Atlantic Beach Surf / Inlet fishing (need opinion/advice on gear)

[Rob S]

Let me start off my saying I only visit the beach 3/4 times per year, so I don't fish that often. I take pretty good care of my gear, so getting a high end 200-500$ reel/rod is useless to me. I do fish around home (Triad NC) for bass and catfish so some of my bigger salt gear is used for catfishing. My saltwater fishing will be pretty limited to Atlantic Beach area, mostly Bogue sound/inlet. At the end I will upload pictures for your convenience so you can get an idea. EDIT* I should clarify I will be going in March/April, and hopefully again in May/June then again in August then Oct.

This is what I have so far.

1.) Old Shakespeare Long Shot rod/reel combo rated 12/240 14/210 20/160. Rod is 7', reel in great shape, rod is questionable as it is 10yrs old. Plan on using a basic double bottom premade rigs you get from walmart or whatever for spot or mullet and smaller baitfish. 2-3oz weight, shrimp or salted mullet. What line/leader would you recommend.

2.) Daiwa Sweepfire 3500 rated (Gear: 4.9:1, Line Per: 33 1/2", Weight: 13 1/2 ozs., Line Capacity: 10/240, 12/210, 14/170.). Got this reel for free, a friend got two from a friend. I realize only 1 ball bearing and it's cheap. I plan on probably just getting a berkley big game or ugly stick from wally world for a rod and using it as a backup with perhaps 15-20# test (mono - cajun variety as we have alot). I don't really plan on having this one in the water, but would like to get any idea of what line/rig you would use it for if you did.

3.) I have yet to get. I want to use this combo as a inshore redfish rig primarily, but of course the joy of saltwater is you don't know what your catching but the premise is to have a light setup. Artificial bait will be used, jig or spoon with cutbait or will try Gulp as a trailer. I'll tell you what I am looking for with hopes to be swayed one way or the other. Rod - Ugly Stick no question, medium action 6 1/2' probably. Reel I am looking at either...

Pflueger Medalist 6040
Okuma Metaloid 30-40
Okuma Alumina 30-40
Okuma Fina 30-40

Or any other suggestions in the 50$ price range. What line/leader poundage would you use on this setup? Remember I am looking to cast as far/smooth as possible on a light(er) setup. This can and probably will also be used as a bass setup although I usually use a ambassador 5500 (I think).

4.) Ugly Stick 11' and Okuma Epixor EF80.

EF-80a 5.0:1 420/15 350/20 260/25

This will be used strictly inlet side, cast as far as possible. Live bait will be used only, hopes of bigger pups, blues and shark. What line/leader would you recommend? I was thinking of going with either Ande Pink 20-25lb and perhaps top that off with 150yd of braid or Momoi diamond mono 20lb and just spool it with that (basically 40lb). What would you recommend?

I realize it will take some time to answer these questions, and appreciate any feedback you may have. I will upload some pictures so you can get an idea of the surrounding area and if you are local to this area please chime in. Some of these I have taken, some are off the internet. My friend whom I will be going with does have a 17' boat, although it has yet to be determined if it will work/if we can use so our options may open up at the time if we can use it. Until then, primarily shore/pier fishing.

Thanks in advance, Rob.

Inlet side




Sound (don't have alot of personal pics)

[cobia_slayer]

1. Mainly on my "spot rods" I use 10-12# line. Like you said double bottom rig use hooks to mach the fish for spot and mullet I use long shank 6 or 2 depending on how the fish are acting.

2. It might be cheap but its a nice little reel, I would spool it w/ #10 big game and get a 1/2-1 oz 7' MH fast action rod and use it for blues/spanish/trout/flounder/ect...

3. " Ugly Stick no question, medium action 6 1/2' probably" you can stick with ugly stick but using jigs and spoons a 3/4-1 1/2oz 7 1/2' MH medium action might be better I'm not a fan or Pflueger at all, the Okuma Alumina looks good, but unless your going to use briad I'd get the 45

4. convench setup personaly I use and recomend a 12' Tica XH fast action 4-10oz 20-40 line X-30SHAloaded w/ 20 big game and a 40-50# shockleader, but I can tell

the 11' Ugly stick is good but you can get an Okuma Avenger 80 for $50 and they're a darn good reel.

instead of tying all thoughs knots just get a spool of 20# Big Game and put a 40-50# shockleader. You can use braid but I've heard of people cutting they're fingers open using it on spinning gear

[Firespyder7]

Id go with 15 to 17 pound line at the most on your 11 foot rod though and smaller on the others.

I use 20 pound braid at a max on smaller spinners for small reds when lure fishing. (if you bass fish, use the same tactics for small reds with jigs and grubs or mirror lures)

I use 10 pound mono at most when flounder fishing. two hook botttom rigs? go a little litghter on the line unless you want to target bigger fish with bigger baits....

[Rob S]

Thanks for your replies fellas, mucho appreciated.

