[SpecialK]

Trying to decide whether I should buy a new spinner for the January Tuna Trip.
Currently using an Okuma Epixor EB80.
Will this reel handle YFT at all?
Really thinking of getting into a Penn 950/9500. Any opinions of both would be great!
Even a some uprgrades to my reel would work???
Otherwise I basically need a rig that will do the trick!

 

[MrBill]

Good luck. Not to burst your bubble, but a $65 okuma spinner will blow up on the first fish. In fact, I don't think it could withstand the initial run of a decent size YF. Since you already own it, might as well give it a try. I'm a gambling man, and would like to place a bet on this reel getting a tuna to the gaff. Any takers?

Don't waste your money on a Penn 9500 either. They just aren't designed to handle YF's. It might bring in one or two before it explodes on you. If you don't fish for tuna very often, see if you can borrow a reel from somebody. You might want to consider a conventional reel. If you don't want to spend 600+ on a good spinning reel, just buy a Penn senator. It won't cost much and should do the job.

 

[SpecialK]

Well I don't mind getting into a more expensive reel. Just wanted to know if there was anything out there in the 200-400 range that would do the job. I guess I got ripped by cabellas, the Okuma ran about 115 after tax a few months back...haha

What do you think the good options are??? I haveread about the cabo 80 also, is it crap?

I have looked at the VS' before but didnt really think there could bethat much difference.

The senator doesnt cast that well and that is what I want the reel for, topwater.

I have a Shimano TLD 30 for jigging/chunking with.

 

[SpecialK]

I'm a gambling man, and would like to place a bet on this reel getting a tuna to the gaff. Any takers?


Are you going to be on the trip?
IF so we might get to see what happens with it, IF Cabellas won't take it back. I'd be willing to waste the braid to find out what happens...haha
If you are not going and I get to try it out I will let you knwo the outcome!

 

[TeamOso]

spheros 14000.....

 

[fish on]

special k i think u should get a fin-nor ofs 9500 leagues ahead of the penn and the spheros.Personally i was a shimano man until i tried to service my spheros and the bail broke,the drag was even worse as i couldnt get into the spool as the srews rounded when trying to pull.frankly if u ask me too many parts to pull on a spinner the fin-nor is way simpler and stronger.ps caught 60lbwahoo and 80lb yft with ease on a fin-nor ofs set-up with a fin-nor 50lb class rod.:

 

[shanker]

here is what happened to my Fin-Nor OFS95 on a barely keeper AJ, Fin-Nor said that they had a problem with early models and the thickness of the gear, but my advice to you SpecialK, after trying to do the same thing you are doing (buying a cheap spinner) get a TwinSpin, Stella, or Saltiga and you'll have a reel that will last you a lifetime and your grandchilden will more than likely be fishing with it.

http://www.360tuna.com/forum/f60/fin-nor-ofs95-breaking-point-1107/

 

[MrBill]

I guess I got ripped by cabellas, the Okuma ran about 115 after tax a few months back...haha

Buy it now: 65 bucks, 8 more available

Okuma Epix EB 80 Baitfeeder Spinning Reel EPIXOR EB80 - (eBay item 110166449726 end time Nov-03-07 03:44:21 PDT)

I don't have any tuna trips planned in the GOM in Jan. So, I will not be a witness to the manly-ness of the okuma. But, I would be willing to make a size-able bet that the reel won't cut the mustard.

I doubt it would maintain more than 10 pounds of drags without chattering. Hopefully your gears hold up. Whoever you will be fishing with will probably get very upset watching you spend over an hour fighting a 75# tuna. Don't be surprised to see your line cut by an upset inpatient person. If you haven't used it, I'd take it back for a refund.

For your price range, the Cabo80 should do the trick as guides in Venice use them successfully.

 

[SpecialK]

I read through your post. Thats rough! So did Fin-Nor say thatall of the new ones are problem solved or are these faulty gear floating around in the stores still?

 

[Uncle Russ]

Unfortunately, I have to agree with Mr. Bill, although I don't pretend to have his experience. I do have several premium reels (which I have not tested well myself, yet) and an Epixor (actually a Cabelas Salt Striker 80 which is the exact same reel). I bought this reel before getting back into offshore and used it as a jetty reel with 30 pound mono for revenge on big Jacks and Bull Reds in heavy current. It did fine on the reds for the most part, but something happened to the drag (no idea what--it just quit dragging and I couldn't lock it down during the fight) while I was fighting a huge jack. I had at least 250 yards of line on it (it's tempting to think it's strong because it has a huge spool) and got nearly spooled the first time. I managed to get line back but with no working drag and a fish I had to allow to rest, it spooled me the second time around, running down-current. I estimate it was either a state record bull red or (more likely ) a 30 pound or so jack crevalle. Now I have landed three yellowfin and a jack ain't no yellowfin.) I'm trying to translate what I felt with a 75 pounder on an ATD 50 wide to that Epixor. Be afraid. Be VERY afraid.

Cabelas will definitely take it back, even without a receipt. If you are not going to have a big 2-speed with you, buy a Stella 20,000 or an Accurate SR30. Use the money from the Cabelas refund to buy a really good line.

