I need help or info!!!

[Clammer]

People I don't know how to begin. i've really become interested in the thought of the challange of true surf fishing// I got the new Surfcaster catalog today . wow the prices./ I was planning to purchase gear at the Mass show and or mike's . but to be honest with you after 40 years of fishing I dont have a clue on what to get. You guys scare me with your knowledge of reels and rods . the way you throw model numbers of reels and blanks, and another web site lures, i.m lost. if it was from a boat or in the bay this wouldn't be being written. ps an open invention to anyone during the year that would care to do that kind of fishing, it would be a honor to have you on board. be it big or small fish from the boat either with plugs or bait, or roam the back waters from shore. the days of I got a secret for me is pretty much gone. I have a 20 ft quahog boat, a 14 ft f/w alum. on a trailer and a 13 ft fisherman canoe, so I the ability to fish any bay ,backwater or salt pond is not the problem. the problem for me is that I am clueless on what to purchase. I know to get outfitted for surf fishing is not going to be cheap I just figure if a couple of you buy or sell a house thru me i'll be all set////// seriously this is probably not the place for info . i'm hoping someone will be kind enough to e-mail me or better yet meet in person. conventional or spinning ?? both //// pretty expensive way to go and still wouldnt know size, name , weight ,etc.. PLEASE HELP /// this is the first real interest Ive had in some form of fishing in a long time. dont get me wrong I still fish, and get my share, but a burning desire has left me and you only live once and I'd like to feel that way again// THANKS//

[Slipknot]

Don't be afraid to ask, we won't laugh at you. I was hoping someone else would start this out but I'm sure others will chime in.

One thing that blows my mind about striper fishing from shore is the large variety of rods to use for different purposes,weights,line strenghth ect. not to mention different reels. There's jigging,plugs,live bait, dead bait chunking rods.........

I don't know how big a person you are or your stamina or even what type of fishing you will do but alot of people start off with about a 9' rod, maybe a Sabre1088 or 1089. The challenges of fishing from shore are very rewarding when you connect. It is addicting. Just take it slow and enjoy it. good luck for now , I may have more to offer later.

[JohnR]

Clamdigger,

No problem. Good to see you want to get back into the game ;D
The current standard but somewhat custom Rhody gear would be a nine foot 1089 Sabre with a 6500 ABU reel (like the TSCT Trophy Striper $85-90) for conventional and a Penn Z or 6500SS series spinner (not sure which Z as I don't use them anymore). This is probably the best price/performance/reliability ratios that you would find. The rods run in the mid hundred range and the reels 65-95 smackers. If you can build your own rod, you can get it done for a hundred or so. This setup can easily handle most plugging duties and of course, the formidable eel :P . This is typical of what most surfcasters would use in all around play from rocks to the breachways to some of your beaches and it will run circles around any Walmart gear. This rod would be too wimpy for the canal where you don't have much room to keep a big fish out of the bottom in a big current and would be light but still serviceable at Charlestown Breachway on a good drop. Other options on the rod might be an AllStar or even a Batson which is new and although I personally haven't fished one, I did build a 1087 for a relative recently and I liked its feel in grins and giggles casting... From there, your wallet is the limit between Loomis and Lami and on and on... Same thing on the reels, the Calcutta 400 is a beaut as are some of the other Penn 965/75 and so on. Spinning, many pray at the altar of Van Staal but at $300 for a tiny reel and up - you thought the Surfcasters prices made you sick...you'd have major sticker shock on those...

And Mike will be at the Mass Bass show so you have double luck there... He can also point you in other correct directions... And I know Weekapaug is building rods too... The only other Rhody place I had gone too, Gils in Wakefield is apparently out of buisiness...

As far as the invite to the surf or the boat, I'm game. And as we figured out two weeks ago, you're only 5 minutes away...

I'll shoot you an e-mail...

[Fisherwoman]

Clamdigger, you should never be afraid to ask, as with all of us you have to start somewhere. If you ever want to hook up, shoot me an email, we would be glad to help you out or take you out fishing. You don't have to go too crazy the first time shoping, depends on where you will be doing most of your fishing and then going from there as to appropriat gear. But please never hesitate to shoot us an email and we will help you out anytime we can.

[Saltheart]

Where do you think you'll be fishing the most Clamdigger?

[Clammer]

Thanks guys , F/w, Saltheart, the south shore point Jude west , not going to b/i alone, Ialso like south beach in little compton,and gooseberry in westport, ill go anywere somone wants to take me . about the cost I dont have alot of money, but I learned long ago that with fishing gear the extra money pays out in the long run and you have a better time, Thanks again fisher/people

[JohnR]

Clammer, another thing to consider too. Sometimes Mike T has nice custom trade-ins or rods and reels on consigment for other people. Not too often but from time to time. Ocasionally something shows up on the classifieds too. Last season there was a nice loomis for short money and there may be another 9 footer or two in there soon... Wouldn't be too suprised to see a reel from time to time as well...

[Harrible]

CD

[Saltheart]

Ok , for fishing the south shore . I would say you'll get very good value by getting an All Star from Mike T. Good choices would be a 1145/2 or a 1265/2. The first is 9 1/2 feet and the second is 10 1/2 feet. As a beginner you would probably like the shorter rod. That rod is also available as a Breakaway factory made rod LDFS-96-2M. That would be a spinner. Price the factory rod from Mike and I think you'll find its a great value. If you go custom you can get that same blank made as a conventional. Although its a little harder to learn , going conventional will pay off in the long run. For either rod conventiuonal , I'd Put an Abu Big Game 6500 Cl on there. I'd learn on 17 pound mono then switch to a Spectron Braid when you get good at casting it. At that point you'll have a set up as good as anytyhing out there at a price well below what the same performance in a Loomis or Lami would cost you.