Best Saltwater Rod for Offshore Fishing
What is a good saltwater rod to setup with a baitcasting reel. I plan on doing some charter boat fishing. I want a rod thats affordable but thick and strong and sturdy. Id like the closest thing to an all purpose saltwater rod that can handle calico bass to yellowfin tuna, live baitin and iron jigging. Able to hold heavy 12 plus oz. lures for deep waters. I think you get the picture by now. Any recommendations will help.
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Tagged with: baitcasting reel • calico bass • charter boat fishing • closest thing • deep waters • yellowfin tuna
Filed under: Marine Fishing
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My favorite is the Calstar WCDH-270-C (actually, mine is custom wrapped, but it’s essentially the same as the Calstar factory rod.) I use it with 20 pound test on a Daiwa SL30SH reel, and have fished with it from Ventura county down to Alijos Rocks, caught everything from bass and halibut to tuna and wahoo to one unfortunate marlin on it. In general, it’s best for 5 to 30 pound fish, which is about as close to all-purpose as you can do for So.Cal. fishing.
To be realistic, it’s a bit light for fish over 30 pounds, and in deep water I don’t use more than 8 ounce jigs on it. (4 ounces or so is the maximum casting weight.) For that kind of stuff, I’d recommend a second outfit, like the 870-C or 970-C — heavier action, and a foot shorter, and 30 pound line. Use that one for yoyo jigging for local yellowtail, and so on.
You can get away with one outfit most of the time, but you don’t want to be out of luck when something breaks, or undergunned when the offshore trip for 10 pound yellowtail finds a wide open spot of 40 pound bluefin. So start with the 20-pound rig, and as soon as you can afford it, add a 30-pound outfit.
Here’s the page on Calstar’s website listing the West Coast rods: http://www.calstarrods.com/westcoast.htm
There are many Rods and Reesl to choose from on bait cating reels for deep water fishing.
Shop what your pocket can afford and that still will get you decent pole.
Get a Ugly Stick. I own one and although I don’t salt water fish the lake fishing that I do requires a Ugly Stick.
Either look for a different rod in the saltwater section
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Department_10151_-1_10001_151000000?CMID=MH_OS_SALTWATER
Or choose from here! (some might be ultra light poles so be weary!)
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchResults?ts=Thu%20Mar%2015%2014:49:55%20CDT%202007
No rod and reel set in the world can meet all of your criteria. You have to compromise. A rod heavy enough to throw 12 oz jigs isn’t going to be flexible enough to toss live bait. My guess is that you will mostly be fishing live bait for Calicos. My vote is for a Calstar 870 glass rod. It is the best compromise and you will get the most use out of a rod like that. A glass rod is the most durable and a Calstar will last a lifetime with good care.
Modern baitcasting gear has gotten so light, smooth and sophisticated that there is no need to rely on the inherently inferior design of the oscillating spool and bail wire reel.
My favorite fineese baitcasting setup pairs a Team Daiwa TD-Z with a GLoomis CR721. This is a 6′ casting rod with a light power rating. I spool the reel with 50lb. power pro but tie on a leader of 4 to 8 lb mono depending on the conditions.
Read more from my sources.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Nick
ugly stick, one piece
look at ordella rods.com
You should always go with what your pocket can afford, some of my buddies, spend $40 on a new rod every season and that works for them, for me I’d prefer to spend a little extra and have some thing that lasts a little longer, I’ve had a Shakespeare Ugly Stick rod for the past 5 feeds a great rod for both sea and salt water, as I’m doing alot more salt and wreck fishing lately I just traded the Ugly Stick in for a G Rod from Daiwa, the more I use it the more I’m starting to like it, really great for spinning and wreck fishing.
Well hope it goes well for you