Blackfish Reels

[Gabehow]

I'm looking to find out what reels people use to fish for tog. I currently own an Avet SX 5.3 MC with 40# PP Spectra on a Shimano TVC-66M Trevala Jigging Rod that I use for inshore fishing. I actually enjoy fishing the Avet, but I don't know if I have enough power in the reel to pull a 8+ lb fish up before he gets into his hole. The Avet SX 5.3 strike drag of 9# and full 14# may be just a little undermatched for a pig. The reason I ask is because I don't want to lose a fish of a lifetime because I'm not setup appropriately.

I know many anglers will say that they fish 50# or 65# braid, but I also use this reel for inshore fluke, sea bass, and jigging for stripers. I may be in the market for a new tog setup, so let me know what your thoughts are.

[shrimpman steve]

Avet SX is fine for tog. I've pulled in double digit tog with mine on several occasions.

[jlrotary]

I prefer a star drag for blackfish....
With that being said I caught my personal best (13lbs) on an Avet SX with drag in full and she still took some drag after I got a few turns of the handle in.
My go to reel is a saltiga 20 (star drag).

[HDMarc]

Avet SX is great for big tog. Many on here will agree, some will tell you that they don't have enough drag for their liking. It boils down to personal preference. I've caught my biggest tog on the SX with no problem.

[shrimpman steve]

I prefer a star drag for blackfish....
With that being said I caught my personal best (13lbs) on an Avet SX with drag in full and she still took some drag after I got a few turns of the handle in.
My go to reel is a saltiga 20 (star drag).

If I had a saltiga, it would be one of my goto reels as well:D

[Reelron]

I also took my PB, 15lbs., on an SX 5.3 And manage to break off what felt like a bigger fish last year, when I panicked and pushed the drag all the way up! :eek:

I know of at least 12 guys who were fishing right next to me on that 6 pack charter when I did that. So I'm sure all would verify the drag on the SX works fine!

[TomKaye]

I'm looking to find out what reels people use to fish for tog. I currently own an Avet SX 5.3 MC with 40# PP Spectra on a Shimano TVC-66M Trevala Jigging Rod that I use for inshore fishing. I actually enjoy fishing the Avet, but I don't know if I have enough power in the reel to pull a 8+ lb fish up before he gets into his hole. The Avet SX 5.3 strike drag of 9# and full 14# may be just a little undermatched for a pig. The reason I ask is because I don't want to lose a fish of a lifetime because I'm not setup appropriately.

I know many anglers will say that they fish 50# or 65# braid, but I also use this reel for inshore fluke, sea bass, and jigging for stripers. I may be in the market for a new tog setup, so let me know what your thoughts are.



I bought my adult son this very reel, Avet Sx MC, two Christmases ago along with a Fish Poison rod. He loves the set-up for inshore just as you use it.
I wish I could have bought two. I have a bit heavier Fish Poison, with a Saltist 30 star-drag.
I prefer the Avet.

I've "borrowed" it a few times as he left it in my garage.
I plan to borrow it again this season for tog.
Must admit I've never gotten a double digit tog on the Avet, but have seen others do so.
Tight Lines,
Tom K.

[Joey Dah Fish]

I love my Avet SX I canst see changing to something heavier. I also have an MX I got last year because I felt the same way you do. I found the my arm was fatigued mid trip do to the weight of the larger reel. But I did like it fishing very deep 90 plus feet less reeling :D

[shrimpman steve]

But I did like it fishing very deep 90 plus feet less reeling :D

Lazy bastid:D

[Blackfish Doug]

Saltiga 20 good luck finding one & the 30 best reel that I can reccomend. That's all I use for them I also like the trinadad 12 the gold ones. Not the newer silver 12a ones. Also the p series Newell 220 & the 229 are good bets as well.

[njboarder]

If you've got $450-500 to spend on blackfish reel, saltiga 20 or even 15.
If on a budget, avet sxj works fine too.

[socks]

1/0 Penn Senator

[bulletbob]

believe me, I am NOT trying to be a jackass, but I could never understand the need for a $700 rod and reel combo for bottom fish.. A Penn 65 and a boat rod will catch any blackfish that ever lived, and its 3 to 1 ratio will actually have more pulling power to wrestle a big tog out of the rocks than modern high speed reels..

I use a couple of old Ocean City reels that I got at garage sales for I dunno, 2-3 bucks, and I catch blackfish with them just fine..

