Help needed - want gear - The Hull Truth

Jon Sea · 10-02-2009, 09:07 PM

I'm a relatively new salt water fisher-Dad in the So RI water. Most of the time we're bottom fishing for fluke, pogies, or bass and getting by with what we have. I'd like to step it up a little but assume we'll need some stonger gear for trolling with umbrella rigs and especially if we hook into a large striper.
I see alot of used gear for sale but not sure really what I need or what's worth buying vs junk. We have no plans yet to go far out for tuna. Am I better off looking for combo deals or buy poles separately from reels? Poles with rollers or without? 5, 6, 7, 8' poles? I've seen some decent combo prices for Penn Senator rod & reel - these seem to be in our budget but are they any good.

Your suggestions or links to inexpensive but decent gear are appreciated.

Thanks.

fishin infurno · 10-03-2009, 08:05 AM

Every ones ideas and likes are different as far as brands, rods, lenghts, and the rest of the questiones you have. what you should really do is go to a local tackle store(not a franchise store) and talk to the people there. if you ask good questiones you get good answers. let them help you find rods and reels that are in you budget and for what you are going to use them for. if it helps you i have custome 9' wire line rods with penn 4/0's on them spolled with braid backing and 40lb.monel wire line. that is a good set up for what you are looking to do but is also not necessary. before i had these rods i trolled with 7' rods with braided line and drail weights ( like the senator combos you were looking at) and managed just fine.

Jon Sea · 10-03-2009, 06:18 PM

Capt . Pete - thanks for the advice. There are several nearby tackle shops where we go so I'll inquire. I don't want to appear like going to the barber shop and asking if I need a haricut so I'll take your advise, listen, and choose a middle ground.

Thanks again.

vcinri · 10-03-2009, 06:59 PM

Check out the consignment items at Snug Harbor Marina in Wakefield. There are some good deals there.

Good Luck,

VC

Jon Sea · 10-03-2009, 08:18 PM

ok - will do. I'll be going out tomorrow with my son and his friend so wish us luck catchin'.

Thanks.

Jon Sea · 10-03-2009, 08:33 PM

What does 4/0 6/0 mean with respect to reels? For example, PENN SENATOR 6/0 or 4/0 and 113 vs 114....

Thanks in advance.

vcinri · 10-04-2009, 06:44 PM

For Penn Senators it is a reference to the sizes 4/0 is the 113 and the 6/0 is the 114. These are both good reels for trolling for school tuna etc.. The 6/0 would be a better bet for sharking due to it's larger size and the line capacity.

Look at the Shimano TLD's they too are good reels the TLD 25 and 30's are similar in class to the 4/0 and the 6/0.

VC

Jon Sea · 10-06-2009, 12:48 PM

vcinri - thanks for your input. This is helpful as I try and sort through the options and find what I need to get the job done.