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I am looking to buy 4 matching rods and reels for offshore use. I want to purchase something in the $150-$200 range for each combo. $200 is my max budget per combo. I am not a die-hard fisherman but want something that will last for quite a while. I am not totally new to fishing but I am new to fishing gear ownership. I have allways gone with friends and family and used their equipment. They will be used for troling and bottom fishing off of Fort Pierce. I have only looked online and have not looked at any local tackle shops. My only requirements are the poles have to have gimbals on the bottom for the rodholders. Any suggestions would be much appreciatted! Here are a few links to combos I have been looking at.
I'm looking for the same combos. I'm biased towards TLD 25's, but I'm willing to look elsewhere. And I don't know which rods are reasonably priced yet good quality. I've only used Star rods before now, but that was on someone else's tab.
I have decided to go with TLD's over the Penn's. I am gonna try and get them from one of the local stores. I am all about supporting my local economy as long as there is not a huge difference. I also like the idea because I can see first hand on what I am buying. I usually troll for a couple of hours then bottom fish for a couple of hours. I want a combo that can do both. I am still undecided on whether to get a roller tipped rod. I am leaning more towards standard guides. Thanks, everyone for the advice!
I'd suggest that a penn 4/0 or 6/0 makes a better trolling reel than a TLD25 makes for a bottom fishing reel. I also think that you will be hard pressed to get TLD25s on rods for <$200. Neither has the best handle, but I really hate the stock handle on the TLD25.
You don't want levelwind reels, such as Penn's GTI series for trolling. They're "ok" for light to medium bottom fishing, but just won't cut it for trolling.
For all-around reels it's tough, if not impossible, to beat Penn 113Hs. You can fish them "stock" spooling them with either 30lbs or 40lbs mono and catch almost anything from kingfish, dolphin, cobia to snapper and grouper. You can also modify them with after-market frames and handles should you be so inclined. Star drag reels
For rods, that's a tough one. Frankly, what makes for a good/respectable bottom rod doesn't always work for trolling, and vice versa. For example, trolling rods are better with slick butts to help get them out of rod holders; while bottom rods are more comfortable with foam butts. If you have to use one rod for both, get a 6'6" or at most, 7' rod rated for 30-50lbs and ring guides.
It's going to be tough working within a $200 budget.
I'd have to go with the Penn 4/0's or 6/0's in that price range. Like Prop Blast said, u can modify the frames, drags, handles etc... And they're reliable.
Academy has Tsunami rods rated to 100# in two versions, one with roller stripper and tip,
the other with heavy duty ring guides. These are priced very reasonably, well under $100.
This leaves more money in the pocket for purchasing reels.
I'm not sure on the rods honestly. I asked and all the store emailed me back was the price. When I go home (I'm at college) for thanksgiving I'll try to stop in the store and find out about the rods.
I was able to get 4 New In Box TLD 20's for $485.35! I am probably gonna get Crowder ESU6630S poles for them. I have 2 Torium 30's that were practically new that I bought on West Marine poles for $200. I will probably buy some better poles for those and use them for my bottom rigs.
That's great! I'll probably end up getting two TLD25 combos for winter break (because I plan on fishing spinners for sails mostly anyways) and then pick up another 2 or 3 conventional combos when summer rolls around again. Its hard to shell out over a grand at once, IMHO.
And if all else fails, only invite fishing buddies who have poles =).
Why does everyone want conventional reels for bottomfishing? Spinning reels are the bomb and you can catch big fish with them too. Main thing is get a matched rig, line weight, line capacity, rod capacity. They are a lot lighter and simpler to use, you don't have to be guiding line back and forth when reeling in the line, etc.
To each his own I guess, but to me, keeping things simple is the key. Don't just buy the cheapest thing out there either or in the long run, you'll be wishing you remembered that "only rich men can afford to buy cheap stuff".
My suggestion is "buy right" from the get go and you will enjoy your fishing trips for a long time instead of having "regrets" every time you go out because you're not satisfied with what you bought. If you can't afford it right away, save up till you can, or just as you said, buy two at a time.
Depending on how big a fish you plan to catch on the bottom, using braid is the key because you can feel the bite even when fishing over a hundred feet down. Don't use mono because there's too much stretch, the deeper you go. Happy buying....
Well I ended up going with 4 Crowder ESU6630S rods and Shimano TLD 20 reels. I went a little over my budget but got higher quality IMO. Each combo cost me $265 for a total of $1060. Now I can't wait to use them!
Need Suggestions For Offshore Combos 
