Fishing gear recommendations

[B7Mack]

Hey guys,

I'm fairly new to saltwater fishing and looking to grab some gear for a 1.5 day trip down to the nados. Currently have 2 setups that I use for inshore yellowtail/rock fishing. Looking to get something beefier for those 100+ BFT. I'm just getting started so looking to grab gear that's moderately priced that will do the job. I don't need the best of anything and secondhand is fine with me. Just something good enough to learn on that will give me a solid foundation and that will last for at least 2-3 seasons. Also want to upgrade my current setup for inshore fishing to something better.

Current setup:

Daiwa Sealine X 30SHV 40# Braid 25# topshot
Sabre Pacifica SP610H 7'

Daiwa Sealine X 30shv 40# Braid 40# topshot
Pro Sabre SD8708 8'

I'm trying to get the basics down and start with the fundamentals so any videos/articles that have helped you guys that you can share would be greatly appreciated.

 

[CI_SeaWolf]

So a heavy set up, look into a Okuma PCH XXXH, 7’6”, or a Graphtech 80-130 lb rated rail rod. Reels: Either Okuma Makaira 16 or 20, or Penn International 16 or 20 VISX. I fish 100 lb braid/top shot on my 16’s, a 20 is more conventional. Rig knife jigs with minimum 200 lb bite leader, get jigs between 170-500 gm. Sinker rigs with 8-12 oz torpedo sinkers, 3/0 Owner Mutu circle hooks. Jerry bomb sinker jigs rigged the same as your knife jigs, use ST-66 treble hooks in 4/0, 5/0 sizes and mustad assist hooks in 7/0. All this has been discussed ad nauseum in many threads here. Good Luck. The biggest thing you can do to get bites is get your braid marked at 50’ intervals.

 

[OutFishing2]

Well there is a bunch of brands of reel and rods it depends how much you wanna spend for me I use this brands penn international,penn fathom,Avet reels,calstar rods, seaguar lines

 

[Skeet]

What size fathom would you recommend

 

[OutFishing2]

What size fathom would you recommend

25-30-40n-60 I haven’t try the new 80

 

[bdubs73]

Penn Fathom's are great and competitively priced, they will last you longer than a few seasons. I use the 15 all the way up to the 60 and love them. The 40 or 60 would be good choices for medium to large BFT. In terms of learning, the interest is flooded with videos. If you want a single suggestion, I would recommend buying a monthly subscription to "Captains Concepts" they go over techniques, setups, and how to catch fish on sport boats, including pitfalls to avoid, ways to capitalize etc. They are as up to date as you can get, the captains literally upload their content as they come in from trips. Here I am acting like I am their interest rep
Welcome to the tribe.

 

[scbassmaster]

I like the fathom 60, 100lb braid to 60-130lb leader depending on the technique and time of day. the pch741XXXH (80-130lb) is a good middle for a heavy rod, not the strongest but also light wt and can fish 60# with 15lbs of drag up to 100+ with 25-30# of drag if needed. personally I have different setups for day and night fishing but that is a big investment right out of the gate.

if looking used you want something that will hold around 400-500yrds of 100lb braid, 2 speed, and metal frame. for rods, 7'6" is the sweet spot for me, 7' will work too but nothing shorter as you'll want to keep the line out away from the boat during the final circles. I recomend 80-130 rods that fish "light" or 60-100 rods that fish "heavy"
There is a Garftech 80-100 in the classifieds and plenty of reels that fit the bill too, choose your favorite brand.

 

[surfgoose]

I sent you a conversation. Check the envelope symbol in the upper-right of the page.

 

[Fred100]

Rent heavy set up from the landing.

 

[Son of Baja Bob]

Just buy once. Get a UC or Osp rail rod and a visx or mak. 16 or 20 and centuar /1x3 or viper/2x4. You buy some middle of the road outfit and you walk up to the deckhand ask him what he thinks and he says”it’s ok” or “that’s junk” your Dick will shrivel and so will your confidence. Get a badass set-up that you wanna fish with. Because you’re gonna want that set-up anyways when your done playing around with the junk you buy because you cheaped out.

 

[B7Mack]

So a heavy set up, look into a Okuma PCH XXXH, 7’6”, or a Graphtech 80-130 lb rated rail rod. Reels: Either Okuma Makaira 16 or 20, or Penn International 16 or 20 VISX. I fish 100 lb braid/top shot on my 16’s, a 20 is more conventional. Rig knife jigs with minimum 200 lb bite leader, get jigs between 170-500 gm. Sinker rigs with 8-12 oz torpedo sinkers, 3/0 Owner Mutu circle hooks. Jerry bomb sinker jigs rigged the same as your knife jigs, use ST-66 treble hooks in 4/0, 5/0 sizes and mustad assist hooks in 7/0. All this has been discussed ad nauseum in many threads here. Good Luck. The biggest thing you can do to get bites is get your braid marked at 50’ intervals.

Thanks brotha this helps a lot. I’ll actually be picking up a few things these coming days. Looking at a 100-130 graftech paired with an Okuma Makaira 16. Also another setup for a medium weight. I’ll be grabbing a Makaira 15 just trying to decide on the rod for that one. I’ll be picking up an assortment of knife jugs and hooks as well. I already have 1/0 - 6/0 ringed owner hooks so I’ll probably grab a few more sizes.

