rod/reel/line setup for seabass?

I'm in the process of taking copious notes regarding the setup for bottom fishing as I'm a 'new' salty and getting ready for summer! Anyway, what would be the 'best' gear (rod/reel/lb line) for bottom fishing? I have quite a few steelhead rods - would they be adequate? Thanks in advance!
Dave

[corrirod]

Here is an awesome link to everything you will ever want to know about catching bottomfish:

Born To Be Wild (a.k.a. DepoeBayDan) Bottomfishing 101

[Tinman]

Dave: Whatever bottom fishing tackle you end up with, bring a light steelhead rod (6 to 10# line)anyway. Rig it with a 3/4 oz leadhead and any kind of plastic twisty tail.

As you drift and bottom fish, you will inevitably run across schools of black rockfish that are suspended at mid depths, and sometimes near the surface. When you find such a school on the fishfinder, drop your leadhead down and just let it sink until a fish nails it. It's a blast, and they pull pretty hard on light gear.

Most of your fishing will be right on the bottom for bigger fish like lingcod and cabezon. But for a change of pace, try the steelhead rod for suspended rockfish.

[Silver Eagle]

Great Post Corrirod, I've fished bottom for 40 years and learned some stuff from that post, will be trying some of there tech. this year. Thanks again and your right it is Bottom fishing 101

[Phil Layer]

Steelhead tackle will work fine for seabass. Trout tackle will work even better.

Of course, you pray for the day the huge ling finds your jig.

That is what it is all about, isn't it...finding yourself with too light of tackle for the fish you've got on? :smile:

[backlash442]

Is "seabass" a common word for rockfish up north? Down south we think of white seabass or even black seabass. Neither of which are actually a seabass.

Any type of rod will work for rockfish. You don't need anything specialized. An Ugly stick will work just as good as a Cal Star. If fishing deep (say 200ft or more?) you might want to consider NOT using mono. It stretches a lot and the braided lines give you great feel. Take lots of weights and jigs. You lose a lot of them. Personally I don't like to fish over 100ft and like to use light line. However, I've found that the bigger fish seem to be deeper.

[rcl187]

If you fish a lot for in the salt water make sure you get a graphite real. With spinning tackle this seems to be very important. You probably don't need anything too expensive. A cheap shamano (the larger version) will work fine. I would get at least a 7 foot spinning rod because you'll want to be able to cast to very specific spots when fishing rock walls and kelp beds. For line I use 15lb ande. We fish for seabass 50-60 times a year (usually greenling and lingcod) and the line gets pretty worn so you'll need to change it every couple of trips. So choose a cheap but quality line.

As far as your gear goes don't go too light because you'll need to pull fish out of pretty heavy cover and every now and then you'll probably hook into a 18+ pound ling. If you'r only using 8 pound test your odds of landing him aren't very good.

This is the only kind of fishing that I've actually had rods break so I wouldn't use you'r good steelhead gear. You can get a decent spinning rod for $30-40 and a good real for about the same price. Also, make sure the rod is stiff enough to cast a 1 1/2 ounce jig because in high wind and currents or deep water (over 50 feet) you'll need something that big.

[fish assassin]

Sea bass = black and/or blue rock fish = black bass = ...

-assAssin-

[Uglygreen]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm....Ling Cod! Yummmmmmmmmmmm...... :grin:

UG

[Salmonator]

OMG, I won't be able to sleep tonight. That was worse than a scary movie :tongue:

[Old Goat]

Anyone know where the old file is located in the #2 response to this thread?

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthrea...ottomfish+reel

I've searched and cant find it.

[Mypursuit]

Originally Posted by Uglygreen

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm....Ling Cod! Yummmmmmmmmmmm...... :grin:

UG

Wow isn't 3 lings over the limit?