New To Area/SOL

[USCGamt]

Moved to Elizabeth city last fall from Cape May, NJ , and i'm looking to get back into the surf fishing swing of things... I love to fish the surf and jetties, but i'm kinda lacking in the 4x4 department which has kept me around the south side of oregon inlet. Right now i'm set up more for plugs, but i'm not sure if the water temps are too cold. How serious of a rod would you need to throw bait down here? Would tica 10'6" or lamiglas 11' triflex do, or do you need a real "heaver"? I'll try not to throw too many questions out at once... I have sooo many though, and I really appreciate any help guys are willing to give! Thanks!

[cobia_slayer]

Originally Posted by USCGamt

Moved to Elizabeth city last fall from Cape May, NJ , and i'm looking to get back into the surf fishing swing of things... I love to fish the surf and jetties, but i'm kinda lacking in the 4x4 department which has kept me around the south side of oregon inlet. Right now i'm set up more for plugs, but i'm not sure if the water temps are too cold. How serious of a rod would you need to throw bait down here? Would tica 10'6" or lamiglas 11' triflex do, or do you need a real "heaver"?

I'm not a plug guy but there aren't verey many stripers down here the water isn't cold enough. For heaving bait I have three rod for that

St. Croix 10' XH 5-15oz 20#-50# line shark chunking
Tica 12' H 2-10oz 20#-40# line drum/striper fishing
? 11' XH 3-13oz 20#-40# line drum/striper/and big butterfly rays when nothing else is biting

but you don't need to go that heavy thats my personal prefrince, I like a stiff rod but I also king fish so I need a rod that'll get my ancore out there.

[jerkjigger]

for throwin bait down here, ur gonna need something that throws 8nbait. something like a 12' tica should be fine for starters

[Fishbreath]

Originally Posted by USCGamt

Moved to Elizabeth city last fall from Cape May, NJ , and i'm looking to get back into the surf fishing swing of things... I love to fish the surf and jetties, but i'm kinda lacking in the 4x4 department which has kept me around the south side of oregon inlet. Right now i'm set up more for plugs, but i'm not sure if the water temps are too cold. How serious of a rod would you need to throw bait down here? Would tica 10'6" or lamiglas 11' triflex do, or do you need a real "heaver"? I'll try not to throw too many questions out at once... I have sooo many though, and I really appreciate any help guys are willing to give! Thanks!

Hey USCG,

The other guys have it right. What you have will certainly get you by for most species down that way. Sharking is a whole different ballgame as is King fishing from a pier but for the surf you can get by with a 10 or 11 footer and still throw 6nbait. But the key is being able to throw 8'n'bait and more as the tide sometimes dictates that. At those times, you'll need a rod with back bone and the ability to 'heave' that weight, thus a good heaver.

During a drum bite for example, many fish with a good chunk of bait or the head of a spot or menhaden, when you add in the 8oz, that's a lot of weight and if you're really casting hard, that is a lot of stress on the rod. There are quite a few rods out there to choose from. Now, are you throwing a spinning reel or conventional? Ahhhh, the plot thickens......

FB

[USCGamt]

Well i've been interested in conventional, but i'm nervous to try it at this point. I've always used spinning, right now i have a 9' star/3500B but i think i'm willing to give conventional a try... As long as i can figure out how to cast it!
By they way, i appreciate the replies!

[cobia_slayer]

Originally Posted by USCGamt

Well i've been interested in conventional, but i'm nervous to try it at this point. I've always used spinning, right now i have a 9' star/3500B but i think i'm willing to give conventional a try... As long as i can figure out how to cast it!
By they way, i appreciate the replies!

Conventional rods/reels aren't as hard to cast as you would think. Once you get the reel dialed in(depinding on what kind of reel) the rod dose most of the work. I prefer the Penn Jigmaster 500L for line captivity and the Diawa X-30SHA for its castability. Just got an Abu 7001i haven't had a chance to experiment.

