Start Up Gear

OSGF · Nov-06-2009, 08:15 PM

Any recommendations on the minimum gear needed for trolling? I see reels on Craigslist all the time, but I have no idea what I need. I usually dive the reef, but I would like to start trolling a little for shibis, aku, mahi, onos, etc.

youngkid · Nov-06-2009, 08:37 PM

shakespeare tiger rods. shimano tld or charter (new tld's are really good) reels. anything in the 30-60 lbs range should do just fine. thats more so for like mahi and other medium sized class fish. wich im guessing is what you'll most likely catch. but if your after like large shibi, then i aould up your gear power/strength by a bit. you will probably need a few medium sized rods for mahi and ono, and larger ones for shibi. just a thought. aku arent that big, so you can have allot of fun with these guys with like small gear in the 20 lb. range.

beauchat · Nov-06-2009, 08:42 PM

A reel that can hold 50-80 lb. test at the least. The lighter line the more strikes but also more lost fish. Personally 80lb is the minimum for me but I use 80lb for ulua from shore. For offshore I use 100lb minimum. The basic reel would be a penn senator. You cant go wrong with penn senators, plenty parts available and easy to fix.Penn and shimano gold reels if you have the cash and can afford.

Mahis and small aku/shibi can be caught with 20lb (bare minimum) on up. bigger shibi, and ono Id say 50lb at the least.

My 14 livingston was a great riding boat BUT there were no built in safety features such as a self bailing hull or bilge pump. Make sure the boat can get you there and back safely. West side should'nt be a problem for that boat but Ive fished kaneohe all my life and would never go offshore in my livngston unless im in waianae. Also the livingston didnt have rod holders built in. Make sure you have solid rod holders installed that have been bolted in with backing plates so that they can withstand a big strike.

As far as rods go, match the rod to the LB test your using. Daiwa beef sticks are cheap as f**k but would do the job. You might as well buy right the first time though.

youngkid · Nov-06-2009, 08:48 PM

if it were me, i would either get a proline boat or a mako boat. very nice, hardcore looking medium sized fishing boats

dausualinc · Nov-06-2009, 09:38 PM

9/0 Senators are usually a good starting point.
Pros- Inexpensive,durable, easy to service, parts availablility, Holds decent amount of line.
Cons- Low gear ratio (not always a bad thing!), not flashy ( won't help you get laid.)

You can use a 9/0 to medium tackle troll, jig, and bottom fish and if you decide that offshore fishing isn't for you, you didn't spend a fortune and you can probably sell them easily. One of my 9/0s has caught a 200lb ahi on it, granted it was baiting and not trolling so the line capacity was not as critical. I have mine spooled with 130lb jinkai which has a smaller diameter than many other lines.

youngkid · Nov-06-2009, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dausualinc

9/0 Senators are usually a good starting point.
Pros- Inexpensive,durable, easy to service, parts availablility, Holds decent amount of line.
Cons- Low gear ratio (not always a bad thing!), not flashy ( won't help you get laid.)

You can use a 9/0 to medium tackle troll, jig, and bottom fish and if you decide that offshore fishing isn't for you, you didn't spend a fortune and you can probably sell them easily. One of my 9/0s has caught a 200lb ahi on it, granted it was baiting and not trolling so the line capacity was not as critical. I have mine spooled with 130lb jinkai which has a smaller diameter than many other lines.

i think that that would be a little over kill for medium sized fish. i really think you only need like something in the 50-60# range for all of these fish. i mean, gear is gear, no fun if you cant put your gear to the test

beauchat · Nov-06-2009, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dausualinc

9/0 Senators are usually a good starting point.
Pros- Inexpensive,durable, easy to service, parts availablility, Holds decent amount of line.
Cons- Low gear ratio (not always a bad thing!), not flashy ( won't help you get laid.)

All about the bling, even when you go fishing. When I get my gold reels ( whenever that may be) im gonna use them to trailer my boat to the harbor then swap them out for my senators right before I head out for the day.

cheehuli · Nov-06-2009, 11:19 PM

I believe the folks steering you towards the penn 9/0 have got it right on. It's a great reel and very affordable. Once you step up to 12/0 and bigger the $$ goes UP. I would recommend spooling em with heavier line as well, since you could get bit by something big, even when targeting the small to medium stuff. I rather have chance fo' release a marlin, or keep an ahi; instead of letting it get away with a whole spool of 50 trailing behind it. IMHO 50 is better suited to more expensive reels with smoother, very consistent drags. my 2 bits.

Antares · Nov-07-2009, 12:33 AM

I would go small 50lbs test class. 6/0 or TLD are great. I just picked up 4 tiagra 30LRS and 2 50W LRS even better if you can afford. I would back every reel with spectra so when you find the big ahi you can beat it. Catching mahi and ono with 9/0 12/0 80W ect is not fun. using 30 and 50 is and i like to have fun.

**Smudge** · Nov-07-2009, 12:52 AM

Look at the names and locations of the people recommending 9/0's and 80w's and then look at the names and locations of the people recommending 30's and 50's... There is a reason that nearly every boat you see out here is rigged with big reels...

CMonster01 · Nov-07-2009, 03:24 AM

Smudge is dead on. Ahi come up on the ledge, not to mention marlin (we used to get them in green water sometimes back in the 70's - have not heard of it happening on Oahu for a long time, but it still might). Marlin sometimes hit hooked tuna as well and bugger light tackle here. Anyhow, I don't like senator drags especially for smaller tackle. Better to go gold up front if you can afford it (cheaper to buy used); you can probably compromise more on the rods (i.e., more bend for lighter fish if you want to feel the pull better).

Tag n Release · Nov-07-2009, 07:13 AM

Remember, The Penn Senator was developed in the 50's. This is the 21st century and the Penn Internationals and Shimano's are leaps and bounds ahead of those old reels. Much better drags and other features lacking in the Senators. Lever action drags are much better for trolling than star drags. Star drags are better for casting, not trolling.
There is a reason you will rarely see a Senator on a charter fishing boat these days.
I rebuild reels on the side and can tell you it is easier to rebuild a International than a Senator and takes less time too.
I buy and sell rods and reels on eBay all the time. I've seen great deals there if you watch what is going on for any length of time.
I have a Shimano 16 Tiagra 2 speed mounted on a 30lb. rod with roller guides that I use to catch mahi mahi, ono and even marlin under 200 lbs. I had the drag beefed up by Cal Sheets in California then I spooled it with 500 yds. of 65 lb. braided with about 400 yds. of Ande 30 lb. topshot. I just got back from a fishing trip where I caught about 15 blackfin tuna in the 30 to 50 lb. range. I've never lost a fish because of the size of my gear using this rod and reel yet.