Must be Payback TIme for TUNA?

[Miss B Haven]

Now you guys went and did it. I know how the wannabees (pups?) feel heading for the tackle store to buy all that Tuna gear. :depressed: (Just did that last year myself).

I'm not worried about any little Striped Marlin (not sure how tough a sword is), unless this cooler water (60 something is a lot cooler than the 80 something I've caught them in in Cabo) really makes them tough and mean(and that's possible). [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

What I AM having nightmares about are those Volkswagon sized (man- 400 lbs :shocked: ) Bluefin you guys been talking about. No way my little Sealines are going to handle one of those (100 lbs maybe)! I gotta have enough line and drag to slow them down unti la) the lines all get pulled in and I can back down on it or b) enough to do a swing and come back around towards the fish (while the guys are pulling the lines).

So- lessee.... $500 for a nice Gold Penn International and another 150-250 for a meat stick with rollers? Ouch!

What do you guys think is the rod and reel to have way back there running that bluefin bait or feather? 50W and an 70 lb class rod? 130lb gear? :shocked:

Ya- NOW I'M WORRIED! :grin:

[ 04-26-2003, 01:18 PM: Message edited by: Miss B Haven ]

I'm thinking (from researching on the internet)
under 100lbs: 2/0, 3/0 or 4/0 reels
100-250lbs: 3/0, 4/0 or 6/0 reels
250-500lbs: 4/0, 6/0 or 9/0 reels
over 500lbs: 6/0, 9/0 or 12/0 reels
Internationals are out of my price range but I have 1-3/0, 2-4/0 and 2-6/0 Penn Senators. The 6/0 have 5'6" 20-50lb rods.

You're welcome to try and break em Mel

[fishwhenican]

Okuma Titus or Silver 50w look like they are with in reach. Will they hold up? Will I hold up? :grin:

For now I'll have to settle for my 4/0 Penn with 650yds of 50# spectra.

[corrirod]

I don't know about you guys but I'm breaking out the heavy, heavy, heavy stuff:



:tongue: :tongue: :tongue:

[WP]

My kind of gear!!!!
I remember my first fishing rod....a "Fish 'n' Kite" set. About equivelant to these...they did get me started!
WP [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[fishisabonus]

I guess that means that I CAN use my Snoopy pole! :grin:

[Booja 1]

Miss B Haven: The Penn 50 wide is a great choice for the big "Gorilla" size bluefins. You can load it up with 80-100 lb tuff line or however heavy you want to go and add 100 yds of 80 lb mono (topshot)to fill up the reel. With the added capacity the braided line gives nowadays, even the 30 wide would probably hold enough line. The Shimano 30 or 50 TLD is also an excellent choice or the Shimano Tiagra 30 or 50 which would be the equivalent to the Penn Gold. Make sure you get the two speed version. A short telephone pole will do nicely for a rod (80-100lb). As things usually go, you'll have that set up way back and the big Gorilla will come up and hammer one of the other rods..Heck have all your trolling rods set up with the gold 2 speeds then it won't matter which one gets bit..Now imagine a 100 plus pounder on the handline!!!!

[Booja 1]

Also too you might will want your rod to have a gimball butt to strap into a standup harness..or else you can pass the rod around and let everyone tag team the fish but without a kidney belt of some kind, you,ll wear a hole in your gut in short order. These big "Gorillas" flat out pull,,it would be like hooking up to a car and holding on, only they usually go straight down, it just kills your back.........

[Miss B Haven]

Booja - I use kidney belts for Sturg, Albis and Bottom fishing already! :grin: For Blues, I'm thinking a bigger cockpit so I can put in a fighting chair and seat belts. :grin:
You can always just leave the telephone pole in the rod holder and drive around tolling for albi's for a couple hours and wear em down I guess! Maybe an 80W with 50lb tuff- should hold a couple miles don't ya think? :whazzup:
Guess I'll be hanging on e-bay lookin' for some 30-50w's or 8/0's huh? Gunna have to get a line of credit set up at the bank first or sell my Bayliner. Anybody wanna trade some rods and reels for a boat? [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img] Sheesh- what's a bulk spool of 80lb tuff line cost? Ouch!
PS- How do you do your tuff line to mono connection? Nail knot works on tuff-dacron backing but I've not used on mono.
PSS- you're right- they will hit the smaller rods or a handline. But.. .sure would be fun while it lasted!