tog/seabass rod choices

[Depraved]

Hi im kinda new to boat fishing but i do alot of surf fishing.
Im just starting to get into party boat fishing and looking for recommendations for an 8ft rod for tog/seabass/bait rod
I was thinking maybe a calstar 800m or a seeker 670 or are there better options trying to keep it under $250... Thanks for any and all advice

[Capt Richie]

Calstar " L " may be a better choice..The M is on the heavy side for seabass & blackfish.....The seeker 670 to soft in the tip I would go with the Seeker BCBW8098T.....

[Tunaman40]

I have a Calstar 700L with a shimano Torium 20. Sweet combo for sea bass and tog

[peterk814]

GFX800M would be a good choice. I have a 700L i use for fluking which i think is too light for toggin. Best option would be to try bending some blanks or rods to see what your thoughts are. 700L with 10oz of lead its way too noodled already

[paul708]

i think the M would be a good choice for PB and bait..

there is a lami only comes in blank not built rod..we use for toggin and seabass
i used it this year for tiles and grouper in NC

[Capt Richie]

The M is a 20-50 blank ...You guys fish way to heavy....The L 15-30 lb is to light try the ML...20-30.........

[Depraved]

Thanks for the input

[Billy 40]

The factory Calstars are not built for bottom fishing. Granted, if you don't do much Blackfishing you're not going to know the difference. There's also a big difference between teh 700L, and 800L. THere's also a really big difference in the original 800L's which were first used for Blackfish by the guys on the Ocean Eagle, and the current 800L's that Calstar is selling. There is a lot more glass in the tip now, they have a lighter action and less power. Just this week I found out abotu teh diffference, as I have teh original rods ECNEwellMan wrote abotu on Noreast adn I was making a set of backups - I couldn't get teh blanks to match action and power wise, even after cutting 4" off teh tip.

Since you are lookign for a rod to use for Sea Bass as well, teh CAlstar M is not even close. Some people like the M for BLackfishing, I don't, but to each tehir own.

IF you posted where you were fishing from, it might help - Montauk, Sheepshead Bay, DEleware, etc. Also 8' imo is too long for a Party Boat rod. If you are just getting into it, you're going to want smething 6-8" shorter, btu if you go the factory route, you pretty much do not have a choice.

[Capt Richie]

Originally Posted by Billy 40

The factory Calstars are not built for bottom fishing. Granted, if you don't do much Blackfishing you're not going to know the difference. There's also a big difference between teh 700L, and 800L. THere's also a really big difference in the original 800L's which were first used for Blackfish by the guys on the Ocean Eagle, and the current 800L's that Calstar is selling. There is a lot more glass in the tip now, they have a lighter action and less power. Just this week I found out abotu teh diffference, as I have teh original rods ECNEwellMan wrote abotu on Noreast adn I was making a set of backups - I couldn't get teh blanks to match action and power wise, even after cutting 4" off teh tip.

Since you are lookign for a rod to use for Sea Bass as well, teh CAlstar M is not even close. Some people like the M for BLackfishing, I don't, but to each tehir own.

IF you posted where you were fishing from, it might help - Montauk, Sheepshead Bay, DEleware, etc. Also 8' imo is too long for a Party Boat rod. If you are just getting into it, you're going to want smething 6-8" shorter, btu if you go the factory route, you pretty much do not have a choice.

I have fished the Calstar GFX700L for bottom fishing for ten years..Its a great rod & I have landed blackfish to 10lbs on it in water to 110'..( its a custom Flynn rod )

With that said the GFX was design for eastcoast bottom fishing..I do agree with B40 that there are better blanks ( GUSA PURC70M & MH )...But for a off the rack rod its one of the best...I also agree that 8' it to long & the M is to heavy...As far a the difference with the old & new blanks yes they did change them....I found that the new GFX have less glass in them about and inch & a half..But thats a 10 year old blank & one I got in the past few weeks..And thats the GFX700L I havent check others models..

I dont doubt Billy ..He is very accurate when it comes to building rod's this is just my opinion...

[Depraved]

Originally Posted by Billy 40

The factory Calstars are not built for bottom fishing. Granted, if you don't do much Blackfishing you're not going to know the difference. There's also a big difference between teh 700L, and 800L. THere's also a really big difference in the original 800L's which were first used for Blackfish by the guys on the Ocean Eagle, and the current 800L's that Calstar is selling. There is a lot more glass in the tip now, they have a lighter action and less power. Just this week I found out abotu teh diffference, as I have teh original rods ECNEwellMan wrote abotu on Noreast adn I was making a set of backups - I couldn't get teh blanks to match action and power wise, even after cutting 4" off teh tip.

Since you are lookign for a rod to use for Sea Bass as well, teh CAlstar M is not even close. Some people like the M for BLackfishing, I don't, but to each tehir own.

IF you posted where you were fishing from, it might help - Montauk, Sheepshead Bay, DEleware, etc. Also 8' imo is too long for a Party Boat rod. If you are just getting into it, you're going to want smething 6-8" shorter, btu if you go the factory route, you pretty much do not have a choice.

I would be fishing out of oc maryland. I mostly do snapper/grouper trips but trying to get into tog/seabass fishing since thats whats close to me and doesnt take 6+ hour to get to. If you think 8ft is too long what would you think about the 700m or 700mL or also i saw a custom rod on jamestackle that they call the tog killer or something like that but its cheaper than the calstar so im kind of hesitant about it.


Thanks for your input