Stella vs Saltiga

[fishr1989]

I am currently in the market for a spinning reel to jig for tuna and to livebait for sharks (Makos, Blues, Threshers) off the Rhode Island and Massachusetts coast.

I am torn between the Saltiga Z 6500 Expedition and the Stella 20000. I normally fish all Shimano, but am looking to possibly expand my reel selection to include other brands/or getting a reel like the Stella and then upgrading later. I will be filling the reel with 80lb Power Pro or 80lb Jerry Brown.

I am not worried about having enough line, as either will hold more than enough for my needs. I would also be interested to hear what rods you would recommend to pair with the reel.

Tuna Jigs: 200-400
Sharking: 450lb mono shock leader/topshot, 300lb single strand wire

[Zamo]

If I could only have one rod it would be the Smith WGJ though. I have a couple of the spinning (S56H) and three of the conventional (50H) models and they have a taper that I really like. While I have a forest of other jigging rods, the WGJ gets to go on every trip regardless of which other rods come along. I compared the WGJ to the AMJ before making my decision and while many people like the AMJ, I personally preferred the WGJ line. No two people fish the same.

Hi Hatidua, I'm looking at buying a WGJ 50H conventional rod and wondering what reels/#line are you using on them. Also do they have a slotted gimbal and are the grip lenghts the same as the AMJ? Cheers Zamo

[gman]

I fish Rhode Island all summer long for shark, we actually hold some of the records there. Are you fishing from the surf or from a boat. Generally i wouldnt suggest fishing for sharks with spinning reels but if you had to I would suggest the stella 20000.

A good size mako or thresher will IMHO smoke any spinning reel if it wants to. Those two sharks have some serious speed ranging up to 50MPH

Here is a link of me catching a blue shark on a popper while fishing off Rhode island last year. The reel was a stella 20000. I didnt have a casting rod with me so I threw it with a 5' smith jigging rod. The reel did teh job easy getting the shark boatside with 20 minutes

the post for all you popping gurus...

[BretABaker]

Originally Posted by gman

I fish Rhode Island all summer long for shark, we actually hold some of the records there. Are you fishing from the surf or from a boat. Generally i wouldnt suggest fishing for sharks with spinning reels but if you had to I would suggest the stella 20000.

A good size mako or thresher will IMHO smoke any spinning reel if it wants to. Those two sharks have some serious speed ranging up to 50MPH

Here is a link of me catching a blue shark on a popper while fishing off Rhode island last year. The reel was a stella 20000. I didnt have a casting rod with me so I threw it with a 5' smith jigging rod. The reel did teh job easy getting the shark boatside with 20 minutes

the post for all you popping gurus...

thats awesome! i've never heard of anyone catching a shark on a popper!

[fishr1989]

Originally Posted by gman

I fish Rhode Island all summer long for shark, we actually hold some of the records there. Are you fishing from the surf or from a boat. Generally i wouldnt suggest fishing for sharks with spinning reels but if you had to I would suggest the stella 20000.

A good size mako or thresher will IMHO smoke any spinning reel if it wants to. Those two sharks have some serious speed ranging up to 50MPH

Here is a link of me catching a blue shark on a popper while fishing off Rhode island last year. The reel was a stella 20000. I didnt have a casting rod with me so I threw it with a 5' smith jigging rod. The reel did teh job easy getting the shark boatside with 20 minutes

the post for all you popping gurus...

I'm working for Capt. Bruce Macomber, as I did last summer, and the 20000 Stellas are all we use for sharks; Blues, Makos, Threshers, all from a 26' C-Hawk Walkaround or a 38' Luhrs Convertible, and he or I have never had any problem with a big shark on one.

The biggest blue shark we took last summer was 500lbs, and would have set a new state record had we not released it. We fish the Stellas with 80lb Power Pro with a 50yd top shot of 120.

The only time we will fish conventional is if the charter group is very inexperienced, or if we are fishing a tournament. We were chartered for the Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament this year, and our party won all the awards in the women's category.

If you want to have a real light tackle experience catching a big shark on spinning gear standup style, no chair, only a belt, give us a call and we can arrange a trip for you and your son. (HOWLINWOLFCHARTERS.COM)

[gman]

Originally Posted by fishr1989

I'm working for Capt. Bruce Macomber, as I did last summer, and the 20000 Stellas are all we use for sharks; Blues, Makos, Threshers, all from a 26' C-Hawk Walkaround or a 38' Luhrs Convertible, and he or I have never had any problem with a big shark on one.

The biggest blue shark we took last summer was 500lbs, and would have set a new state record had we not released it. We fish the Stellas with 80lb Power Pro with a 50yd top shot of 120.

The only time we will fish conventional is if the charter group is very inexperienced, or if we are fishing a tournament. We were chartered for the Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament this year, and our party won all the awards in the women's category.

If you want to have a real light tackle experience catching a big shark on spinning gear standup style, no chair, only a belt, give us a call and we can arrange a trip for you and your son. (HOWLINWOLFCHARTERS.COM)

Thanks appreciate the offer thats very nice of you. We always fish stand up, no chair with Coastal Charters all season long and we won the 2007 Oak Bluffs Tournament in the Junior Angler Division. We generally fish for trophy size fish and and keep nothing but big boys. I would not want to be on a 500 pound thresher or Mako with spinning gear and braid. Thats just insane. We lost a estimated 600 thresher before OB which broke my heart.

[gman]

Originally Posted by gman

Thanks but we already fish stand up, no chair with Coastal Charters all season long and we won the 2007 Oak Bluffs Tournament in the Junior Angler Division. I thought the girl from South Jersey won the womans award???

Just curious why would you use conventional for "inexperienced crews" I would think it would be the opposite. No freespool, no line guiding no birds nests with a spinner therefore I view it as an easier way to fish

[hatidua]

Originally Posted by Zamo

Hi Hatidua, I'm looking at buying a WGJ 50H conventional rod and wondering what reels/#line are you using on them. Also do they have a slotted gimbal and are the grip lenghts the same as the AMJ? Cheers Zamo

I use Trinidad 40N reels with my WGJ 50H reels. In the past I have used Accurate Boss reels as well as Shimano Torsa reels with that rod but have been most happy with the Trini 40N's with the Carbontex and Cal's drag plate upgrades. I load the reels with 65# braid as I have had problems getting 80# line to fall into the intended target zone (there is considerable current where I usually fish). The 65# is thin enough so as to not be too overly affected by current yet still strong enough that I can apply some decent drag.

The rods do indeed have a slotted gimbal.

I don't have an AMJ in front of me at the moment so I can't measure the grip length. I only compared the AMJ and WGJ for one day and never actually ended up buying an AMJ so you'll have to get the grip length info from someone else

[Zamo]

Thanks very much Hatidua, just what I was looking for. I'm in Australia and its hard to find someone who has one. I have used a AMJ 52H and liked it but think its a touch light for what I'm intending to use it for, Fraser Island AJ's. Cheers, Zamo.

[fishr1989]

Originally Posted by gman

Just curious why would you use conventional for "inexperienced crews" I would think it would be the opposite. No freespool, no line guiding no birds nests with a spinner therefore I view it as an easier way to fish

We use conventional because we fill the conventional reels with mono rather than braid, easier to handle, safer for the wireman, and because it's easier to attach a safety line to the rig, with the ringed rod clamp.

Also, worst comes to worst, we can hook a harness to the lugs, which we can't do with the spinners.

[hatidua]

Originally Posted by Zamo

Thanks very much Hatidua, just what I was looking for.

I sent you a PM with additional details