[jerkjigger]

for conventional casting, a good begginers reel would be a daiwa slosh's. i perfer the 20's, but other people like the 30's, for there line capcity. just put the two red brakes in the reel, play with the cast control and you'll be on your way. also, check out the 525 mag. put the mag setting on slow, and you should be fine. those reels will be the ticket for drum/striper in the surf or on a pier throwin bait

[cobia_slayer]

Originally Posted by jerkjigger

for conventional casting, check out the penn 525 mag. put the mag setting on slow, and you should be fine. those reels will be the ticket for drum/striper in the surf or on a pier throwin bait

Never used one but haven't heard anything but good 'bout 'em.

[jerkjigger]

Originally Posted by cobia_slayer

Never used one but haven't heard anything but good 'bout 'em.

i dont use mine anymore, but it was a decent reel.

[Fishbreath]

So there are several different conventional reels but we'll stick with the most popular - ABU, AVET, DAIWA, PENN. I have each of them, several of some. Here are pros and cons...

Daiwa SHV 20 & 30 - PROS: Bullet proof, good beginning conventional, casts well, loud clicker, holds lots of line CONS: Large for small hands

PENN 525 MAG - PROS: Casts well, Mag is great for beginners CONS: Large for small hands, frame know to warp, clicker wears down quickly and not loud

AVET SX - Nice looking, solid, good drag, casts well, good for small hands
CONS: Needs to be magged.

ABU 6500, 7500 - PROS: Great casting reels, eye candy, ok clicker, easy to work on and lots of parts available CONS: Drag system needs to be swapped out for carbontex and smoothies

All that being said, I REALLY love the ABU's but didn't want to taint the discussion. [IMG]http://www.atlantic************/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif[/IMG]

If you go with an ABU, the 6500 CT Mag Elite is a great casting beginners reel with slidey mag controls similar to the PENN 525.

** Forgot to mention, if you're going to be casting bait from the surf, don't get the levelwind as the shock knots sometimes can get caught there.

[jerkjigger]

Originally Posted by Fishbreath

So there are several different conventional reels but we'll stick with the most popular - ABU, AVET, DAIWA, PENN. I have each of them, several of some. Here are pros and cons...

Daiwa SHV 20 & 30 - PROS: Bullet proof, good beginning conventional, casts well, loud clicker, holds lots of line CONS: Large for small hands

PENN 525 MAG - PROS: Casts well, Mag is great for beginners CONS: Large for small hands, frame know to warp, clicker wears down quickly and not loud

AVET SX - Nice looking, solid, good drag, casts well, good for small hands
CONS: Needs to be magged.

ABU 6500, 7500 - PROS: Great casting reels, eye candy, ok clicker, easy to work on and lots of parts available CONS: Drag system needs to be swapped out for carbontex and smoothies

All that being said, I REALLY love the ABU's but didn't want to taint the discussion. [IMG]http://www.atlantic************/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif[/IMG]

If you go with an ABU, the 6500 CT Mag Elite is a great casting beginners reel with slidey mag controls similar to the PENN 525.

** Forgot to mention, if you're going to be casting bait from the surf, don't get the levelwind as the shock knots sometimes can get caught there.

btw the mag elite does not have a clicker. also, cheak out the new daiwa saltist H reels. great for small hands, sits low like a 525, and cast great

[Fishbreath]

Good point JJ! If you're spiking bait, you'll probably need the clicker...

[cobia_slayer]

keep the questions comeing!

[New Kent Newbie]

go to tw's in nags head thay can set you up and you can look at all the opions as far as rods and reels im suprised you didnt say this jerkjigger since you work there

[USCGamt]

I've been looking at the new tica dolphin series, are they as good as the older ones? I loved the older tica 10'6, so i could definitely deal with a tica. As for the reel, i'll take your advice and go out to TW's... I always stop there for bait and they've been good to me so far, so no reason to go anywhere else. Does the Avet SX have a clicker? Thanks again for the help guys, I really appreciate it!