Russ

 

[SpecialK]

Uncle Russ
I am confused with that post? I don't own a 2 speed but I also don't know of one that would replace(even close) the castabilty of a spinning. I have caught many fish including bft's, kings, and successfully landed a 70-80# 5ft. blacktip. But thats no YFT either...

Shanker, I don't see a Saltiga with the amount of line capacity I would think it takes to be sure about a sizeable YFT. AM I missing something.

MR Bill
HAHA I did do someother research on the reels. I should learn to do more research before buying. Everything I can find says these things are better off given away before you waste more money in line...
I'll find something that will do the trick.

 

[Staven]

I dont have experience with YFT yet. But fishing in florida for kings, and also bottom fishing for snapper and grouper I have done. YOu might want to consider the new Penn Slammer 760. I got one and spooled it with a little over 500 yds of powerpro 50lb braid. The drag comfortably locks down at 22lb. Which is fine for me in a spinner. Its not my stella 20000 of my saltiga 6500 which I have both. I do not have experience with the accurate twinspin. I do have their boss 870 2-speed. I would let accurate work out the bugs in the first version. The stella is on version 4 now. For what that is worth.

I have cought 60lb wahoo on my stella 8000 that has 40 lb braid on it with no problem.

I hope this helps.

 

[Staven]

Let me rephrase the no problem with the wahoo. It was fun and it was a fight, but I always had at least 1/4 of my line at least on the spool. Fight was around 15 - 20 minutes. So no it was not a pushover at all. Just fun.

 

[Fishhead56]

In 1 year in the early 80's I blew up enough spinners to fill up a 5 gal. bucket on snook, kings and tarpon in the Keys and the Glades. But none since.
These were mostly Penn 550 to 750 SS. I just changed my retrieve Technique. Back then pump and and cranking with the rod still loaded on the way down would flex and seperate the ring and pinion.
Since changing to a very aggresive down swing while retreiving line and a longer pull up while max loading the rod and drag setting helps let the gearing live. The down swing is the key where the rod tip is more or less thrown towards the fish while cranking in a few wraps and keeping some tension on the hook. This style still requires a drag that will hold up.
Will a Big Penn spinner drag turn a 100+ YFT from a stationary boat? I don't know. I again in the 80's I had been spooled a few times by Tarpon from the old Marathon Bridge using 650's and 750's.(Which I thought was cool except for all that mono left in the water) But also since I have bested Wahoo, BFT, 50 lb YFT, Bull Dolphin ect from mobile vessels. Along with lifting up Grouper and AJ's to 70lb

Will a Stella gearing hold up to a retrieve similiar to that of a conventional reel? I think so since I have not heard them blowing up.

I do have a OS95 that has held up but it has not seen a large YFT.

I glanced some where that Penn is about to release new spinner that is to be
sturdier than the SS series.

But in closing two thoughts.
You can break a bowling ball with a dusting feather if you try hard enough.
and
Best spinning combo I can think of for YFT. Stella and OTI.

my $.o2

 

[tass]

Go on ebay and buy yourself a twin power. It will do the job as a spinner.

 

[Ragman]

Hey SpecialK!

Answered your PM!

You don't have to go to a spinner for topwater, they're just easier to cast and reel big topwaters.

For less money, you could go with a conventional, but you'll have to be really good at casting, then laying the line evenly.

 

[papio]

hey SpecialK,

I currently use a Okuma Salina SA80. I bought them as backups for my Shimano Sustain and Stradic but have enjoyed using the reel so much now my Shimanos have been designated as backups until the Okuma explodes on me......still waiting for the explosion on that under $90 reel.

 

[lite-liner]

Special K: Stay away from the Fin-Nor, total junk & too heavy
I would say stay away from the Okuma, too, but I have seen it
boat YFt to 70#
I agree w/ MrBill on the Penn, but w/ upgrades(lots) I can handle
60-80# YFT w/ relative comfort.
My new spinner of choice is the Quantum Cabo series. I have an -80
that make way more drag than i'll ever need and has proven itself on the water. A couple weeks ago in Venice, watched our deckie slay a 75# yft
in like 10 min's with a Cabo-60 on an OTI popping rod. this spurred me
to buy another Cabo, a PTs-70 this time. I'm sure it'll work for me
and they can be had, New, on Ebay for around $150-200 bucks
good luck & tight lines
-Brian

 

[SpecialK]

Hey SpecialK!

Answered your PM!

You don't have to go to a spinner for topwater, they're just easier to cast and reel big topwaters.

For less money, you could go with a conventional, but you'll have to be really good at casting, then laying the line evenly.
I am Really good at casting baitcasters, have been doin it into the wind off piers for 15 years or so. The laying the line part always seems to get me if I have a really big fish on... Is there not a conventional style that had a livelwind guide that is also very castable?

 

[Minnow]

levelwind conventional reel is not a really good choice for offshore applications in my opinion. With the use of spectra line and mono topshot or wind on non level wind will be a much better choice.

I have use Trinidad 40 for top water for years, it work as good if not better than spinner.