Time for an upgrade!

[Rooney1997]

Hi Guys

The time has come that dad and I would like to fork out some money to buy some new heavier reels! After the last couple of trips losing 4 cobia and 2 spaniards due to gear failure I just feel like crying. We use mainly cheaper older gear due to not being overly wealthy. Need some suggestions so that I know I'm heading the right way. Reels need to be relatively heavy as we are fishing for pelagic's and snapper in shallow water, (if you have not being able to experience this, need to put it to the top of your list!!!). Looking to probably use 40-50lb braid as we keep getting smoked on the 35lb mono, even after chasing the fish. Any suggestions from personal use would be great to hear. Thanks in advance guys!

[cod_botherer]

few things mate. you will want to use braid when fishing for snapper with plastics as being able to feel whats going on is extremely necessary. another thing, what's your price range? also you'll never run down a mackerel in relatively bumpy sea. i'd personally get 2 reels as it would be no fun catching squire on a reel meant for 40kg spanish and it would be stupid to fish light enough to have fun on squire for spanish.

[Rooney1997]

Yeah mate, I'm only really just getting into real serious fishing, haven't bought too much gear, got many older stuff passed down from pop! I've bought a couple of light plastics rods, not top of the range but still shimano. Running two Siena's ATM with light braid for bream/flatty and I've landed a few small cod and squire on them. But really trying to get dad into some nice gear and conversation to braid but he only likes using braid in deep water. All our snapper fishing is under 6m of water. I bought him a Stradic 2500fj but he insisted on putting straight fluro instead of braid. I'm selling my moto and got a bit saved up so will probs be looking at up to 600 total spendage at the moment, just hate seeing once in a lifetime fish go down the drain like this!

[CJ BRIBIE]

For cobes and macks you'd want a shimano tld 15 or 20 loaded with braid if you troll/livebait/bait fish on a 6-10kg or 8-12kg outfit. However, if you're looking at casting metals then i'd say a spinning outfit (maybe a stradic fj 5000 or 6000, high gear ratio good spool capacity workhorse reel) with a 7ft rod. In the bay I use a 5000fj on a 7'6 4-6kg rod, running 20 or 30lb braid for macks and longtails but if you're specifically chasing spaniards then a 6-10 or 8-12 might be a better option.

For flicking plastics for bay snapper (up to 60cm roughly) most guys get away with a 2-5kg or 3-6kg outfit running 12-15lb braid on a 2500 or 3000 size reel. If you're fishing curtain artificial on the inside of moreton than beef it up to a 6-10kg rod and 4000-5000 size reel at least due to strong currents and heavy sinkers required. If you're looking out past moreton island than 5-8kg or 6-10kg with a 4000-5000 reel for snapper should be plenty. If you're looking to run 40-50lb braid than a 8000-10000 sized shimano reel should hold about 250-300m of 40-50lb, but if you're worried about big spaniards then an overhead might be better for the higher spool capacity.

As for my overall recommendations for reels, I'd look at shimano tld overheads, stradic fj or symetre spin reels with the preference for the stradic. Big macks and cobes can put hurt on your gear as you've found out and the stradics and tlds are proven performers and will last you many years if taken care of properly.

[CJ BRIBIE]

You can normally get a tld rod and reel combo anywhere from 190 to 220 depending on the rod and are quite often made up as specials. Raider rods are anywhere from 100 to 120 depending on the store and who you talk to, if you buy rod and reel at the same time a good store will give you a deal and an even better one if you buy more than one combo. Stradic fj retails for 220-260, again dependent on where you go and what you buy with it.

sounds like the light stuff is covered already so how about:
tld 15/20 combo - $220
stradic fj, raider rod combo (sizes to suit your needs) - $240 + $120 = $360

Total of $580, give or take, and a bit of room for line on top of that

[Rooney1997]

Wow thankyou so much CJ. I am really grateful for all of your feedback. Stradic and Symetre's will probably be what I look at. Not a massive overhead fan, only really started using some of dads now that he uses way out off of Fraser Island. Since our boat is not massive, we don't do a great deal of trolling, it can't pierce the water to well unless flat westerly winds so most fishing is done through sounding and anchoring or drifting, so Ill have a serious look into the heavier spin outfits. Once again thank you so much for all of your feedback its much appreciated :P

[CJ BRIBIE]

No worries mate, saves you searching through the hundreds of threads on various forums like I've done over the years trying to answer the same questions

[lukereneeseth]

Just remember the reel is 1/3rd of the important stuff.

As your pretty much starting off, I'd stay clear of overheads.. for now.

If you don't already have a strong 6-12kg, 10-20lb rod then maybe look at the likes of Samaki Zing, Daiwa Gen Black, Shimano Revolution. All on sale around Australia and under $150. This is more important than the reel. What will help fight the fish, tire the fish and get it up out of the water column and beside the boat.

Reels I only know Shimano so I will suggestion from that bench. Shimano Stradic 5000. If you have the money then the Thunnus 6000 is a awesome reel, which I own and has been so versatile from live baiting to spinning tuna on 6 different rods.

