Gear Talk - Surf Caught Large

[ivanputski]

Have used more expensive rods, and I still cant find a rod that matches the feel and action of the Tica dolphin surf rod.

-9' or the 10'6" MH fast action.
VS-200 50# power pro
50# Ande mono LINE for leader... not leader material, just straight 50# mono for a leader...

Took my 3 biggest fish on my 9' rod in heavy heavy surf... totally in control... biggest was 43.10 pounds
I do however remember the night I had my a.ss handed to be by a bass that was not stopping...

I was looking at a VS 300 at bass pro, and honestly, the places I fish I would never use that thing... friggin huge...

[Rmarsh]

Landed a 38# with:
10' Tsunami Airwave
VS200 50# Power Pro
Ande 50# Leader

I didn't have any fear of equipment failure
but user error entered my mind a bit.

I haven't owned any custom or "high end" rods
so I'm not sure what advantages one would provide.
I would like to hear more comments about this.

[JohnR]

Lami 120 1M with the ZB 27, 50 or 65# PP, 50# Ande leader with some in the canal in honkin current. Not afraid fish would come unglued but they certainly get an equal vote in that place.

1205 with a tweaked 6500 Mag Elite or Penn 965, 50 PP, 50 Ande leader good from surf. 6500ME does feel a little, err, light at times.

[numbskull]

Seems to me this issue usually takes care of itself. What you are trying to cast determines what rod you should use.

Any blank that can throw 3 oz has the balls to handle large fish, any reel that balances on said blank likewise can do the job (the added demands of the canal's current are perhaps an exception).

Any blank that can throw 2 oz can also do it, but with a higher failure rate and more operator anxiety during the task....perhaps worth it for the enjoyment of fishing lighter stuff.

I think the more important issues are how you rig and how you handle things during the fight when stuff goes wrong. Big fish are uncommon for most of us, we invest a lot of effort looking for them, when we finally hook one it feels like there is a lot at stake and we often make bad decisions trying to land them. Using the strongest tackle possible and trying to overpower the fish feels right when you are anxious.......but is not necessarily the only (or best ) way to do it.

[luds]

I agree with both Nebe and Numby. The only constant I try to have is a leader of 50# or greater. I have one spot that produces good size fish on 1 oz. bombers which are worthless IMO with a heavey leader. I have lost a few fish because of frayed 30# leaders there and there is pretty much no structure there to worry about.