Ever see a captain or mate on a headboat grab a decrepit old painted rental rod with an ancient Penn reel , fish between a couple of regulars with high tech , high dollar rod/reel combos and make them look like chumps, or a couple of folks with rental rods standing toe to toe with the regulars using high end gear?. I have.. More than once..

Its only my opinion, but the rod is a lot more important than the reel.. A good graphite rod with some backbone and length for leverage, and a good "boat reel" with a well functioning star drag and 30-40 and braid will be just fine.. I suppose an Avet is a wonderful reel, and thats what makes some fisherman happy, having really special gear.. Thats great, I understand that, and appreciate the fact that it is simply something many fishermen enjoy..

However, it won't catch a single blackfish more than a rental rod, IF you know how to catch blackfish... bob

[Gerry Zagorski]

The Avet SX will handle anything you can throw at it inshore.... People have landed 80 plus pound Black Drums... Nice, small and light so you wont get tired holding it at the rail and the drags are silky smooth.

As with any lever drag reel, it does take some getting used to since you have to enguage the drag manually while some star drag reels you simply reel to enguage the drag.

[PeteyHD]

I agree with many of the guys about the star drag from wreck fishing. Saltist or Saltiga in 20 or 30 size is perfect. I fish the black and gold saltist hard even for haddock and cod with no problems...Probably should service it for once after close to 5 years of salt use :cool:

[Richieclip]

I too had the same feelings about the sx for blackfish...so I put a small shimano Torium on my Fish Poison rod and it feels oh so nice!!! Liked it so much I put another one on my older tog rod. The size 14 & 16 are only $179 and the star drag feels good and performs beautifully ...a pig tog May still peel a little drag from the smallest Torium but hey it's fishing. Not knocking Avet (I have 6), I just wish the MX had more drag

[Flukinator]

If you have trouble pulling a 10 lb tog out of her hole with 9-14 lbs of drag, it's not the drag that's the problem, it's the high gear ratio. That inability to "get a few cranks on her", where the handle won't turn, and she's inching her way back down as the drag slips just a bit...that's your high gear ratio. A gear ratio in the 3 or 4-to-one range is going to turn her head more easily as you push that drag up, and allow you to actually gain some line. That 2 or 3 more feet of line you may be able to get immediately after you set the hook will make the difference between a pig lost in a snag, and a trophy in the boat. I find a gear ratios above 5 to cause some issues.

This is why so many guys swear by their old Penn 60's, lower speed Jigmasters, etc etc for blackfish. They've got lower gear ratios, and can turn a fish's head, though it might take them an extra 5-10 seconds to get a fish to the boat, or crank the bait (or bare hook) off the bottom.

That's not to say you won't catch them just fine with that Avet, as obviously plenty of guys do. Best way to find out is to try it!

[MrAC1980]

The reel setup you have is fine, no need to change. But the rod you're using is way underpowered. If you like the trevala, I use the Heavy version tvc-66h and an SX. There are better options, but if you like trevala, I suggest you upgrade to the H, you'll be set. You could even use it offshore for seabass/cod, etc.

[SaltLife1980]

I caught my PB 8lbs with a Avet Sx on a custom Bogan rod..

[shrimpman steve]

I much prefer a glass rod over graphite for tog. My favorite tog stick is a 40 year old hollow glass rod. Makes up for the unforgiving braid. IMHO

[seazu]

I caught 2 not one 2 nine pounders on the mimi with the same reel.
Just ask shrimpy .(im sorry stevey ) lol but it is true.:d

[Joey Dah Fish]

I much prefer a glass rod over graphite for tog. My favorite tog stick is a 40 year old hollow glass rod. Makes up for the unforgiving braid. IMHO

I had a bite once :) :eek:

[HDMarc]

I had a bite once :) :eek:

Once!

[Gerry Zagorski]

My icehole Brother :D

[Capt. Lou]

Saltiga 15 or 20 ,they do it all any form of deepwater angling ! I still use Daiwas older model Grand Waves as well 15 seasons on em' hold up pretty well!
Go star !:cool:

[PeteyHD]

Saltiga 15 or 20 ,they do it all any form of deepwater angling ! I still use Daiwas older model Grand Waves as well 15 seasons on em' hold up pretty well!
Go star !:cool:

The 15 size is no longer in production. 20 is the smallest unless you locate a used 15 in good shape. Agreed....Star Star Star!

[Capt. Lou]

Saltiga 15's still avaable in foreign markets such as Japan ,

[MVP]

I have saltiga 20's Can be persuaded to let one go if the price was right.