I am just curious what setup you guys would recommend for targeting whiting and smallish fish in the surf. I have the heavier Penn Prevail 11’ and 10’ rods that i love for shark and bigger fish but you about cant feel that you even have a small fish on… So give me some Rod and Spinning Reel setups that you like lets say under 350$
My “light” set-up is a 9’ med heavy fast action with 50 sized reel, 15# mono main, 40# mono double drop (with custom majic beads), #2 Eagle Claw 085 J-hooks, 4oz pyramid.
If your looking for make and model?..all I have is Quantum so I’m very biased. Get whatever you are comfortable with really.
Got to remember, if you are catching Small fish BIG “things” are there also.
I like using a 2500 series reel like the Diawa BG and medium 7’ rod. This setup would cost $200 to $250. With your $350 budget you could splurge on the reel or rod. I use 10 lb Power Pro tied directly to a sabiki rig or a drop rig with one or two hooks and a 2 oz sinker. Whiting are generally close in so you don’t need to cast far.
I like using a 2500 series reel like the Diawa BG and medium 7’ rod. This setup would cost $200 to $250. With your $350 budget you could splurge on the reel or rod. I use 10 lb Power Pro tied directly to a sabiki rig or a drop rig with one or two hooks and a 2 oz sinker. Whiting are generally close in so you don’t need to cast far.
OOPS!
Go with a stradic 4000 with a 7’ star rod. Med heavy, throw a shrimp baited sabiki. Whiting, blues, ladyfish and others will hit it.
Ya know, it must be nice living in Neverneverland. Remind me to come visit you, when I need a break from reality.
2500 & 4000 penn battle & fierce with 7ft star surf rods. 10 to 20# braid.
Thanks for the info
Ryan think hard about how much weight you will need to throw. 90% of the time I surf fish it is with 3,4 or 5 ounce lead depending on the rod, how heavy bait, wind and current. You have to calculate the weight plus the bait. If you get a real light rod it will limit you to throwing what the rod is capable of throwing. Which is fine as long as you understand that. If you throw a 3 or 4 ounce sinker and a chunk of fish on a rod that is rated for two ounces you run the risk of snapping that rod. The star rods are good rods as folks have suggested, but keep in consideration how much lead you will be throwing when picking one. They have some that are rated for 2 ounces, 4 ounces, 6 ounces etc… I wouldn’t get one that throws less than 4 ounces. They have some 9 footers in medium and medium heavy that throw 4 ounces. Check the warranties on them. Some are 5 yrs and some are lifetime warranty. The steller line and above get you lifetime warranty and use Fugi guides and reel seat which are good quality. It isn’t that much more and is in your budget. 9 ft medium or medium heavy rated for 4 ounces. A 6000 spheres would match good. Don’t let the 6000 number fool you they are fairly small reels in that line, they are sealed for the surf and have a solid proven history. Rated #1 by Allen Hawk. Good luck. Before making your considerable investment it would be wise to put hands on the product and feel what ever set up you choose to buy.
A 7 foot ugly stick with a 4000 size reel is what I like. 30 lb power pro line. You can catch alot with that combination.
Capt. R. Killin
21 Contender “Killin Time”
2500-4000 sized reel with a 7ft Rod will do the Job nicely and has for me for many years.One person pointed out though there are times when current/wind/high surf is going to require a rod capable of throwing 3 to 4 ounces sometimes.Me…I go find an inlet where I can catch em on those days.
So i found a combo at sportsmans warehouse that i fell in love with… penn spinfisherVI 5500 with a spinfisher VI 8’ moderate fast action rod…17-30 lb braid…3/4 to 3 oz lure… havent used it yet but it was exactly what i had pictured in my mind… it was 200$ btw … fixn to try it out on my beach week trip in a few weeks… thanks for all the responses
I like to have two 7 foot 4000/5000’s and two 8/9 foot 6000/800’s for my spread. The smaller rods usually catch bait for the bigger combos.