Norcoastal

I'm getting way ahead of myself here but I need to occupy my mind with things fishing/boating. I've just moved to the OBX and I'm building a new house in Manteo. I'll be on a marina and will eventually get a new boat.

I'm more used to Striper trolling up north off of the Jersey coast, so this will be my first time trolling for yellowfin.

I'm at least a year away from a boat, but that hasn't stopped me from researching and buying some fishing gear.

From what I'm reading, its a toss up between 30's and 50's. I like the Penn Int'l's and the Avets. I have a few Avet reels in storage (I'm renting at Pirates Cove) and I really like those reels. I'm leaning towards Avet reels on Connley rods. I also have a few Connley rods and I love their quality. Connley sells a 6' 30-50 paired with an Avet EXW 30/2 and they sell a 50-100 paired up with an Avet 50/2.

I'm thinking the 30-50 will handle almost anything. I'm not expecting a 300 pound fish, but I'd like your opinions, especially if you regularly fish out of the OI.

So what do you guys think? 30's or 50's?

Appreciate your thouhts,

Thanks Steve

MattH

I’d go with a combo of 30s and 50s. You can catch em easily on 30s but the sharks out of OI are horrible. You’ll need all the drag you can get and some days sti won’t be able to get em to the boat.

Vitamin_Sea

I run both, but recently acquired more 50's after getting tore up by big fish and sharks last year. 30's are fine most of the time, but when the fish are big and the sharks are bad you're gonna want 50's.

rdnkvet

Both work for YFT, but I would go 50’s because you never know when you may hook a bigeye.

Norcoastal

Thanks guys. Like I said, I’m in the gathering part now while I wait for my next boat. I’m surprised at the recommendation for the 50’s, but you know best and that’s why I asked.

I’ll do my best trying to find both set ups, but I’m on the hunt for 50’s.

Does a 6’ 50-100 stand up rod sound like the best choice?

There’s a pair on eBay I may May a play on.

Jdavison911

I’ve actually done away with my 30’s, only had 2. I run all 50’s and just picked up 4 80’s and building bent butts for those. I will run 50’s but bring out the 80’s if there are big eye around or targeting bluefin in the fall/winter. 50-100# stand up will work pretty good for ya.

Norcoastal

Terrific, thank you

jaybr

I'll be new to tuna this season and have been putting together my gear. I went with a mix of Avet 30w and 50w all on 5'9 stand-up rods. Plan on spooling the 30w with 80lb hollow core and the 50w with 100lb.

I'm really curious why y'all are recommending 50's and how they will help get fish in quicker? The 30w will do over 40lb of drag, more than I want to use. I can see where you could put heavier line and more drag on a 50, but do you really fish 50-60lb of drag on stand-up?

Yankees49

Just moved from Pirates Cove in the OBX. I ran 15 years with both but mainly 50’s. As others have said the sharks are the main reason to use 50’s but also you may run into some bigeye that the 30’s will not be enough.
with that said join the OBX Anglers club.
if you need equipment let me know. There is a guy in PC that sells used equipment and I’ll hook you up with him.
Good luck

Norcoastal

I have actually already looked up the OBX Anglers Club and I’m thinking about joining. I’m betting it’s a good bunch of guys.

And yes, hook me up with the guy at PC, I’ll see what he has.

Thanks for the information! I really appreciate it!

If you don’t mind me asking, what boat were you running?

pablor

With the new class of lightweight reels and braid, you get enough line capacity and drag from all avet reels, especially the raptors. You can put some heat on fish and have over 1000yds of line on some pretty small reels these days. 50’s are really heavy for standup that I would look at smaller reels. I converted all of my reels to Avet raptors and never looked back. I haven’t been spooled by anything yet...

Norcoastal

What rods do you put your Raptors on and which model Raptors, there are a bunch?

westco

Pinnacle rods, vendor on THT makes an economical, good rod. I have a bunch of his stuff

Norcoastal

Thanks, I was asking about the weight of the rods. 30-50, 50-100?

I’ve bought a few rods from Connley here on the forum. They make nice rods. I’ve heard Pinnacle are nice also.

Thanks

Yankees49

On A Rampage behind my house on Hammock. OBX ANGLERS CLUB is like $25 a year. Most people in it fish inshore but god bunch of guys.
Tell me what you are looking for and pm me your phone number and I will give it to my friend Everrett and he can tell you what he has. Very honest fellow.

pablor

I have many raptors for trolling, jigging, kingfish ing etc but my trolling 30-50 setup is the HXW 5/2 with 50 lbs of full drag, harness lugs, 800yds of braid at 27oz weight.

I have them on custom 50-80 Anglers Envy custom rods with calstar blanks. Great setups that would stop a train! All rods have Aftco removable butts for easy storage on the boat.

I also have a few shimano 50W but they rarely get used anymore. The 80w's get used a lot with #16 or #24 planers on a custom Anglers Envy planer rod. That is a serious meat rod!

Norcoastal

Great information, thank you!

Norcoastal

I appreciate this, I’m not quite at the point of purchase yet, I’m still researching. But when I am, I’ll reach back out to you.

Thank you!

Yankees49

No problem

finrazor

50s, nothing less for line capacity and gearing, drag washers, etc. you’ll thank me when your first bigeye bites.