North Carolina Fishing Reports

ponce · 2nd Mate Joined: Aug 03, 2008 Posts: 37 Location: New Bern

I have a couple of rod and reel set-up questions. Like most people I’m trying not to break the bank with my fishing hobby. I primarily troll with a little bottom fishing on about 50% of my trips when I do bottom fish it is with bait. Right now I’m using mono with peen 4/0 and 6/0 reels and boat rods rated at up 50 lb. line. Most of my bottom fishing has been 30 miles and in, but I plan on moving further out as I gain experience and learn how to read my sonar better as well as learning how to anchor more precisely.

My main question is can I have a set-up that works well for both jigging and bait bottom fishing? I think that I would like to do a little jigging for fun.

I already have a Penn 750ss reel. I was wondering if I matched that with a Trevala XXH spinning rod and 80 lb. braid would that be good for both bait and jigging? My second choice for a reel would be a Penn Torque TRQ300, but would like to save the $400.

Also do most of you back your braid with mono.

Any input or suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks
Jeff
_________________
"REEL FUN"
2008 Sea Hunt 240
250 Yamaha

gmanning · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 4:01 pm Post subject:

The 7500 is too light for dedicated bottom fishing/jigging. I do use one for tossing pitch baits to dolhin on a Trevala MH but it is not up to gruntin' grouper off the bottom. I prefer something the size and drag rating of a Cabo 80 ($200) in a spinner and an Avet4/0 in a conventional. The Avet makes a good jigging or bait fishing reel. I have been using a Cabo 80 with 80# braid on a Trevalla XXH for jigging and Avet 4/0's on Joe's grouperhawgs for hand cranking. The Avets on Joe's rods could be used for either. I back the braid with mono on the Avets or my Penn 4/0 electrics because they have plenty of capacity and I use just enough braid to be more than the maximum depths I fish. On the Cabo I use just enough mono backing to keep the braid from slipping because it needs most of the spool capacity to have enough braid on it.

Lots of options and opinions with this but that's what works for me.
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World Cat 270HT..."Bite Doc"

CaptSlim · Ol'Salt Joined: Jan 02, 2007 Posts: 125

If I were gonna have just one rod for jigging and weight & bait, I would get the Shimano Travela XXH casting model (rated for 80-200 lb line) and mount a Penn Torque 200 with 80 lb braid and about 2 rodlengths of 100 lb mono for your leader. If you don't want to shell out for the penn, daiwa saltist 30(with the 6.4:1 gear ratio) is a solid reel for around half the price.

I have used my jigging rod (a spinning model) for weight&bait bottom fishing, but the spinning reel kinda sux for that kind of fishing.

For the record, I use a XXH Trevela spinning jigging rod setup and a Grouperhawg w/ daiwa saltist for weight&bait.

...just my $0.02
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-Slim
"Carolina Predator"
26' Sea Chaser

mannysmate · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 5:38 pm Post subject:

If ya got the time.....keep a eye out for the "jigginhawg".... (coming this winter Wink

)

ponce · 2nd Mate Joined: Aug 03, 2008 Posts: 37 Location: New Bern

I'm not in any big rush. Who makes the jigginhog?
_________________
"REEL FUN"
2008 Sea Hunt 240
250 Yamaha

mannysmate · Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 8:37 am Post subject:

glassman · Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 10:11 am Post subject:

I looked around at different combos and settled on a Shimano torium 30 and a 65-200# rod (Outerbanks outfitters). This rod I,ve been told is made by Shimano and when compared with the Shimano jigging rod,the only difference seems to be color. I've spooled mine up with 80# braid and have had good success. After all my fishing buddies used on one drop,well they have purchased the same combo for them selves. You can go with Torium 20,but I've found this setup works well for trolling. Bought mine at Boaters World for $249.98. Also it has a 6.2:1 ratio. Very Happy


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