HX 2sp raptor for tuna ?

**Fishybuzz** · Jan-24-2012, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by demoiod

thanks for the info. I just think it would be a lot more comfortable standing at the rail all day with a hx then a penn 50 wide.

No need for a 50w..... IMO a Penn 30s or Avet Pro 30 or Okuma Mak 20 will do the job much better than a HX Raptor .....capacity and cranking power is what is needed.

Standing at the rail with a itty bitty reel is just window dressing, IMO it is fighting the fish where the rubber meets the road and you will wish you had a larger reel....

One of my favorite sayings is......I have never wished I had a smaller reel in my hands when hooked up to a cow....

**Below Frigid** · Jan-24-2012, 07:46 PM

I put 3 cows in the boat with the hx raptor one on a Penn 30, 2 on a Avet 50, all on the same trip. lost a real big one at the gaff on the raptor do to the fish being in the water for three hours. It was one of the original raptors no handle up grade and stock gears. The 50 almost made it easy. I agree with David a Avet or Accurate 30 would be perfect. I did not care for the Penn 30 even though I put my biggest on in the boat with it a 235 on 80 lb string.

**Fishybuzz** · Jan-24-2012, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by Below Frigid

I put 3 cows in the boat with the hx raptor one on a Penn 30, 2 on a Avet 50, all on the same trip. lost a real big one at the gaff on the raptor do to the fish being in the water for three hours. It was one of the original raptors no handle up grade and stock gears. The 50 almost made it easy. I agree with David a Avet or Accurate 30 would be perfect. I did not care for the Penn 30 even though I put my biggest on in the boat with it a 235 on 80 lb string.

I was on that trip and Jack did a awesome job landing those fish.....missed you this year we whacked em good.

**Wildman** · Jan-24-2012, 09:33 PM

The HX Raptor is one of my favorite Avets:Very fast retrieve (47") in high and plenty powerful (21") in low, making it a terrific yoyo jig and dropper loop reel. I'm an 8-day LR, so no cow-experience for me; but a BDer named fishybuzz (who has evidently been on a few trips

) warned me that there were some big, mean YFTs (125+) out there and to have plenty of line. Now, for any of my surface outfits, I have 500+ yards on them. -->(Fishybuzz, I'm still waiting for that fish to test out my reels' capacities, BUT an angler next to me on last years' July WW trip DID get spooled on an MX.) You'll fit at least 500 yards of 80# on the HX, and if you drop to 65# then maybe 650? 700? yards.

**demoiod** · Jan-24-2012, 09:42 PM

Here in NJ I don't even use my 50w's anymore. I use avet mxls and penn torque 300s on shimano tvc66h jig sticks. I can land 200-400# sharks faster on these then on the 50 wides. They are also lighter and easier to handle. I know sharks and tuna are two different stories but im sure that the HX raptor with 500+ yards of 80# with a nice rod will do the trick. I would bring a 50W just in case the jumbos roll in to town.

**Below Frigid** · Jan-25-2012, 08:30 PM

David are you switching to Okuma too? What did Wahoo do wit all his Accurates?

**mstrbaiter** · Jan-25-2012, 09:42 PM

I hooked a big one on Hx raptor at the lower banks this year. Not enough capacity. Sent it in with back up and then a friggin Cabo yacht drove over the line. Lesson learned.. Stick with the Atd 30

**Fishybuzz** · Jan-26-2012, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by Below Frigid

David are you switching to Okuma too? What did Wahoo do wit all his Accurates?

I have been fishing the Okumas for a couple trips.....really like them but I have not made a switch ......yet......but they are IMO the best bang for the buck in big fish reels right now........you should give them a try...

I don 't know what Choater did with his ATDs....he was talking about selling them......

**Contender36** · Feb-01-2012, 07:48 PM

I fish in New York off long island and I love the Avets I have 2 30 wides HX 2 sp. my h
HX Raptor 2 sp and Mxls and sx I fish the Raptor all the time great real for Bluefin have caught many bluefin up to 100lbs but this year the 2nd wek I'm dec brrrrr we were trolling for Bluefins tight off the beach we had a ballyhoo way back on the raptor on a seeker 60H pole and we had the heavy stuff out and don't you know it but the raptor goes off line peeling off the reel like theres no tomorrow so they reel the other rods and the fight is on 2 hrs amd15mim later we land a 170lb Bluefin if we had it on a Lil heavy rod we would have got it in sooner. But the Raptor held up just fine the best part about it is it nice and light.