 

[B7Mack]

Penn Fathom's are great and competitively priced, they will last you longer than a few seasons. I use the 15 all the way up to the 60 and love them. The 40 or 60 would be good choices for medium to large BFT. In terms of learning, the interest is flooded with videos. If you want a single suggestion, I would recommend buying a monthly subscription to "Captains Concepts" they go over techniques, setups, and how to catch fish on sport boats, including pitfalls to avoid, ways to capitalize etc. They are as up to date as you can get, the captains literally upload their content as they come in from trips. Here I am acting like I am their interest rep
Welcome to the tribe.

Thanks for the insight I’ll definitely check it out. Do you have any experience with the Penn Torque lever drag?

 

[B7Mack]

Just buy once. Get a UC or Osp rail rod and a visx or mak. 16 or 20 and centuar /1x3 or viper/2x4. You buy some middle of the road outfit and you walk up to the deckhand ask him what he thinks and he says”it’s ok” or “that’s junk” your Dick will shrivel and so will your confidence. Get a badass set-up that you wanna fish with. Because you’re gonna want that set-up anyways when your done playing around with the junk you buy because you cheaped out.

That’s kind of my thoughts at the moment. Buy once cry once. I’ll be going a few times a year so they will see the water more than a few times a year.

 

[CI_SeaWolf]

Thanks brotha this helps a lot. I’ll actually be picking up a few things these coming days. Looking at a 100-130 graftech paired with an Okuma Makaira 16. Also another setup for a medium weight. I’ll be grabbing a Makaira 15 just trying to decide on the rod for that one. I’ll be picking up an assortment of knife jugs and hooks as well. I already have 1/0 - 6/0 ringed owner hooks so I’ll probably grab a few more sizes.

You should fish 60-80 on the Mak15, something like a PCH 741 XXH would work….

 

[Son of Baja Bob]

That’s kind of my thoughts at the moment. Buy once cry once. I’ll be going a few times a year so they will see the water more than a few times a year.

Then get the mak 16 with a centuar or 1x3. You can fish 60,80 or 100 with that set-up. After you get your rail fishing fine tuned you jump up to the viper/2x4 on a 20 size reel. Don’t cheap out on the rod. You’ll have those way longer than the reels if you get ones you like. I still fish a 270h-8 I got 30 years ago.

 

[bdubs73]

Thanks for the insight I’ll definitely check it out. Do you have any experience with the Penn Torque lever drag?

They are outstanding as well, about a $300 price change from the Fathoms. If you are able to purchase on that range, definitely consider the Torque, Makaira, or Talica's series.

 

[JJMassar]

Mak or VISX 16 with a UC 76 Centaur….and never look back! You will be stoked to have it.

 

[B7Mack]

Just wanted to thank you guys for the recommendations on everything. I got two nice setups ready to roll with an assortment of jigs and plenty of hooks/ leaders along with sinkers

As a side note I have a trip booked for the Legend this coming Monday and was wondering what do you guys use to transport your tuna back home if you’re not going through the processors? I have a suv and a 160qt cooler available just wondering if there’s more convenient options from some of the more experienced guys on here. I’m about an hour and a half away from HM landing so traveling wouldn’t be too far.

 

[CI_SeaWolf]

Some guys use a kill bag, it is insulated and can hold a lot of fish.

 

[terryc.]

Be careful with those Daiwa's a bigger bluefin will cause a lot of pain if hooked up on them. They are great reels in the right application.

 

[B7Mack]

Be careful with those Daiwa's a bigger bluefin will cause a lot of pain if hooked up on them. They are great reels in the right application.

I ended up with a speedmaster 25 for 100# and a speedmaster 16 for 80#. Only time I'll bring those out would be for yellows.

 

[B7Mack]

Some guys use a kill bag, it is insulated and can hold a lot of fish.

yeah I saw those just kind of hard to shell out 200-300+ for one that I'll use for about 2 hours after buying all my gear.. The amount of investment is pretty high atm lol

 

[B7Mack]

.

 

[Irishman]

If you catch more than one large tuna you will be wishing you had opted for same day processing and flash frozen. You mention you live 90 mins away. Get off the boat, deal with processor, take the reels you used to local shop in SD and get new top shots and your braid repacked properly, go get a bite to eat, take a nap at Fiesta Island with the windows down, go pick up fish professionally processed and drive home with minimal work to do once you get home. I live in SD and can’t tell you the ”oh fuck I’ve got 4 hours of filleting and vaccum packing feeling sucks” after I opted to do so at home. A small 40 or 50 lb fish no worries but if you get more than one it’s a hassle at home when exhauste, expensive yes but you will be happier to get home, rinse your gear, put fish in freezer, take a shower and nap

 

[B7Mack]

If you catch more than one large tuna you will be wishing you had opted for same day processing and flash frozen. You mention you live 90 mins away. Get off the boat, deal with processor, take the reels you used to local shop in SD and get new top shots and your braid repacked properly, go get a bite to eat, take a nap at Fiesta Island with the windows down, go pick up fish professionally processed and drive home with minimal work to do once you get home. I live in SD and can’t tell you the ”oh fuck I’ve got 4 hours of filleting and vaccum packing feeling sucks” after I opted to do so at home. A small 40 or 50 lb fish no worries but if you get more than one it’s a hassle at home when exhauste, expensive yes but you will be happier to get home, rinse your gear, put fish in freezer, take a shower and nap

I agree 100% but at the moment it’s a leisure I can’t really do. Especially at the rate they are charging right now. Rather have the crew fillet and then finish it off at the house. I’ll budget it in next trip but for this one I will need to pass for the moment.