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Gentlemen:
I have no doubt this post will pose many of the same questions you typically get from new tuna fishermen, but I am going to take a slightly different slant and tell you all what gear I have on hand and ask what more (if any) you would recommend. I will be moving to Rockport in a couple of years and doing a lot of flats fishing--I have done that for many years. I have also fished offshore--strictly bottom fishing for smallish amberjack and snapper.
However, this summer, I will be doing a 52 hour trip on the Big E, and have never caught a yellowfin or a blackfin for that matter. I intend to do this or something like it once or twice a year until I go belly up, so it won't be a one-time purchase. Rightly or wrongly, here is what I own that might be usable for such a trip (and again, I am focusing mainly on the yellowfin:
1. Cabelas Standup 50-130 pound (1st roller guide and tip) with the Boss Twin Drag 665 high speed spooled with 300 yards of 100 pound Powerpro with a 75 foot 80 lb. flourocarbon top shot.
2. Heavy Ugly Stick (normal guides) OR 7 foot tiger (which is a better casting rod) both, having maximum stated capacity of 50 lb line) with the older style Shimano Calcutta 700 with level wind.
3. Older, Shimano 7 foot spinning rod (15-30 lb) with two Penn SS 8500's and one Salt Striker 80 (325 lb. of 30 lb mono capacity).
4. A couple of Shimano Calcutta 400 reels with Power Pro and 25 lb. mono respectively.
My primary question is this: Will I realistically need anything in addition to these rigs for a 52 hour trip on the Big E, for bottom fishing plus whatever yellowfin we might get into. I am assuming that the spinning rigs (and maybe a little heavier duty rod) would be OK for blackfin.
More than anything, I am interested in whether I need a heavier rig for bigger yellowfin than the 665 setup. Do I realistically need something like an Avet 30 or a Penn or Shimano 50 wide? Or will the Boss handle it? (I realize that many of you would not have chosen that reel, and I'm OK with that.)
In the alternative, is 300 yards of 100 pound spectra a good choice, given the reel I have? Or would you recommend a greater length of say, 65 or 80 pound.
Is a top shot desirable or necessary, or maybe just a 6 or 8 foot flourocarbon leader?
I'm certain I will have rigging questions as well but that's enough for now. Thanks for your help.
Russ
I have no doubt this post will pose many of the same questions you typically get from new tuna fishermen, but I am going to take a slightly different slant and tell you all what gear I have on hand and ask what more (if any) you would recommend. I will be moving to Rockport in a couple of years and doing a lot of flats fishing--I have done that for many years. I have also fished offshore--strictly bottom fishing for smallish amberjack and snapper.
However, this summer, I will be doing a 52 hour trip on the Big E, and have never caught a yellowfin or a blackfin for that matter. I intend to do this or something like it once or twice a year until I go belly up, so it won't be a one-time purchase. Rightly or wrongly, here is what I own that might be usable for such a trip (and again, I am focusing mainly on the yellowfin:
1. Cabelas Standup 50-130 pound (1st roller guide and tip) with the Boss Twin Drag 665 high speed spooled with 300 yards of 100 pound Powerpro with a 75 foot 80 lb. flourocarbon top shot.
2. Heavy Ugly Stick (normal guides) OR 7 foot tiger (which is a better casting rod) both, having maximum stated capacity of 50 lb line) with the older style Shimano Calcutta 700 with level wind.
3. Older, Shimano 7 foot spinning rod (15-30 lb) with two Penn SS 8500's and one Salt Striker 80 (325 lb. of 30 lb mono capacity).
4. A couple of Shimano Calcutta 400 reels with Power Pro and 25 lb. mono respectively.
My primary question is this: Will I realistically need anything in addition to these rigs for a 52 hour trip on the Big E, for bottom fishing plus whatever yellowfin we might get into. I am assuming that the spinning rigs (and maybe a little heavier duty rod) would be OK for blackfin.
More than anything, I am interested in whether I need a heavier rig for bigger yellowfin than the 665 setup. Do I realistically need something like an Avet 30 or a Penn or Shimano 50 wide? Or will the Boss handle it? (I realize that many of you would not have chosen that reel, and I'm OK with that.)
In the alternative, is 300 yards of 100 pound spectra a good choice, given the reel I have? Or would you recommend a greater length of say, 65 or 80 pound.
Is a top shot desirable or necessary, or maybe just a 6 or 8 foot flourocarbon leader?
I'm certain I will have rigging questions as well but that's enough for now. Thanks for your help.
Russ