Hello,

This is my first post on this board though I have trolling and learning tons from it for some time. Outstanding board!!!

I live and fish in Florida. When I read about your rod and reel choice then I see what you guys are catching on the West coast I am shocked. Our tuna are 20 lbs (25 lbs tops). I mostly fish snook, tarpon (in the 20-70 lbs range), macks and small sharks from the shore and tuna, dorado, bonita, kingfish, wahoo, amberjack, snapper, and gouper. Great fish, but nothing in size like the big tuna and wahoo your catching on the west coast.

Here's the questions.

1. Why such a long top shot of mono and is it necessary for the type of fishing we do in Florida? I would rather put more braid on and use a short fluorocarbon leader (2 to 8 ft).

2. What's an appropriate rig (rod (appropriate size Avet or Accurate), real, line and leader) for my three basic needs?
a. soft baits and lures for catching snook.
b. vertical jigging Shimano butterfly or similar jig.
c. Live bait rod top portion of the water columm.

The confusion lies in that it seems that I want top buy reels that may be too big for my intended purpose because I am basing my judgment on what you guys are catching on the West coast.

Pier, I will try and answer your questions but understand I am a newbie TN angler. I took my 1st 5 day trip out of SD this past year.

Most of my fishing experience is in the Gulf of Mexico, so I know a bit about what you do. The biggest difference in east and west, from my perspective is the use of spectra and the addition of a mono topshot. There are several reasons for this but it is mostly the added line capacity and the ability to cheaply replace the top shot without breaking the bank.

I think the longer top shot is used for a couple of reasons. One, I think casting with mono is easier and is easier to untangle when a bunch of folks get wrapped up together. Another positive is the shock absorbtion factor of the mono vs. the spectra.

As far as the outfits, I would guess an Avet SX for a. and a JX would work for both b and c. I have an Avet MX and have it mounted on a Seeker 670. I also have a JX mounted on a Calstar 700h. I am also hoping Santa JX on a seeker 6470.

The Avets are quite small, much smaller than I was used to using on my charter trips down south. The Avets are tough as tanks and have much more drag than I expected.

"1. Why such a long top shot of mono and is it necessary for the type of fishing we do in Florida? I would rather put more braid on and use a short fluorocarbon leader (2 to 8 ft)"

I haven't fished FL since the early '70s but I have fished other places a time or two so,
I don't really like the pain caused by the tag end of a knot slicing my thumb and a knot running threw my guides shortens the cast so I like the reels I cast with to have topshots long enough so the knot is always several layers under mono at the longest distance I cast, my live bait and bottom fishing reels have short topshots. The only exception is my steelhead reels, I use 20lb Spectra and 10' of 10lb fluro or mono but the knot in 20/10 is small and it passes through the guides well, the knot is long gone when my thumb comes in contact with the spool.


"2. What's an appropriate rig (rod (appropriate size Avet or Accurate), real, line and leader) for my three basic needs?
a. soft baits and lures for catching snook.
b. vertical jigging Shimano butterfly or similar jig.
c. Live bait rod top portion of the water columm."

A. Sorry I can't help here due to lack of knoledge, Avets spin real well and I'd sugest getting a more casting friendly reel for this, unless you have an edumacated thumb and can eliminate most of the over runs.

B. Depth is a concern but I'd sugest an Avet MXJ, JX or HX.

C. What is your target species and how large do they get? For schooly tuna a SX or MX will work but for larger fish I'd suggest a JX, HX, Pro 30 or SDS, depending on how large your target fish get.

I'm only covering Avets as I've been reluctant to even touching Accurate reels, I tend to like good gear and in the past it's cost me money replacing my "good" gear with better, you ought to see my rifle colection.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Keta,

way to many reels out there , so pick one.lol

Keta,

I just had one of those "Thanks I could have had a V8" moments.

In surf fishing we use a longer "shock" leader so that our 2 t0 6 ounce weight doesn't snapped our line and I never seem to make shock leader long enough and the knot runs through my guides and at time a thumb. But those are 50 to 110 yd power casts. That knot issue is lost because I have to assume your never really casting to the knot and it you have shortened your top shot due to trimming you just change the top shot out.

I'll search this next point on the boards but I ask anyway, how about the knot? 40 lb braid 20-30 lbs mono topshot. What is the true test of that line when the knot is off the reel. 80-90 percent the weakest line I have to assume, using 30 lb mono your truly fishing 24-27 lb line. Now I see why the drag is so important to you guys. the drag give you that additional leeway (depending on the the reel).

I can catch a monster snook (30-35 lb) with 30lb braid and 40lb fluorocarbon and decent drag and have no real issue. (I'll rarely get more than 75yd of line of the reel and only break-off if it wraps me. Most important thing for me is the rod strength so I can get him off structure.

The same falls true for our dorado, wahoo, tuna, and amberjacks. Since we are not catching the bigger size range of these fish, we are not testing the extremes of our tackle.

Its getting clear now.

For Spectra 40 and under a uni to uni works well, when ataching a topshot.

C. MX, JX or HX