I saw my friend last night fight a 30#er on a huge spinner spooled with 20# mono. I think it was a baitrunner. Anyway, the fish took about 1/3-1/2 his spool. As I'm new to surf fishing, I wanted to know if my 5500ss could handle a nice fish.

ps: let's assume I don't get broken off due to any mistakes.

thanks in advance.

yep

Y-Knot....as long as it doesn't take ya in the rocks or to strong of a current...Drag Set ?

no fear....at all.

Thanks for the replies. At least I won't have to buy new gear. :happy:

As a beginner, should I use a heavier line then? Maybe 20 - 25#? I had a decent 10#er last night on a squid w/20# mono. I felt confident my line would not break. Watching someone fight a 30#er, made me think about my 5500. Maybe it's just a confidence thing?

I have caught a 30 # on 5500 with 20# test and there is no problem! But keep that drag set don't horse him and you will be fine.
Good Luck!!

There are other variables you have to think of. Structure? You got rocks in the area? How crowded is is? Will ya have room to walk down the beach with your fish and recover line, or will you have to work your way down a crowded beach? How close to the shingle will you be hooking that cow? You'll have probably 225-250 yards of line to work with. Hooking it 30 yards off the beach is one thing, hooking it at 80 yards is another.

I'd be more comfortable with a 6500 using 17# line, but you can get the job done with the 5500 with the above "if's" in mind.

Thanks again for the replies.
I'm going to bump the line up to 20#.

I'll second the 17 lb test. It will handle a 45 inch fish no problem without structure. I fish sand so its ok there