Looking at a surf set up...have questions

[Bighead]

hey guys, I have fooled around surf fishing before, but am about to get a little more serious about it.

I'll be fishing along the coast of Texas, and targeting red fish, black drum, and sharks...well, sometimes they target US, and we have no say in it.

The standard rig on the beaches here seems to be a 12' casting rod with either a 4/0 wide Penn Senator or a 6/0 Senator spooled with as much 40-50 lb mono you can find, an 8 oz. spider weight, and either a mullet head or a crab on a 14/0 circle hook.

Some guys can't even cast these things, so they paddle the baits out with a kayak.

I was looking around on ebay, and came across a Fin Nor OS95 spinning reel that holds an astounding 600 yards of 20lb diameter braided line. I was wondering how something like that would do on a 12-13' spinning rod heaving said bait set up out beyond the 3rd bar. The line capacity is needed, because of the shark issue.

Any feedback on this or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Bighead

[Hannibal]

I don't know anything about that particular reel but figuring it being a spinner on a relatively light line - it should get some decent distance on a 12' rod (depending on quality). That being said - you'd have up the poundage I would think to something in the 40-50# range if you are targeting sharks. That being the case - a 40# diameter braid would limit you to roughly 300 yards based on your earlier specs. That should be enough if you got a good drag but it seems to be on the edge in terms of recommendations.

I had been using a Penn 950ssm loaded up with 60lb braid with a 100# topshot. Only got two trips out of it and not much was biting. But could get some decent distance out of it.

Most people when targetting sharks from the beach typically use a kayak. Try http://tx-sharkfishing.com/messageboard/ for some more information for your area.

[ffemtreed]

Unless that reel has a absolutely great drag on it (like greater that 20lbs), I would fill the reel with 30lb Sufix braid and a 20 or so yards of 50lb mono on top.

I would guess that the reel has between 10 and 20lbs of drag, so the 30lb line isn't going to break (esp sufix because its underrated). You will lose SOME abrasion resistance (HUGE problem with braid) but you will cast better and fit more line on your reel.

[Bighead]

I've found a review of it at some Tuna360 site...there are mixed reviews, but some of the guys seem to be 'gear snobs'...c'est la vis.

The drag system seems to be GREAT on it...with some very high strength.

The OS95 is FREAKING HUGE...I have found one guy off Montauk that uses the OS65 with great success.

As for the kayak thing...I don't want this to seem like spam, but my wife and I own Dixie Kayaks in Katy, TX. We're Malibu Kayaks dealers, and just got back from the Texas Kayak Fishing Drum Run near Sea Rim State Park around Port Arthur Texas.

I may bite the bullet and try it out...worse thing that can happen is it's a piece of crap and I have to buy another reel. :)

Bighead

[ffemtreed]

BTW that reel hold 600 yards of 20lb MONO line, not braided. Its rated to hold up to 600 yards of 100lb Braid.

This reel also claims to have like 50 or 60lb of drag force.

Knowing this new information about the reel, I would fill it with 80lb Power Pro with a nice top shot of 100lb mono.

I really wouldn't try to catch anything but LARGE sharks on this reel as its pretty much over kill for anything else from shore.

[rsieminski]

It is capable of 60# of drag, and it'll hold 700yds of 65# PP with a top shot of mono. The long rod gives the fish the leverage advantage, and you'd be lucky to just hold on to the rod with 20# of drag, and a 7-9'er taking off.

[Bighead]

It is capable of 60# of drag, and it'll hold 700yds of 65# PP with a top shot of mono. The long rod gives the fish the leverage advantage, and you'd be lucky to just hold on to the rod with 20# of drag, and a 7-9'er taking off.

I am one of those big fatguy powerlifter types...6'4" 315 lbs...I think I can hold it...for a little while anyway! :D

Bighead

[rsieminski]

At 315 and the REEL set at 20# of drag, I think at the verry least, it'd take you for a ride down the beach if a biggun took off. They have amazing strength.

