tuna rod

[squidboy]

Im putting together a 80lb set up for tuna and need some help with a rod. Im a college student and dont want to break the bank any suggestions.

[mcgolfer]

more information might help someone head you in the right direction. spinning or conventional. casting for tuna,jigging, or chunking or all? private boat or headboat? what's your budget? low end would be a ugly stick for a conventional reel. there are lots of options that will get the job done just not quickly....rick

[Muddskipper]

Without going with a custom rod...ie Calstar, Seeker, Savage, OTI...

I would Look into the Fishing Tackle Unlimited Rods.....just under $200

If it breaks you can take it back, the have applications for Spinning or Casting reels.....and there is a selection, for your type of fishing.....

[Mitchw123456]

good rod for a good price are the Sea Magic rods if you want to sttay non custom. Or you could go to ebay and check out bar-bar rods as he makes some very good rods that are inexpensive when he uses the batson blanks

[squidboy]

I would be a conventional rod, It would be used for my private boat and for party boat tuna trips. fished from a harness should i go straight or bent butt. chunking and trolling.

[mcgolfer]

the bent butt if used in a harness probably should be a short bent butt. however if you want to troll the short bent butts don't reach the centering bolts in most rod holders so they have the chance of being yanked out of the rod holders by a strike. so if you want to troll with it get a straight butt and you can also use it in the harness. the regular length bent butt puts the reel a long way from your body and makes it hard to reel....rick

[jureal]

A short bent butt is okay for trolling if you make sure to use a safety leash attached to the reels' lugs. The long bent butts are only suitable for fighting from the chair and not for standup. It is amazing how much more pressure you can put on the fish with the short bent butt.

[hdc77494]

Chaos has a short bent butt or straight aluminum butt standup with aftco rollers for $285. No, they're not custom, but they work and they look good. I have three of their rods. For a reel I would suggest a used 50 wide Penn or an Avet 4/0. You really don't need an 80 wide unless you're in Venice every weekend or routinely go more than 100 miles offshore. If you really want an 80 wide, you can usually get a Penn on E Bay for reasonable money. Sometimes they're cheaper than a 50 because they're not as popular.

Just my 2 cents.

[hdc77494]

Chaos also has the same rod with Stuart rollers for wind on leaders for the same $285.

[Bellyups]

I like the Seeker classic series. All fiberglass. A little heavy but great workhorses.

AFTCO All Roller Stand Up Rods
SC655XH-5 1/2'AR 5'6" 40 (50) 100 $304
SC663XXH-6 1/4'AR 6'3" 50 (80) 100 $304
SC659XXXH-5 3/4'AR 5'9" 80 (100) 130 $304

Fast Taper AFTCO All Roller Stand Up Rods
SC6455XH-5 1/2'AR 5'6" 40 (60) 100 $304
SC6460XH-6'AR 6' 40 (60) 100 $304
SC6460XXH-6'AR 6' 50 (80) 130 $304
SC6455XXH-5 1/2'AR 5'6" 50 (80) 130 $304

I have the one in bold. The 6455XXH-5 1/2 is my favorite chunking, trolling, and AJ rod. It will catch everything. Prices are directly off charkbait's website.