Need Help Please What should I get for my next reel?

[Stevero]

O.K. guys, here is my first post and first question. I have been reading a lot lately and think you guys are the people to ask. I have been given a head's up that for Christmas I am going to be getting a new reel and rod. So what should I get? First off, I am pretty sure I want a two speed reel, but I might be wrong. I am prett sure I want it on a longer (7') stick so it can cast well, but still stong enough for the bigger fish (say 40-80lbs). I know it depends on what I have and what I plan on fishing for and where I plan on fishing and...

Well I took my first 5 day trip this past summer, to Guadalupe, and had the below gear for my mother and myself. Had the trip of my life thus far. Yes my mom loves fishing and we usually go once a year. Anyways, I think if we had a more appropriate two speed, we (mostly her) could have really hooked up a lot and landed a lot more fish. This was clear as some guys with appropriate two speeds hooked and caught two 50lbs tuna, while I was still struggling to catch hook and catch one. The light reels would hook, but would not be adequate to bring in 50lb tuna efficiently. The big reels would take for every to feed a bait out and hook, but could bring the fish in easily.

So I am thinking I would like a two speed reel, that can cast really easily and a far distance (not bulky) and that allows the bait to swim very easily with a rod that matches well. Hopefully they are not the most expensive rod and reel out there, but something that will last a long time and has good service. I am thinking Avet as they seemed to do well, but there are so many, and I am not exactly sure what the gear ratio benefits are and so many more questions. Maybe Trinidads?

So I have gathered a listing of my current gear. This has been accumilated over time, mostly on 3/4 day and over night trips, but did surprisingly well in Guadalupe and is more than appropriate for the many shorter trips we have taken.

1) Shimano Calcutta 400B reel (I usually do 20lb mono)- Calstar GFGR-800XL-C 10-25lb Graphiter, 8' cork handle. Does well on lighter tuna and other smaller fish (20lb).

2) Daiwa Seaine SG30H reel (25lb Mono) - Shakespeare Ugly Stick Tiger, BWC 2200, 7', Action ML, 12-30lb Sigma). Did well on lighter tuna, got beat up on bigger. Good hook up percentage. 30lbs fish max.

3) Daiwa Sealine SG30H reel (30lb Mono)- Penn Power Stick (All Black) (FPS-D22?) No line rating, but about 12-30lb, 7'. Did well on lighter tuna, got beat up on bigger. Good hook up percentage. 35lb fish max.

4) Penn Jigmaster Highspeed reel, with Tiburon frame and extra spool. One spool has 60lb spectra backing and 50lb mono top shot, while other spool is either 30 or 40 lb mono. Seastalker SS870-7 (7'), 20-40lb Medium Live Bait. Decent hook ups and ok in bringing in. Really a jig setup, but was using as a bait set up. Dosn't really work for jigs, seems kinda slow now. 40-50lbs fish max.

5) Penn 114H Special 6/0 Senator (80 lb spectra 50/60lb mono) reel - Daiwa Sealine (Boat Performance Graphite Comp, Basic 5',6" rod with rollers) 40-100lb rated. Was the main trolling set up. Occacionally did a dropper loop set up for yellows. Seems to loose some fish in reeling in off of troll caught fish. Maybe just my technique?

6) Shimano TLD-20 (2-Speed)(80lb spectra 60-80lb mono) reel - Outter Banks Outfitters Battle Wagon Custom (BWC3080S) 6', 30-80lb. Got just for this trip, was told I needed a two speed. Tried bait casting, which was pretty redicoulous. Mostly used as dropper loop set up. Not sure how to fish this reel any other way. Pretty hard to cast a sardine on a 6' rod, goes like two feet away from the boat.

So that's my simple question. What reel and rod would you suggest to compliment my current setups and anticipated return to Guadalupe next summer? I have what I have, and hopefully can add on more and better in the future.

Thanks for your time, research, feedback and help.

-A new long range fisherman and his fishing mother.

[SMN XPS]

I have an avet JX 2 speed and I love it. I think it is worth your consideration. the other reel that i have and like well is a Penn 545gs, that's a single speed reel but it cast great for me.

good luck from a fellow one timer!

Jerry

[Stevero]

Thanks Jerry. I think the Penn 545GS might be a good replacement for the Penn Jigmaster in my collection now, but there might be some better high speeds out there for a little more money. I do like the price of the 545GS though. The JX is definetely on my list. Thanks again.

[mike garrahan]

I would also look at getting a JX or LX 2 speed. You have plenty of reels for the lighter stuff. You can load the JX or LX with 65 lb spectra and then fish 40 or 50 lb top shots. You can get the job done with an MX but the JX and LX give you a few more options. For local fishing you can fill them with straight 30 or 40 lb mono if you don't want to fish spectra, and they are also good for throwing jigs. On a 5.5 day trip you will probably use the JX or LX as your primary reel for everything except maybe drooper loop fishing.

[RonD]

I agree with Mike - an Avet LX loaded with 60lb JB hallow or 65lb spectra is a perfect 40-50lb two speed base reel. It gives you a little more capacity on the longer soaks and you can fish it with a short or long top-shot depending upon the application requirements.

[Stevero]

Thanks Mike. I was just checking out the Avet Raptors SX. Anyone have any reviews of these? What is the SX? I there is an order of size of the models? Thanks guys!

[Swarthy Dago]

Accurate 300

[rjgoal]

Pretty cool going LR with your mom....Sounds like you want a setup that will cast 40-50lb line & able to pull hard when needed. My favorite for the Lupe & the rocks is GF875H paired up with my Avet JX using 40 lb topshot with 65lb spectra backing. This rod is a shorten 800H by 6" and works well with the rail. I think the taper helps with using a shorter top shot. You could go to the Avet LX for more line capacity. If you want 7' Rod than go with GF700H and I use the Avet HX with 50lb. Both Avet & Calstar are located in LA county, so service is local. Hey good luck with your next trip...

[offshore6]

Not sure why Penn Internationals are not popular on this site but I have a Penn 16VSX on a Calstar GF700H and it works GREAT for me. Loaded with 65 lb spectra and a 50 lb top shot, you can really pull hard on a fish and it casts reasonably well.

[Holi-e-Mackeral]

Talica 12 two speed, paired with a Calstar GF 765 XL, L, or 700 M...

Simply perfect for fishing 40 # ..

Tight lines.. Jeff

[Stevero]

Yeah it has been a lot of fun groing up and fishing with my mom. Now after one trip, we are all about the long range scene.

Wow, thanks everybody. What is the difference between HX, MX, LX, JX, and SX? What about the Avet Cast Control system? Avet doesn't have a lot of info on their site about the differences. I think the Talica 12 and Penn 16VSX are going to be researched and put on my list also. The rods recommendations look fairly similar, so that should be the easy part. Just not sure how to pick the right Avet model to compare with the other reels listed or even themselves.

[mike garrahan]

The SX and MX are the smaller reels. The JX and the LX are perfect reels for 40 and 50 lb. line. They are the same basic reel but the JX is the narrow version. The HX is the next step up but is probably overkill for a 5 day trip. I was on a 5.5 day last month and never touched my HX. I used a 2 speed LX with 65 lb. spectra and a 40 lb. topshot for 90% of my fishing. Most of the people on the boat were using MX, JX, LX or small to medium size accurate 2 speeds. The cast control works if you have problems casting a sardine. If you know how to cast you really don't need it. The 2 speed option is a different story. For the small amount of money involved I would not buy a new reel for bigger size fish that wasn't a 2 speed.