Anyway, great reel. They've fixed the gear problem from long ago.

[Hannibal]

At 315 and the REEL set at 20# of drag, I think at the verry least, it'd take you for a ride down the beach if a biggun took off. They have amazing strength.

Anyway, great reel. They've fixed the gear problem from long ago.

Also being of this size (6'5" 275ish), this is the fish I am looking to meet. I would giggle like a school girl as I was being drug through the sand trying to hold on to the rod/reel with a biggun on the other end. I will just be sure to cut the line when I start getting too wet. :D

[billr87]

bighead. don't know where katy is, but if you go to breakawayusa.com you will find some avid shark fishermen. breakaway is in corpus christi, texas. at the breakaway store on so. padre isl. drive is a very good shark man.he gets some big sharks he and his buddies have their trucks rigged for the big guys, and they kayak out their baits. call them, they are very helpful and exceptional people. good fishin.

[Mark G]

Some guys can't even cast these things, so they paddle the baits out with a kayak.


Thanks,
Bighead


It's not so much that they "can't" cast them, it's that they can obviously get the baits out further than ANYONE can cast them, when employing a kayak.

The part about holding the rod was in reference to using too much drag pressure, not the weight of the rod and reel- essentially locking down a drag results in a direct tug of war with the fish, providing the line holds up you may well lose the battle if your drag is too tight, 20 lbs is way more than needed from the sand, usually ;)

Good luck and let us know when you hook a big one !

:fishing:

[Bighead]

Good luck and let us know when you hook a big one !

:fishing:

Don't worry, you'll probabably HEAR me laughing and hollering when I do!

Thanks guys for all the info.

Bighead

[rsieminski]

I'm looking forward to that day too. :D

[sprtsracer]

It's not so much that they "can't" cast them, it's that they can obviously get the baits out further than ANYONE can cast them, when employing a kayak.

The part about holding the rod was in reference to using too much drag pressure, not the weight of the rod and reel- essentially locking down a drag results in a direct tug of war with the fish, providing the line holds up you may well lose the battle if your drag is too tight, 20 lbs is way more than needed from the sand, usually ;)

Good luck and let us know when you hook a big one !

:fishing:

Agreed...except when it comes to the drag. When you are just holding the reel and soaking bait, it really doesn't matter that much about the weight. It's not like you are tossing metal! If you are using PP or similar, 65lb or better, it would be best to have a heavy-duty shark rig (pulley, etc) and wait for the fight! 20lb test ain't gonna cut it with a 9' or better shark. Smaller ones, maybe. If you have 60lbs drag available, why not use a line and rod that can take advantage of it and target the huge ones? Hopefully, you are fishing more than one rod, so you can target the smaller ones, table fish, etc, with the smaller outfits while waiting for the monster. You may only get a monster once a month or less often, but at least you'll be catching fish in the meantime. Don't plan on using the OS95 as your only setup. Also, there is a mistaken belief that you have to cast as far as possible to catch a fish. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Sharks (and other species) will come into very shallow water to feed. Lots of times, folks will cast way over the fish they are targeting. If there are "food fish" in the shallows, and there are sharks as well, the sharks will follow the food. Sometimes, you have to go past the 2nd bar and sometimes you don't.

[The Crew]

THe OFS-95 is a great reel. But you won't get anything like that set up out past the 3rd bar unless it's within 30 yards or you wade out to the second bar which I wouldn't recommmend. And the set up you described is STRICTLY for Sharkin' not Fishin'.

[Waal]

I have had a couple of 12ft Daiwa beachcasters for years now,good budget rods and never a break. I have just purchased an Abu Suveran XP 13ft with extension to 14ft, this rod will lift a big fish up any peer, cast well with large baits and do the surf thing with very minimal bend in the rough stuff, it is that good. You may want to enquire into it.

Don't know much about a reel for your shark fishing, and 600yds of line. Hope that helps.