 would just be too much for that.
I do have one 50, I use it with a large heavy squid spreader bar I have. The squid on it are boig, (10" or something) and heavy, and my 30's with 30-50 stand up rods had a hard time dragging them around. So I got one 50 reel with a 50-100 rod to go with it for runin gthat rig. But guess what, I have nver caught anything on that stuff. Everythig I have caught has been on smaller rigs. I think that is the trend, smaller!
Just to chime in again- Guys who use 30- If you shark w/ them have you had trouble w/ a decent fish on a 30 (200#) or better- My friend is selling 2 for a good price- I might buy them for the hell of it... I don't need them, but we all have alot of stuff we don't need
I would go with the 50 wides- if you eventually spend the time out there you will regret it...If you can afford it- get both but if you can get one set- go with the 50's. You will regret the 30 when a bigun comes calling-IT SUCKS!!
I have both 30's and 50wides.We use the 30's to troll small bluefins etc,but sometimes you can get a substantial fish and have trouble.Sharking you need 50's and I know many who use 70's and 80's. I came very close to getting spooled last year to a shark on a 50 wide.I like to have both,but it is a considerable investment for sure.If you are wary of heavy line,you can always spool a few 50's light,and then have a ton of capacity.That is when we break out the 30's.
If you are targeting shark, this site helped me out http://www.newenglandsharks.com/shark2.htm Talks a little on reel, rod, line choices and his reasons why. A good read
Thanks guys good input, now I can spend hours researching the braid vs. mono threads. Sounds to me I need Both, I hope I have enough money left for fuel.
Thanks,
JAYRTIGER
If your pulling big bars the 50s are the way to go and the reels are under $100 bucks more each. Do you run one off a center rigger? You want the capacity of a 50 for that at least for the way back bite. Sure beats having to buy 50s in a few years.
I actually think the 30w is the way to go-- If spooled properly (braid/ mono top), they should handle most of the SBFT/ MBFT in our water and many of the shark species--While it may be nice to crank up the drag on a 50, the added weight of the reel could cause the angler to tire quicker which defeats the purpose-- If you are tourney shark fishing, you gotta go large--if you just a rec looking to shark/ tuna, get the Tiagra 30W and spool with 1000 yards of braid and a top of mono--- We have caught BFT to 200# and sharks 300#+ on the 30's
Reels 30s or 50s 
But they reel in a 100 lb'er with no problem.