Braid is the last must have on spin reels. On my 5000 Stradic I have 200m of 29lb Unitika Power Jigging. Quality braid in 20 - 40lb is all you will ever need for pelagics. I chase pelagics on a 2500 Sustain with 11lb Varivas, although only had a small black marlin and 1 spotted mac at the boat so far. All my drops have been from being bitten off and not braid failure.

Rod - Daiwa Beowulf / Samaki Zing 10-20lb / Shimano Impact Nano 5-10kg
Reel - Shimano Stradic 5000FJ
Braid - Unitika Power Jigging 29lb 200m, Sunline 30lb 150m, Varivas 24.8lb

Fishing in 15 - 30 meters of water you wont need anything bigger than that.
Spin reels you wont need braid any bigger than that. I have fought a giant stingray on my Stradic 5000 with the 29lb Unitika for 3 hours, so 30lb braid is well and truly strong enough even if you ever had to put 10kg of drag on a fish.

You will some find out after a few years of catching bigger fish you will eventually want to go lighter and lighter on gear to get the most out of the thrill. I think the 5000 Stradic would be the perfect starting point.

Stay away from the Symetre and the likes of. It wouldn't take long before you realise they were never intended to get salt water on them period.

[Twoshoes]

Hey mate, everyone is spot on with either the Stradics or TLDs. If you're not casting too much the TLDs are pretty much 100% bullet proof. We have 2 old size 30 hand me downs and they've copped 20+ years from both parties now and have never missed a beat. They can be used for anything from floating pillies for snapper to live baiting. If you have a quick look on gumtree my mate in Caloundra is selling quite a few cheap but reliable offshore combos (including a few TLD ones).

[nagz]

Tld's are absolute machines.

Wont let you down and wont leave your wallet feeling raped.

Easy to get parts and service yourself too.

Theres a definite reason they've been around for so long!!

[toygtr]

No mucking around.
Reel:- Shimano Saragosa 14000F (old one) loaded with 500yards of 50lb power pro. 60 to 80 lb leader 5m long.
Rod:- Nitro Godzilla spin 10-15kg 7 foot or Shimano T-Curve Bluewater series spin 10-15kg.

The old Saragosa for sure, with two extra bearings and a carbontex drag upgrade! This would be absolutely akin to a poor mans Stella!!!

The Stradic line of FJ's either in the 8000 FJ would be awesome also, standard out of the box they're respectable and will go the length. Just a simple upgrade of carbontex drag washers and your away.

Here's a pic of a 8K Stradic FJ on 20lb weight (360 Tuna Forum)... Doubt anyone would put that sort of hurt on a reel in the real world...

[Rooney1997]

fark, I typed like 1500 words and clicked post quick reply and it all disappeared... grrr Will reply soon sorry guys

[Rooney1997]

Originally Posted by CJ BRIBIE

No worries mate, saves you searching through the hundreds of threads on various forums like I've done over the years trying to answer the same questions

Thank you again for your time and detail mate, its much appreciated. I spent many hours reading through different threads and although I found some that helped, none were specific to exactly to what I wanted, So I appreciate your work!

[Rooney1997]

Originally Posted by lukereneeseth

Just remember the reel is 1/3rd of the important stuff.

As your pretty much starting off, I'd stay clear of overheads.. for now.

If you don't already have a strong 6-12kg, 10-20lb rod then maybe look at the likes of Samaki Zing, Daiwa Gen Black, Shimano Revolution. All on sale around Australia and under $150. This is more important than the reel. What will help fight the fish, tire the fish and get it up out of the water column and beside the boat.

Reels I only know Shimano so I will suggestion from that bench. Shimano Stradic 5000. If you have the money then the Thunnus 6000 is a awesome reel, which I own and has been so versatile from live baiting to spinning tuna on 6 different rods.

Braid is the last must have on spin reels. On my 5000 Stradic I have 200m of 29lb Unitika Power Jigging. Quality braid in 20 - 40lb is all you will ever need for pelagics. I chase pelagics on a 2500 Sustain with 11lb Varivas, although only had a small black marlin and 1 spotted mac at the boat so far. All my drops have been from being bitten off and not braid failure.

Rod - Daiwa Beowulf / Samaki Zing 10-20lb / Shimano Impact Nano 5-10kg
Reel - Shimano Stradic 5000FJ
Braid - Unitika Power Jigging 29lb 200m, Sunline 30lb 150m, Varivas 24.8lb

Fishing in 15 - 30 meters of water you wont need anything bigger than that.
Spin reels you wont need braid any bigger than that. I have fought a giant stingray on my Stradic 5000 with the 29lb Unitika for 3 hours, so 30lb braid is well and truly strong enough even if you ever had to put 10kg of drag on a fish.

You will some find out after a few years of catching bigger fish you will eventually want to go lighter and lighter on gear to get the most out of the thrill. I think the 5000 Stradic would be the perfect starting point.

Stay away from the Symetre and the likes of. It wouldn't take long before you realise they were never intended to get salt water on them period.

Completely forgot about the other two things mate, Gave them like no thought, Thank you for reminding me. Ive got a couple of reasonable rods, not top of the range but right amongst that weight category, might have to upgrade once I get a bit more money as well! Braid as well, Ive written down all of the names you have mentioned above. I much much appreciate all the time you have spent here mate. Its very helpful. All the gear you have suggested I've heard nothing but positive from! cheers again mate, very helpful +1