I am just about to out and get a rod and reel for surf fishing. Any recommendations?

Welcome aboard Fishdoc,

There is a slew of options to choose from. What you need to determine is; how and where do you want to fish, what you'll fish (cut bait, live bait, tins, plugs...) and how much you want to spend...

You can spend anywhere from $150 off the rack for a 10 foot surf/spinning outfit to many hundreds of dollars on custom gear... Good custom gear rod&reel gets into the picture around $250 and runs on up...

fishdoc---to get the right advice, you're going to have to provide more info.

Bait or lures? If bait, live or chunks? Lures, what weight range? Primary fishing location? Preferred rod length, and maybe some info about your height, weight, age, etc. Price range for both the rod and reel?

Mike P (05-21-2001 12:09):
fishdoc---to get the right advice, you're going to have to provide more info.

Bait or lures? If bait, live or chunks? Lures, what weight range? Primary fishing location? Preferred rod length, and maybe some info about your height, weight, age, etc. Price range for both the rod and reel?
Thanks for getting back to me. I think what I am inteested in is two different outfits. First, a spinning reel with a surf rod. I was thinking about a 10 foot ugly stick with either a Penn 6500ss or Shimano Bait Caster 4500 reel. Second, a bait cating reel like the Garcia abu Ambassador 6500C3 with an 8 foot rod. I am 5'6'' around 175 pounds. What are your thoughts now? I am interested in surf fishing on the Cape. Thanks again.

fishdoc---sounds like you're on the right track. Both the Penn and the baitrunner will work on a 10' rod. Rather than the Ugly Stick---which is a decent rod for the price but on the heavy side---the Daiwa Sealine-X runs in the same price range. Much lighter, graphite composite rather than glass, more responsive, better caster and will handle about the same amount of weight. I think mikecc at M&D's has them in stock, somewhere in the $70 price range give or take a Hamilton.

For the 8' one, I'd either go with a St Croix Tidemaster, or have mikecc build you a custom on the Batson 967 blank. The Abu 6500 is a great reel for the money, can't go wrong there. The drag is wimpy, but they have aftermarket "Smoothie" washers that will make the drag perform at the level of a $200 Shimano Calcutta.

Mike P (05-22-2001 11:12):
fishdoc---sounds like you're on the right track. Both the Penn and the baitrunner will work on a 10' rod. Rather than the Ugly Stick---which is a decent rod for the price but on the heavy side---the Daiwa Sealine-X runs in the same price range. Much lighter, graphite composite rather than glass, more responsive, better caster and will handle about the same amount of weight. I think mikecc at M&D's has them in stock, somewhere in the $70 price range give or take a Hamilton.

For the 8' one, I'd either go with a St Croix Tidemaster, or have mikecc build you a custom on the Batson 967 blank. The Abu 6500 is a great reel for the money, can't go wrong there. The drag is wimpy, but they have aftermarket "Smoothie" washers that will make the drag perform at the level of a $200 Shimano Calcutta. Thanks again. I hope to be fishing this weekend. Any suggestions on where to go my first time (on the cape or canal)?

Fishdoc, It's really wide open for you. You can do anything from tossing bait (live or dead herring) at the Canal to tossing clams on the South side of the Cape at places like Poponesset. You have a good shot at some nice fish in either place.

Dagnabbit!!! Sorry - I put that in the wrong place...

Fishdoc,
If you go with the ABU 6500 many would recommend that you spend a littel extra over the C3 and buy the C4. It has high speed gears for working plugs a little faster and a bearing level wind for longer casts.

And if you intend to use it for a bigger rod, get the 6500TCST (Trophy Striper) as it also has the big handle instead of the little padle wheels...

John R (05-22-2001 14:31):
Fishdoc, It's really wide open for you. You can do anything from tossing bait (live or dead herring) at the Canal to tossing clams on the South side of the Cape at places like Poponesset. You have a good shot at some nice fish in either place.

Dagnabbit!!! Sorry - I put that in the wrong place...
One last question - What are your line recommendations test/type?

I use three basic setups but I'm one of the most basic in the use of line as many use different types (like braids) and pound test for many different applications...

Berkely Big Game Green:

12# - schoolies and bass up to 20#s, albies, throwing REALLY light stuff
20# - 80% of my fishing, plugs, eels, sandy beaches and most rocky shores
35# - REALLY rocky areas with very big fish - typically fall

with the 12# I often use a 20# leader and with the 20-35#, I use the 40-50# big game leader material.

I'm happy with mono and re-line my reel frequently whereas many others put braid on which lasts a lot longer but is far more costly....

John R (05-23-2001 14:32):
I use three basic setups but I'm one of the most basic in the use of line as many use different types (like braids) and pound test for many different applications...

Berkely Big Game Green:

12# - schoolies and bass up to 20#s, albies, throwing REALLY light stuff
20# - 80% of my fishing, plugs, eels, sandy beaches and most rocky shores
35# - REALLY rocky areas with very big fish - typically fall

with the 12# I often use a 20# leader and with the 20-35#, I use the 40-50# big game leader material.

I'm happy with mono and re-line my reel frequently whereas many others put braid on which lasts a lot longer but is far more costly....
I appreciate all the advice. If I can ever help you out with Veterinary advice feel free to ask.