[Rob S]

Originally Posted by cobia_slayer

1. Mainly on my "spot rods" I use 10-12# line. Like you said double bottom rig use hooks to mach the fish for spot and mullet I use long shank 6 or 2 depending on how the fish are acting.

This is pretty much how I did it since I was 5-10yrs old, I haven't been fishing though in years so I'm having to get new equipment. Do you make your own leaders or just get a pre-fab @ bait shop?

2. It might be cheap but its a nice little reel, I would spool it w/ #10 big game and get a 1/2-1 oz 7' MH fast action rod and use it for blues/spanish/trout/flounder/ect...

I was thinking about 12-15lb trilene big game or ande pink, which would you prefer? I would rather stay away from braid except on one reel (my inshore setup). I agree with FireSpyder with smaller mono for pretty much all my rigs that are smaller except the one big one.

3. " Ugly Stick no question, medium action 6 1/2' probably" you can stick with ugly stick but using jigs and spoons a 3/4-1 1/2oz 7 1/2' MH medium action might be better I'm not a fan or Pflueger at all, the Okuma Alumina looks good, but unless your going to use braid I'd get the 45.

I was thinking about using braid on this rig, but I also have an old ambassador 5500-C3 I forgot about from about 10 years ago in very good shape on a berkley 1 peice lightning rod IM6 series, 6'6" Med-H action 3/8-3/4 10-25. What line would you use on this? I would rather stay away from braid cause I'm bound to birdnest it on the first few casts out since it's been so long since I went bass fishing. If I get another spinning reel, I'm going to probably go with the 40 and put braid on it.

4. convench setup personaly I use and recomend a 12' Tica XH fast action 4-10oz 20-40 line X-30SHAloaded w/ 20 big game and a 40-50# shockleader, but I can tell

the 11' Ugly stick is good but you can get an Okuma Avenger 80 for $50 and they're a darn good reel.

instead of tying all thoughs knots just get a spool of 20# Big Game and put a 40-50# shockleader. You can use braid but I've heard of people cutting they're fingers open using it on spinning gear

I already have the Okuma Epixor EF80, but just need to get the rod for it. Would you advise against the ugly stick in any way? Only reason I want them is because of the warranty and I don't fish that often so peace of mind I guess. Would 9' be better suited for my needs? I won't be plugging/artificial with this rig, strictly baitfishing for larger species (you know probably better than I what's around further south of the OBX). The 11' is only like 5$ more than the 9' or 10' so why not. Would I get much more distance out of the 11' over the 9'? I guess I could also spool this with braid, but would need the mono backing. Is there any advantage of Big game over Momoi diamond? I know MD has a break strength of 200%, so I could spool up with 350yds of 20lb with a 40lb MD leader and essentially I would have 40lb test and 80lb leader. Thanks for your time.

Firespyder, do you have a recommendation on mono to use? I figured PP would be most for braid of choice.

[cobia_slayer]

Originally Posted by Rob S

This is pretty much how I did it since I was 5-10yrs old, I haven't been fishing though in years so I'm having to get new equipment. Do you make your own leaders or just get a pre-fab @ bait shop?

I make just about every thing I use that way if it breaks I can only blame myself. Some tackle shops have hand tied rigs that they tie and put an the shelf I wouldn't be agenst using them.

I was thinking about 12-15lb trilene big game or ande pink, which would you prefer? I would rather stay away from braid except on one reel (my inshore setup). I agree with FireSpyder with smaller mono for pretty much all my rigs that are smaller except the one big one.

Big Game, much thinner then Ande.

I was thinking about using braid on this rig, but I also have an old ambassador 5500-C3 I forgot about from about 10 years ago in very good shape on a berkley 1 peice lightning rod IM6 series, 6'6" Med-H action 3/8-3/4 10-25. What line would you use on this? I would rather stay away from braid cause I'm bound to birdnest it on the first few casts out since it's been so long since I went bass fishing. If I get another spinning reel, I'm going to probably go with the 40 and put braid on it.

If you put braid on the Abu there'd be way to much than you need I'd stick with 10-12# mono they're website says it holds 210yds of 12#. Although if you put 20-30# braid on it you cold use it for pluging also.


"Would you advise against the ugly stick in any way?"

NOOO!!! I don't use them much any more but if you can get a rod with a liftime warranty go for it!! They're great rods.

Would 9' be better suited for my needs? Would I get much more distance out of the 11' over the 9'?

I've got four heavers each one with a diff. rating I've got 10' I wouldn't dare through an 8nbait. Cosidering your going to be throughing a lot of weight you would probobly be beter of with the 11', and yes you'll get a lot more distance if you cast right.

Is there any advantage of Big game over Momoi diamond?

I realy don't know I don't, nor do I know anybody that uses MD. But I have caught a 100# fish on 20# BG is that tough'enuff.

[Rob S]

Thanks man