I would definitely say go with the 65, it knots up better, and comes off the reel much better under heavy drag.

As long as they are both 2-speeds, and the same "generation" [V or VI], they should fit.

That rod is good for what you describe, don't forget that it is a 2-piece, with the break just above the foregrip. Best balance is probably the 6500 size spin reels.
BTW- I don't always see the "Comment on profile" messages. Better to use the "Start a conversation" thing.

A lot depends on where you will be fishing, and what type of boat you will be on. For California party boats and long range boats, spinning tackle can be problematic due to the height of the boat's rail, lack of 2-speed capability, and the fact that the boat does not chase the fish. For small boats, skiffs, pangas, etc, that would be a nice combo.

PS- I do not always see messages using the "comment on profile" feature. Best choice is the "start a conversation" feature.

If I understand correctly, you are noticing the about 1/8 of a turn of "play" before engagement when you shift, either up, or down. This is pretty normal.
BTW, the "comment on profile" feature is not normally seen by me, the "start a conversation" feature is better.

Apologies, comments on my profile are not easily seen. The "start a conversation" feature is better.
Anyway, this was not solved, and after much conversation with the chief engineer, apparently does not have a satisfactory resolution for flyliners.

Quite often Guadalupe is 100-percent long soaks. A 20 would be your heavy dropper loop reel there, with 12's and 16's the better choice for any kind of flylining. Use 60 pound topshots on the 12 if there are no sharks. 80 if there are. With a 16, go with 80 topshots unless they are biting well, and then go with 100 if they will bite it.

How many yards of top shot do you recommend?? Both the 12 and 20 that I have currently are full to the brim.

So when I do get the 16 how much of what should I put on??

And any chance would you happen to know how much line on the 12 would 80 go on vs 100 and for the 20 100 vs 130

Topshot length will depend on the individual boat's crew, but Guadalupe is normally very short, generally between 5 and 25 feet. Line capacity varies a LOT depending on line brand, installation tension, and preference for fill-up level. The 12 generally holds around 550-600 of 80 [not sure on 100], the 16 holds 500-550 of 100, and the 20 holds 650-750 of 100 and 550-600 of 130.

Yes, traditionally Alijos is good for 30-60 pound tuna in June, plus very large yellowtail for nighttime dropper-loopers, with either bluefin and/or albacore on the way down or on the way home.

Not sure about space, but whatever the Shogun website says is probably correct. There were several people who wanted to go to Guadalupe on this year's trip, and were disappointed when they learned the permits had expired. We moved the dates slightly to allow the "possibility" of Guadalupe in 2018, but we may or may not go there, depending on where the fish are biting best.

Hi Paul, if having the most luxurious boat is not your priority, Captain Mike Lackey and the crew aboard the Vagabond are top notch. The boat is not the newest one in the fleet, but its comfortable, the food is good, and they really catch fish. Perfect for shorter trips.

How much drag at what settings are you getting? In general, follow the return instructions on Penn's website under "service", though BD members should also be sure to address their items to "attention Tony Dubeck".

there are usually a couple of spots open, he should have no problem getting on for 2018.

The SS5500 will certainly catch a yellowtail with no issues, but it is probably not an ideal choice as your primary "go-to" reel, especially with so many sea lions around. With a 15-20 pound topshot, it would make an excellent "finesse" reel for smaller baits like anchovies.

Not sure where a capacity is listed for 60?
Catalogue listed capacity is 525/65, which was calculated with Berkley Big Game Braid solid, and is very small diameter.

It was at charkbait. Will the 30 fit 500 of 65 izor?